SY Visions of Johanna Hebrides to Faroes Crossing Day 1, post #1
Sea: The Little Minch
Position: 57 29.8N/6 46.48W (23 nm south of Stornoway)
SOG 7.2 knots; COG 017 mag
TWS 10.2 kn ; TWD: 253 mag
Current situation: Motoring, light winds, 100% low clouds, intermittent showers. Not hot.
Good day all, and ahoy from S/Y Visons of Johanna and her crew of Doug, Chuck and yours truly. Doug and Chuck arrived Thursday night which was a day later than planned and much anticipated. Jack left us Friday morning and soon thereafter we pushed off from the port of Mallaig, headed for the west coast of the Isle of Skye. Here are a few of the sights along the way from Northern Ireland.
Above is the famous lighthouse at Point Ardnamurchan, the point of land that separates the more routine sailing in the southern Hebrides from the more adventuresome north. Fable has it that you tie a bouquet of heather to your bow as demonstration of passage.
We departed from the fishing port of Mallaig, harbour entry seen below. As fishing has declined, Mallaig has stepped up to become a bit of a tourist destination, aided by ferry service to the islands and rail links inland via some of the most picturesque train rides imaginable.
Our initial plan was to sail from Skye to Stornoway on the the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and leave for the Faroes from Stornoway in a day or two, but...after perusing the weather it became apparent that the next 36 hours provided the best weather window and the desirability of the weather for crossing diminished by the day. The plan was also to make for Loch Dunvegan on Skye's west coast but a late start from Mallaig prompted us to stop late afternoon into Loch Bracadale on the SW corner. Decision was to get more weather info and get going early Saturday morning while we confirmed and updated weather data. So, after a fantastic dinner of sauteed crayfish with pesto sauce, green salad, and steak and baked potatoes, we turned in early for a well earned a sleep. Then, up we were at 0430 this morning to weigh anchor at 0500 and underway.
Below is the Isle of Skye from the south...on a sunny day on approach to Mallaig.
Current weather files continue to suggest that we forgo our planned stop at Stornaway so off we are, bound for Tvoroyri on the Island of Suduroy - the southern most Island of the 18 island Faroe group. With it's Norse heritage, Faroes are mostly autonomous but perhaps can be termed a "protectorate" of Denmark. Fantastic scenery and wildlife with some of the most dense bird nesting colonies in the world await us.
We are warm and comfortable aboard. Great spirits and not one threat of mutiny is detected. So far.
Update at 0915. Just pulled down UK Met high seas extended outlook that now confirms high winds forecast in the Tues/Wed time frame in the Faroes and Hebrides respectively, so we are pleased and content with our decision to push on.
We will keep you posted.
Warmly,
Bill and the crew of Visions of Johanna
----
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using GMN's XGate software.
Please be kind and keep your replies short.
No comments:
Post a Comment