Ah well, there's always next year.......

[Telo]

No big deal, and I don't want to reinforce the general gloom regarding this year's sailing, but I've been totting up this season's numbers - not too impressive; 38 days on board and 831 miles.

We had the fewest days on board for the past seven seasons, and the second least distance sailed, with no overnight sails or longish passages.

The season started reasonably well, but August was dreadful - apparently we missed a half decent week when we hitched a sail with friends on their boat in Turkey. September wasn't much better. The only decent sailing seemed to be in F5 and above, and we seemed to either get F5/6/7/8, or a lot of very light variable winds which necessitated more engine usage than desirable.

Having said that, it wasn't all bad - some of the good days were very very good indeed

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Looking back, even though it wasn't a great year, we should still be grateful that we've had the opportunities that we've enjoyed. We're very very lucky to be able to sail as much as we do, and in such a great area.

So how was it for you?

[Nick]

.

So how was it for you?

Mince compared to previous years, but maybe we needed a wee rest . . . you can have too much of a good thing. I think we had less than 20 nights aboard Fairwinds and probably under 500 miles.

Still, we also had the Scuttlebutt cruises, with the privilege of skippering Amaranthe on the second outing, and I ran a 5-day Comp Crew course in Barra, which was fun.

Next year is a whole new can of worms . . .

[Wildbird]

Lovely pictures! Oh, how tempted am I to come up to Scotland next summer! Any chance of some captions so I can work out where all those places are?

I've done (well not quite finished, as Wild Bird is still in the water) about 1900 miles since April ... over to SW Ireland (generally very wet, and succession of gales); the Isles of Scilly (beautiful!) and pottering about the SW coast. Hopefully a trip over to france over the next month or so if we get a good weather window.

[Silkie]

Any chance of some captions so I can work out where all those places are?

Ooh - a 19 part whereisit! Now, let me see...

[damo]

Lovely pics

I usually only manage 2-3 weeks off work for my summer trip, but I always manage about 800 miles. Getting out of the Bristol Channel is the first problem, and I aim where the wind takes me - last August was pretty windy and the last beat towards Milford Haven and Ireland turned into a passage to the Channel Islands

The aim next summer is around Ireland, but if a good SWesterly takes me up the Irish Sea towards the west of Scotland then I'll check out some of those anchorages

Miles per day on board is not very good though cos I live aboard most of the time....

[Telo]

Any chance of some captions so I can work out where all those places are?

OK. Here goes..........


Looking north from South Bernera Bay, Lismore, April.


Forumite LJS at the start of the Chentleman's Cruise, May


Rain, hail and sleet at Dunstaffnage, while waiting for some Chentlemen, May


Seaplane leaving Tobermory Bay, Mull, May


Glen Coe hills from anchorage at Camas Shallachain, Loch Linnhe, May


Approaching Camas Shallachain, Loch Linnhe, May


Sunrise over Airds House, Airds Bay, Lynn of Lorn, May


Cragaig Bothy, Ulva, from the Cragaig Bay anchorage, May


Cragaig Bay, Ulva, May


"Naisso", Westerly Typhoon, Sàilean Mòr, Oronsay, Loch Sunart, June


Ruined cottage, Sàilean Mòr, Oronsay, Loch Sunart, June


Approaching Camas Shallachain, Loch Linnhe May


Port Mòr, Muck July


Gocek, Turkey, August


Entrance to the Sound of Mull, and Eilean Musdile light, Lismore, from Oitir Mhòr Bay, Kerrera, September


Achnacroish, Lismore, October


Puilladobhrain, October


Eilean Gainimh, Isles and Skerries of Lismore (Eileanan agus Sgeirean Lios Mòr), Loch Linnhe, with Beinn a' Bheithir in the distance, October


Sound of Shuna, Loch Linnhe, looking towards Mull and Morven, November

[Silkie]

Approaching Camas Shallachain, Loch Linnhe May

Glad I didn't try to guess as I was sure that this was approaching Puilladobhrain with that little lighter patch of "beach."

[Ocklepoint]

Great photos, many thanks.

First two weeks of July, too much wind out of the north, did not manage to get across the Minch

First two weeks of August, not enough wind, but did manage to get round the top

776 nms, 30 nights on board, and a handful of day trips

Already looking forward to 2009

[Macwester28]

Nights on board. 28 distance travelled 2 miles!!

Distance travelled, one way shamefully towed backwards by the harbour master to dock for lift out. 2 miles, return trip under own power.

Next year..... well thats in the planning stages at the moment but hopefully from Brittany to Bordeaux. Canal du midi and then back or stay in Montpellier.

So if any one would like to "occupy" my berth in Treguier for a while in the summer a few beers might suffice as having been there for six years i am certainly not giving it up, not at the cost per annum.