...well a weekend anyway!It was late Friday by the time we got to the boat after a flight, and Dave picking up Jim, Susy and I from the airport....But we were soon aboard the boat in Kip Marina, and cast off.There were some signs in the marina of it being a bit breezy, so we headed out carefully to find it raining, cold and blowing a good solid F6, straight on the nose. Undaunted, we set sails, and bashed off up into the wind. The boat, a Moody 31, clearly enjoyed the heavy weather, and with a single reef in the main, and a good few turns on the Genoa, we crashed through the seas, making between 5 and 6.5kts despite the bouncy ride. Much to Paul's delight we soon overtook Ecume de Mer, and 2.5hrs later we arrived at the windswept pontoons off Cumbrae at the national watersports centre, with the lights of Largs shining over the other side of the water. We'd had a cracking good sail up, albeit a rather wet and cold one....Naturally, this could only mean that it was time to have a beer or two, so after a round of introductions to the assembled craft, we headed off to the watersports centre bar, where the barman looked rather stunned to see a bedraggled, sodden group of sailors march through his door!We proceeded to enjoy Scottish hospitality at its best, with the barman staying on until the wee small hours, and Pete pulling off the remarkable coup of organising a take away curry, getting it delivered after closing time, getting the barman to find plates and cutlery (and then getting him to wash them up afterwards!!!!) all on an island of 2.5nm length, and in a bar with just one other house for company......Saturday saw us arrive to a good stiff breeze again... perhaps if anything slightly stronger, but fortunately the rain had moved on.... This caused a good deal of debate.... the Navtex was reporting various winds between F8 and F10, and so the original plan of a run down to Tarbert, about 24nm away looked less than appealing, not because the boat wasn't capable of handling it, but more to avoid being stuck and struggling to get back for flights home..... so we did the sensible thing and procrastinated...... this resulted in us all walking along the (only) road to the small town of Millport... it was 2.5nm (ahem Pete..... make that 4nm).... but it was actually a very pleasant walk.... we of course found the main pub in the town and had a beer or two, and then several hours later caught the bus back....This was the catalyst for getting on and doing something, and within the hour, we'd all slipped and headed off back in the direction we'd come from the previous evening, with unsurprsingly, the wind having gone through 180 degrees, so it became a beat..... With the wind having swung, and now having nowhere as much of a fetch, the sea state had flattened considerably, so the Moody was a little quicker.... we hit 7.4kts hard on the wind.... not bad for a 31'er..... she was really trucking along, and with the wind having moderated to mid 20's of knots, a full main and couple of turns on the genoa, she was a delight to helm....Our destination was Rothesay on the Isle of Bute... which we reached quickly.... and in first place (result!)..... a small marina in a small town... but with a load of character....En masse we descended upon the local chippy, where a large portion of Fish and chips was obtained, along with a 20 minute one man cabaret from the guy in the chippy.....By now it was getting on a bit, so we gradually drifted towards Sahona, a very lovely Claymore, and this was nominated as party boat..... much booze was consumed, along with a good selection of decent cheese.... before we new it, the guitars were out, it was late, and the party was in full flight....
Well... what can I say?Exhausted, we slipped back into our berths at about 3 am..... and slept a whisky assisted sleep of the dead...I awoke at about 08h30, a little worse for the wear, to find the wind having vanished completely, and the sun shining, with clear blue skies.... we were a little early to heac straight back to Kip, so a decision was reached to head up the Kyles of Bute, and then come back the same way.... this was a motor, as the wind was no existant, but it is a truly stunning trip.... steep hills and mountains all around, with Porpoises, and fabulous little hidden houses slowly appearing and disappearing.... it was a shame to have to turn around, but eventually it was neccessary..... and we motored back to Kip where we tied up, a little tired, but having had a grand weekend....The return flight was uneventful, and I was back home by 23h00.Thanks to the Scottish group who organised it.... it was a great weekend.
Miles logged 44nm
Miles this season 77nm
Miles since this blog started 3,014nm
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