Thursday
16 rainy day so an easy time ashore at
Port Edgar looking around historic South Queens-ferry under the bridges. Pub
lunch and a visit to a museum. Lovely place with ancient organic architecture
running down to the Forth under the huge bridges
Friday 17 Port Edgar to Anstruther via Inchcombe Island 30 miles 7 hours.
Early start,
good visability calm sea edging the northern shipping lane, easing past some
basking seals into a lovely anchorage at Inchcolme island just under shore of
ruined abbey. Breakfast with dramatic views across to Edinburgh.
Then a
wonderful long sail all the way along the Fife coast past the numerous
harbours, villages to Anstruther. Mooring against the wall, this time drying
out.
Beautiful
small town in 2 parts ancient and more recent harbour. Fish supper at the
famous award winning fish restaurant.
Saturday 18
Anstruther to Isle of May to Inner Farne; 54 miles 11 hours, an endurance day
Late start, till
afloat again. Short journey on a brief northerly to the Isle of May, a good
place for a longer visit another time. Wind rapidly turned to southerly just
off the nose, predicted stronger for the following day. Conscious decision to
try to get back to the Farnes so as to make Sunday’s sail shorter. Sea big
rolling in from the northeast. A long tiring day with deteriorating weather. Difficult
making passage. Farnes most welcome tricky identifying safe buoyage because of
the sea conditions. The Kettle mooring a refuge from moving all the time.
Wonderful light and vistas. By 4 am tide full and the calm of our moorings a seething
cauldron with a strong westerly and flying foam, moorings secure allowing a
fitful sleep.
Sunday 19
Farnes to Blyth 32 miles, 8 and half hours.
Sea and
gathering wind on the nose making for slow and painful passage, motor sailing
and lots of tacking as without sail power speed down to 2 knots.
Slowly
steadily ground covered, quickest closer in shore.
Home to
Blyth eventually