Let's go round again....

Not a lot to tell you today. I was glum this morning due to the weather not playing ball.
I had a couple of phone calls to help me wake, thanks guys, much apriciated :-). Then had a couple of txt's from worried folk that I'd either overslept or forgotten to turn the tracking device on. (this was before they were awake enough to read my last blog entry.
It's comforting to know that you guys are keeping an eye on me.

• I walked a couple of miles to restock with some fresh provisions.
• Read part of two books. Charles Stock's 'Sailing just for fun', just in case I needed a reminder and 'The Grace Outpouring' by Roy Godwin and my old mate Dave Roberts, an amazing story of God's work at Ffald-Y-Brenin. 
• I practised a little Ukulele; Now I wonder should that read 'I practised on a little Ukulele' or 'I practised for a short while on the Ukulele'? You make up your own mind.
• I turned Ruach around, nose to the wind, so she thinks that this time we are 'going for it' (Also to stop the bloomin' cold wind getting into the cabin). Whatever reason, it gives me a different vista as I write this.

Not really a lot to show for the day, however I have been pawing over all sorts of weather forecasts and synoptic charts to try to make sense of what is going on. I've come to the conclusion that the forecasters have as much of an idea as I do about what will happen say twelve hours from now. As it stands we are on again for tomorrow morning, so up at six tomorrow to meet the tide at the Pentland Firth. At least that is an additional hour in bed compared to this morning.

Take note:

Assuming I get onto the North coast sometime soon there is a chance that I will be going 'dark' on you. I'm told that there is minimal coverage for blogging on the North coast, so don't worry about me keeping up this tirade of blog updates, it won't last. But the good news is that the tracker on the main website will continue to function as it uses a different technology.

That's about it for now. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

If anyone out there is having trouble donating at the justgiving sites (behind company firewalls, don't trust the internet with my card details or just don't want to give that way, etc) you can mail me a cheque direct. To do this just send me an email and I'll send you the details.

Don't forget to drop me a note at onpassage@dhippey.co.uk to sign up to be informed when blog updates appear.

Please share this site with your friends and family

( Especially the rich ones :-)  )

If you came to this blog from the main website www.eventoftheyear.co.uk you will hopefully have had a look around the site and be aware of what I'm up to, both the adventure itself and the fact that I'm aiming to raise awareness of dementia in our society and to raise money for the Alzheimer's charities.

I'm doing this trip for fun and funding the trip myself, but while I'm on this venture you can do your bit to by supporting the Alzheimer's charities through either www.justgiving.com/david-hippey or www.justgiving.com/david-hippey-scotland

Catch you next time.

Regards,

David H.

Weather to go, or not it seems

Just a quicky....
    You may notice that on the main website on the 'where am I' page there is no track moving effortlessly across the screen this morning. this is despite receiving the early morning wake up phone calls (Thank folks). The weather has decided not to play ball, instead of being the nice force four as forecast and required for this passage, I woke to a force five. gusting six. This is not what I ordered!
Oh well, breakfast on some excellent organic Noss beef sausages and baked beans plus a mug of builder strength tea. H'mm, I feel better for that.
BTW I've updated the map on the front page of the main website to show where I am to date. End of the red line top right.

Pertinent to the charity I am asking you to support while I'm on this trip it was sad to hear that Lieutenant Columbo has died. Actor Peter Falk passed away on Friday following a long bout with Alzheimer's disease.

The man in the mac

So, what to do today? I'm sure I will find something.


If anyone out there is having trouble donating at the justgiving sites (behind company firewalls, don't trust the internet with my card details or just don't want to give that way, etc) you can mail me a cheque direct. To do this just send me an email and I'll send you the details.

Don't forget to drop me a note at onpassage@dhippey.co.uk to sign up to be informed when blog updates appear.

Please share this site with your friends and family ( Especially the rich ones :-)  )

If you came to this blog from the main website www.eventoftheyear.co.uk you will hopefully have had a look around the site and be aware of what I'm up to, both the adventure itself and the fact that I'm aiming to raise awareness of dementia in our society and to raise money for the Alzheimer's charities.
I'm doing this trip for fun and funding the trip myself, but while I'm on this venture you can do your bit to by supporting the Alzheimer's charities through either www.justgiving.com/david-hippey or www.justgiving.com/david-hippey-scotland


Catch you later.
David H.

