Brass Monkeys

[marisca]

Last week was t-shirts and shorts - Sunday left PE and have been frozen, rained, hailed, snowed and galed upon. Now in Fort Augustus, the chippy closed while we were cogitating on the wisdom of another drink, can't get up the locks until 09.30, snow is still falling, forecast is for bloody cold, boat is dripping condensation but at least the wind was up our chuff all the way down Loch Ness.

So what have you done this year?

[wully]

So what have you done this year?

Sailed round Shuna in the sunshine..

[jim.r]

Boat hunted for me and also helped a pal. Fender kicking is awfie addictive!

[sahona]

Used the good weather to get some varnish on the rail and caulk in the deck, three masts dropped ready for lift-out on Sat.
Current weather condusive to procuring and installing a log-burner in the summerhouse.
Beautiful fresh clear sunny day here (the wind from the North is always cleaner than that from the South - how come, when there's no industry in Birmingham any more?)
So far today, I've stayed inside the double-glazing ...

[Aja]

....arrived back from Palma on Monday (29 deg...) to a bl00dy cold Scotland. Brrr.

BUT. Aja goes splash tomorrow.

Way-hay.

Regards
Donald

[ash]

On board tonight for a 6 day Easter cruise. Hope that it warms up a bit - the fan heater only works in the marina.

Monday looks to be a bit windy - hope that changes.

Ash

[Fingal]

So what have you done this year?

Well we have been around Inchcolm.

Twice.

Clockwise and anticlockwise.

Inchkeith next. I'm not sure I can cope with the excitement.

[aquaplane]

On board tonight for a 6 day Easter cruise. Hope that it warms up a bit - the fan heater only works in the marina.

Monday looks to be a bit windy - hope that changes.

Ash

We are hooked up in Tarbert too! Not that I usually want to hook up every night, 'lecky vailability is a consideration when it's cold.

Got the sails on, we may be brave enough to cast off if it's nice tomoz.

[claymore]

Launched this morning and wandered doon tae Fleetwood Marina fer a clean up an vittlin.
Depart next Saturday for Ardfern.

[ash]

Brrrrr. Woke up this morning to 0 deg cent in the saloon. The marina had a film of ice on the surface ( substantial burn runs thro' it). At least the problem of overnight condensation drips was solved - our breath vapour was a solid film of ice. Had to be a bit nifty with the paper kitchen towels once the sun came out.

sailed downwind to Ardentinny on Loch Long, expecting the wind to change as per the forecast but no luck - had to to beat back to Kip. Where did all this south in the wind come from?

Think we'll shelter in Port Bannatyne tomorrow night.

Ash

[marisca]

Dumped the boat at Banbhaidh until the weather warms up.
The ST2000+ gave up in the Moray Firth, possibly 'cos it was working fine until I put it onto stand-by and hand steered when the waves got a bit big and the squalls came in with snow attached. Letting it cool down in a dampish atmosphere at sub-zero temperatures may not have been a good idea. Anyhoo when I got home today I found it is exactly 2 years since I bought the thing so I dashed off an email to Raymarine to ask them where they wanted it sent for a warranty claim. Watch this space for results!

[Booby Trapper]

On board tonight for a 6 day Easter cruise. Hope that it warms up a bit - the fan heater only works in the marina.

Monday looks to be a bit windy - hope that changes.

Ash

Must be too early for sailing. I'm sitting looking out at a cold empty Brodick bay. The cooncil haven't got the moorings laid yet in Brodick or Millport. Cant say about Lochranza as I haven't been up there this week. I would have thought they would have them in for Easter weekend.

[pagoda]

Cold +1
A cracking sail up to Colintraive on Monday. - loads of tacking but excellent fun.
Hotel grub as good as ever - though owner reporting that nobody is spending money any more??
On Tuesday we woke to snow and 20Kt+ random gusts. We sailed down the East kyle on the jib alone until we reached Loch Striven, which was howling 30-40Kts Northerly - and white froth everywhere.
In the interests of Harmony, we bailed out of a return to Ardrossan and lazed about in Port Bannatyne. Absolutely glorious, though dam* cold! (just wear more layers!!)
Wednesday we sailed back to Ardrossan. Brilliant sailing, - cold & sunny, 20 -25Kts Northerly, Full main & half a jib - tramping along. We made it in 2 3/4 hours, and got in before the Caley Isles.
The Spirit of Fairbridge has been out and about in the Clyde this week also - is she working from Largs?

Graeme

[ash]

Depart next Saturday for Ardfern.

So the Claymore called Claymore currently (Good Friday) berthed here in Port Bannatyne is an imposter!

Ash

[claymore]

Not Claymore's Claymore Claymore.
Is the name written in flowery script in gold, I think - between the aft end of the centre cockpit and the stern end?