oooer missus . . .

[Nick]

.
It's a bit alarming when you are holed up somewhere expecting a bit of a blow and you see the local ferry - a vessel the size and build of a large trawler - being hauled out of the water on a slipway.

The skipper of the Good Shepherd, the Fair Isle ferry, has told us that tghey are expecting a ten foot Northerly swell tomorrow heading in the harbour entrance, and we are basicaly stuck here until the Northerlies moderate. He recommended that we went in to their berth as it is the most sheltered in the harbour. There are loads of big fenders for visiting yachts to use fortunately and we are pretty snug here, but watch this space for more news tomorrow. Still only GPRS, but might have a go at posting some pictures . . .

[Telo]

Forecast still talking about a 7. How are you getting on, and any ten-foot waves yet?

Valid Friday 18 Jun 2010 at 1800 UTC until Saturday 19 Jun 2010 at 0600 UTC
Wind North 6 or 7.
Sea state Rough or very rough.
Weather Showers.
Visibility Good.

Outlook
Valid for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Saturday 19 Jun until 1800 UTC on Saturday 19 Jun
Wind North 5 to 7.
Sea state Rough or very rough.
Weather Showers dying out.
Visibility Good.

[Nick]

.
Slept well. In the morning we were bouncing around a bit but one of the ferry crew came by and suggested we took a line attached to the breakwater opposite (just off the port bow) as this would 'help take some of the bounce out' - and he was right. Just been out attaching more lines and snubbers and adjusting the many fenders and it is not too bad. There is a 3m swell outside, but maybe two foot is getting in hre and only half that is making its way round the corner to where we are. It's not as desperate as Santa Maria by a long way, and in fact we left the boat and went for a walk roun d the croftlands and settlement to the South of the island this afternoon. Heading North from here on foot is riskier, as it iks Bonxie terriitory and there are loads of them in very agressive mood.

Tomorrow morning they may be putting the Good Shepherd back in the water for a trip to Sumburgh, in which case we wil have to get out of this berth for a while, a process I am not looking forward to as manoevering space is very restircrfed with a yacht behind us and rocks in front and to port and the wind is gustin g occasionally to maybe 35 knots or so. On the other hand thre is a good chance that thre will be too much swell at Sumburgh for them to go - we will just have to get up early and take it as we find it.

Running out of power for this beast now so that is it for today I think. Probably a brief update tomorrow then I will post loads of piks and more narrative when we get to Lerwick and I can get a decent connection.

[Telo]

Sorry it's so bad. It's been very hot down here all day, and yesterday was beautiful. Had a look at the Fair Isle webcam;



Hmm....

Not much of the midnight sun then,

[Nick]

Sorry it's so bad. It's been very hot down here all day, and yesterday was beautiful

Thanks Donald, rub it in! Freezing Northerlies here, up checking lines etc at 4am and got an updated forecast including a gale warning for Fair Isle. Did I men tion that the Observatory, touted in the pilot as a source of food, drink and general welcoming respite, is closed??

The good news - from oour point of view anyway - is that the Good Shepherd didn ;t launch this morning so we didn ;t have to get out of her b erth. Just as well because at that time the swell was right up and the wind was gusting to maybe 40 knots, and I think that if we had tried to take the boat off the wall in this cnfined space it could have ended in expensive tears.

Will maybe go and find some Puffins this morning to cheer ourselves up. Wind is forecast to drop significcantly overnight, so maybe Lerwick tomorrow, if not then Monday.

[claymore]

And the plummin?

[Telo]

Whaddayamean, rubbing it in? Just trying to keep your spirits up. This, from the Fair Isle website, is what it will look like once the weather improves;



Looks great!

BTW, it's scorching again down here.

[Arghiro]

Gorgeous in the Midlands too, I was out for a shirtsleeves spin in my old Merc roadster today.


SWMBO has planned a holiday for us in the Orkneys in a couple of weeks. Driving unfortunately, but I shall keep an eye open for forum burgees. I'm trying to convince her we should take the Merc (22mpg) rather than the Mondeo (50mpg) but she thinks it will be hard to fix if it breaks down & I'm finding it hard to convince her that the Mondeo with all its electrickery & chips will be a nightmare in the sticks, while the Merc's 1970's technology will be as familiar & easy to fix as their tractors!

[Gardenshed]

take the merc it'll be smiles and friendly waves the whole way. That's what you've got it for, right?

Took my old toy to the marina today. bliss. no power steering or brakes & proper handing. It was amazing how many old & special cars were on the roads

[Alcyone]

Did you catch any puffins? Let us know how you cooked them.

[Nick]

Did you catch any puffins? Let us know how you cooked them.

Puffin? Best smoked.

[Alcyone]

Did you catch any puffins? Let us know how you cooked them.

Puffin? Best smoked.

Ah, a pipe man. Classy.