In and around Wick

Last evening I had a trip on another vessel (Third on this trip). I went out with a fellow Mk1 owner Andrew on his Crabber Mudlark. We have both had our boats a similar amount of time, so we have been comparing and contrasting our two craft over the last couple of days.
It has been the first time for both of us to see another Mk1 Crabber in the flesh as it were. Great fun.

Andrew, skipper of Mudlark

While I have been having this enforced stay in Wick waiting for the right combination of tide and wind I have been keeping myself busy with the local area. Did you know for example that Wick has the shortest street in the world! At just 6'9" Ebernezer Place is recognised as such in the Guinness Book of Records.
The street has only one door, it is No1 surprisingly. You wouldn't think it needed a number really would you.

No1 Ebernezer Place

Also while we are on this track, pun intended, Wick railway station has the claim to fame of being the terminus of the 'Far North Line', even though it is not the furthest North. The railway actually goes up to Thurso then back down to Wick. In my youth I remember students travelling immense distances on the railway for peanuts on a special ticket for students. The deal was something like 'travel anywhere on the rail network for a fixed sum' which was something like a £5'er. So they would plan trips from all over the UK to Wick to get the most value out of their bargain priced ticket, just because they can!

Wick Station

After these facts all I can say is I can't wait to get sailing again. Hopefully tomorrow (Saturday) morning the wind will be from the forecast South East as the tide is at it's weakest (neaps) to allow me to sneak round the corner onto the North shore of this fair land. I need a 5am kick off to meet the tide.
To make sure I'm up and about in time give me a quick call on the mobile if you are up :-)

Thanks for the emails of support you guys have sent me. However a couple of people have made comments along the lines of "I wish the photos were a bit bigger"
Well they can be!! Just click your mouse on a picture and it will expand, use the back button or arrow in your browser to get back to the blog.
While we are at it, any orange word is also a clickable link, Just click on one see where it goes.

Hope that helps.


If anyone out there is having trouble donating at the justgiving sites (behind company firewalls, don't trust the internet with my card details or just don't want to give that way, etc) you can mail me a cheque direct. To do this just send me an email and I'll send you the details.

Don't forget to drop me a note at onpassage@dhippey.co.uk to sign up to be informed when blog updates appear.

Please share this site with your friends and family ( Especially the rich ones :-)  )

If you came to this blog from the main website www.eventoftheyear.co.uk you will hopefully have had a look around the site and be aware of what I'm up to, both the adventure itself and the fact that I'm aiming to raise awareness of dementia in our society and to raise money for the Alzheimer's charities.
I'm doing this trip for fun and funding the trip myself, but while I'm on this venture you can do your bit to by supporting the Alzheimer's charities through either www.justgiving.com/david-hippey or www.justgiving.com/david-hippey-scotland


Regards,
David H.

Lybster to Wick

The departure from Lybster was much less dramatic than the arrival. We just slipped the shore lines and motored out onto an almost flat calm sea. Otto took over the helm while I hoisted the sails. Once the sails were drawing well we shared the helm between Otto, Ruach and me. Because the conditions were so calm and the coast here is very steep to with few off lying dangers I sailed in close to get a good look at the cliffs, accompanied by the ‘maw, maw, maw’ of the gulls swirling across its face. For some reason gulls around here are known as maws, I wonder why?
We were headed for Wick, about 16 miles to our North East. As we left we were at the top of the tide and it was about to start ebbing out of the Moray Firth adding to my speed through the water.

A ruin of a fishing station close to Lybster

Waterfall

  

On arrival at Wick I was met at the gate to the pontoon by Malcolm Bremner the harbour master. He asked about me and the trip I was on, then happened to mentioned that he was just about to take the Isabella Fortuna out for a test run after completing some work on her engine. This was a chance too good to miss so I asked if I could come along too. Even though I had just arrived in Wick harbour, within half an hour I was heading back out to sea for a short proving trip on this historic ship. The highlight of the trip for me was being handed the helm for the return leg to the harbour, not only that but being able to helm this 120 year old,  40 ton vessel back to her berth under Malcolm’s watchful eye. The Isabella Fortuna is a herring fishing vessel of a type known as a Fifie. Of the many hundreds of these vessels that existed there are now only around four left in existence. 

