Sods law of the Sea scuppers Summer sailing plans

[Nick]

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The wind has been stuck firmly in the S for a fortnight. Now I am free to set off North to Stornoway on Tuesday I see it goes firmly and strongly into the North on Tuesday evening, pretty much precluding any progress beyond Tobermory until next Saturday, leaving a frantic three days sailing to get to Stornoway before the festivities start.

At the moment I am so depressed I don't think I am going to bother. What a $h1t 'Summer' this has been so far.

[Silkie]

So far this year I've had one weekend on Blue Shift and one on Silkie although it hasn't solely been due to the weather.

[Telo]

Yesterday was fabuloso, today crappy, although at least it's stopped raining.

[claymore]

Well - you just have to take the rough with the smooth. I remember being sat in my office feeling envious about your trip to St Kilda....

It was lovely on Windermere yesterday!

[Telo]

The wind has been stuck firmly in the S for a fortnight. Now I am free to set off North to Stornoway on Tuesday I see it goes firmly and strongly into the North on Tuesday evening, pretty much precluding any progress beyond Tobermory until next Saturday....

Enough of a SE today to have taken you from Tob to Small Isles or Skye.....

[wully]

If it's any consolation it's been a very,very poor season for me so far - I haven't even has the sails unfurled yet...

[inboard]

I'm not so sure it's been that dreadful. I've just had a great week from Stavanger back to Argyll, we had some fab sailing. Looking forward to the rest of the summer.

[mm5aho]

I started in two longer distance races recently, and they were both useless with un-useable weather.
Round Ailsa Craig race ran out of wind, taking about 5 hours to get from Kip to opposite Millport (in the main channel), so we retired to Millport and had a sleep.
Kip to Bangor started the same. No wind. But by the time we got to just off Little Cumbrae light, it picked up to about F4-6 on the nose. After battling into it overnight, still suffering from bad food the day before (Diarrhea at sea no fun), we got about half way and turned back and went to Lamlash for a sleep. Out again after 3 hours, and got about half way to Ailsa Craig, to face more of the same. Retired, and of course then it became quite pleasant, while we sailed home via a wild night in Lochranza, then through the Kyles. 1 boat finished apparently, and the subsequent race back was abandoned.

I'm hoping it will be better in August for a cruise to Orkney and back through Caledonian Canal.

[Nick]

Enough of a SE today to have taken you from Tob to Small Isles or Skye.....

Indeed.

But I am at home finishing off a website.

Loaded the boat with food and beverages last night, getting some diesel today and hopefully off tomorrow for a shakedown cruise to Tobermory. Wednesday in Tobers fixing whatever breaks or turns out to be missing (boat has not been off her mooring except for antifouling since last August). Then round Ardnamurchan in lightish westerlies on Thursday. After that it goes strong Southerlies again, so the Northlands are open.