Tues July 21/15
Well we got up early, had breakfast did some boat chores
read a bit and generally practiced being layabouts. Then around noon decided to
go into town and visit the Cathedral and the Bishops Palace and had a late
lunch at Olav’s Hotel. Then returned to the boat and invited ourselves over to Sea Pilgrim for
drinks and a visit. Then returned to the Good ship Kalinka1 and had movie
night. 50 shades of Grey. Sally liked it I fell a sleep! The high point of the
day was that it didn’t rain!
Wed. July 22/15
Woke up really well rested Sun is shining!
Studied the weather (4 sources not including the tarot cards, runes and fish
entrails) and then the tide tables. Everything lined up and said depart at
1540. So off to Tesco for more supplies i.e. Château de Cardboard Red. Managed a
box of dago Red and some chocolate Ginger cookies! Said our good by’s to the
harbour master and assistant and we got under-way for WestRay Island 30 miles
N/W had a wonder full sail followed by a 2 hour motorboat ride as the wind
dropped out and we could see a front moving in. We had a steak pie for dinner
and arrived in PieroWell at about 2030 and rafted to Sea Pilgrim who was rafted
to a rather large wooden French cutter. The harbour was full at this point. We
settled in had a cape rounding and off to slumber land It’s amazing how 6 hours
on the water can still tire us out..
Thurs. July 23/15
Woke up early again to the gentle sound of
creaking lines, the slap slap of wavelets brushing against the hull and the
sound of the wind rustling through the rigging oh and the SLAP CLANK CLUNK BANG
RATTLE of Halyards against aluminium masts and this was all before the weather
turned nasty and blew a full gale for two days right into the harbour! It was
entertaining watching everyone re tie,tie more and add more lines and fenders
in a horizontal rain. Then a BIG Swedish boat decided to enter the all ready
full small harbour. Figured there were going to be tears but we were ok so got
good seats and popcorn to watch the show.
Pierowell Harbour is very small and shallow with an entrance
open to the South (Gail was a girl I knew a long time ago not the subject of
this story. However Gale was a South Wester veering South East) That had full entrance.
There is one long pontoon with fingers on the inside in the shallower water and
for and aft mooring on the outside. Most of the boat on the outside were
smallish with two 40 footers on the end. We were tucked in along the West side
of the harbour behind the West Wall. The entrance to the harbour was about 50
feet wide and about 75 feet from the break wall to the pontoon.
Soo the 50 footer comes in blind( as you can’t see the
layout until your in) at Mach 19 with no lines or fenders rigged! With the crew
on deck all ready to do they’re captains bidding. The look on all their faces
was priceless!!! Then the brakes went on
( for you that don’t know, there are no brakes on a boat! Only the
engine in reverse) a whole lot of scurrying around some loud undecipherable commands,
the rapid deployment of three fenders a bunch of people on other boats running
to fend off in case of a major crash landing. (The suspense builds) Some rapid
reversing and to and frowing somewhat in
control as they frantically looked for someone to raft onto. No one wanted them
on the outside as they were much much bigger. Then the last boat on the pontoon
took pity and let them go alongside. (regretted it shortly there after but it
was too late.) Then there was the stringing of lines all over the harbour to
pull them off the boat they were rafted to as the kept popping their fenders!
One crew member actually went around demanding that others give them fenders!
All over so we went for a walk!
Fri. July 24/15.
Yup up early after listening to an all night party from a
boat directly behind us! We had to clear the harbour of the spider web. But
first we had to go and wake the skipper of the Swedish boat who had promised
that he would be up and clear the lines! So much fo promises. That was done and
we got under way. We caught a favourable tide and headed NW out of Papa Sound
made our way out into the Atlantic headed South along the West coast of WestRay
Island and then caught the favourable tide through Hoy Sound and into Stromness
. Just what the harbour Master promised.
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