Monday, 3 August 2015

Fair isle to Orkney or two sunny days in a row!

Wed. July 15 2015.
Fair Isle UK
0700 did the usual morning routine that you all should know by now. Our friends on Sea Pilgrim left at about the same time. We left at 0800 and set a course down the East side of the Island before heading S/W to the Orkney Islands. We left against the tide knowing that it would turn in our favour when we turned the corner(At least it should? We have been wrong before) It was a motor boat ride and when the tide did change we were making 6-7 knots over the ground. (Not really over the ground because we don’t  have wheels! But over the bottom of the sea. However, I suppose that if the Sea were to dry up then it would be over the ground so maybe I was right?)
So after a rather nice day under blue skies we arrived in the Orkney’s. On Sanday specifically at a town called White hall. We rafted alongside Sea Pilgrim (all ways smart to follow someone else into a strange port if you think you might be rafted onto a rough concrete or stone wall) Our days run was 40 miles.
We clamored over Sea Pilgrim and went for a walk in the village found the Hotel went in for a pint and stayed for dinner. I had fish and chips and Sally had a Sausage pie. She won and since it was here birthday dinner out I payed! The bill was #16.00. (I used # because computer doesn’t have the UK pound sign just in case you were wondering) Returned to the good ship Kalinka1 and now it wasn’t a clamor up over BIG Dirty Old tires but How am I going to get all the way down there! I didn’t use the Mark Fawcett solution (Ask Him) but gingerly climbed down without doing myself an injury had a Cape rounding libation upon my success and toddled off to bed. Sally joined me.
Thursday July 16 2015 white Hall Sanday Island (Orkney’s).
0700 the usual plus a walkabout and small shop, Sally found chocolate covered ginger cookies oh and some instant coffee. We ssaw one lonely Big Seal in the Harbour. Have seen lots of Seals this year sunning themselves well drying out anyway as sunny days have been in short supply. We cast off and left at 1100 motored out of the harbour and at 1150, 10 seconds we switched the engine off and had a wonderful sail all the way South inside the Islands to Kirkwall. We reached speeds in excess of 8 knots at times. As we were entering the harbour area of Kirkwall we saw the Danish School Ship George Foch anchored. So we sailed over to her and took a couple of pictures. All the crew had they’re laundry hung in the rigging to dry. Must be a wet boat. Then the wind really decided to Blow about 25 to 30 so we dowsed the sails lickety split (really, really fast) surfed in through the Z entrance into much calmer water quickly looked around and made for a finger on the first pontoon. Secured the boat, congratulated ourselves on another successful voyage helped Sea Pilgrim tie up. Days run 23 miles in 4 hours.  
               





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