 The Isabella Fortuna

The next leg of my journey will take me through the perilous Pentland Firth which not only requires careful timing due to the tides but also it requires a wind less than a force 4 with a lot of East in it. So it looks like I am to be in Wick for a few days. The current forecast is that I will have the right winds with me on Saturday 25th June, which is also a neap tide (Which also incidentally is my Dad's Birthday too. Happy Birthday Dad!)

.....and finally - Is this a pirates curse?

If anyone out there is having trouble donating at the justgiving sites (behind company firewalls, don't trust the internet with my card details or just don't want to give that way, etc) you can mail me a cheque direct. To do this just send me an email and I'll send you the details.

Don't forget to drop me a note at onpassage@dhippey.co.uk to sign up to be informed when blog updates appear.

Please share this site with your friends and family ( Especially the rich ones :-)  )

If you came to this blog from the main website www.eventoftheyear.co.uk you will hopefully have had a look around the site and be aware of what I'm up to, both the adventure itself and the fact that I'm aiming to raise awareness of dementia in our society and to raise money for the Alzheimer's charities.
I'm doing this trip for fun and funding the trip myself, but while I'm on this venture you can do your bit to by supporting the Alzheimer's charities through either www.justgiving.com/david-hippey or www.justgiving.com/david-hippey-scotland

Catch you next time.

Regards,
David H.

Lossiemouth to Helmsdale, erm Lybster

16 miles off the Caithness coast

Set off towards Helmsdale with glorious sunshine, the wind again straight up the tailpipe, which started off being terrific as the miles counted off, 1, 2, 3.. 7 miles offshore, 18 more to go; then the wind tailed off a little, changed direction by about 15 degrees which left a very sloppy sea with waves coming from two directions, the motion was up and down from the back and corkscrewing from the starboard aft quarter (Back right-hand corner for you landlubbers). A horrible motion that I knew I couldn’t cope with for too long. Although I have gained a set of sea-legs while on this journey, I wasn’t confident that they would stand up for another three hours plus of this motion. What to do? I could either sail off slightly away from my intended destination to give the boat a better motion, then kind of tack downwind to achieve my goal, or maybe I could switch goals to the tiny port of Lybster, 26 miles away, an extra eight miles but in a more comfortable direction, with probably faster sailing. The decision was easy, the course was plotted and the Ruach took off in the new direction towards Lybster. We were flying, almost 7 knots, leaping from wave to wave. I called the harbourmaster to ensure that in these conditions a landing at Lybster would be tenable. No response! It was now up to my skill and judgment to decide to enter or not. Lybster is just a small indentation in the coast, the pilot books state that it is safe for winds from all directions ONCE INSIDE. The entrance is just 9 metres wide with unwelcoming rocks on one side. Two miles off I decided to get most sail off of Ruach. This was going to be interesting as the surf was blowing off the top of most waves.  I furled away the jib (front sail), I dropped the mains’l (The big main one). This left me with just the staysail to help counter the bucking bronco the seas were throwing up. Using the engine to control my approach I aimed for the lighthouse, then when almost within touching distance turned to glide into the harbour. The tumult instantly subsided. We had arrived! The fun wasn’t quite over as Lybster harbour is made up of an inner and outer harbour. The outer being further inland than the inner one, so once in the outer harbour a 180 degree turn is required to enter the inner harbour. (If this sounds a little like the rules of cricket take a look at the picture below, simple really).

Lybster Harbour

Just as I turned the engine puttered to a stop. Quick as a flash I dropped the anchor and stowed the staysail. I then poked my nose into the engine compartment to see what had happened? It looks like I still have some dirt in the fuel tank as the fuel filter was empty with the tank a quarter full. I’m not surprised really, the tank had had a real shakeup for the last few hours.  I looked up and one of the small fishing boats were just on their way out from the inner harbour to lend me a hand, but the engine started and they were not required, I was welcomed into the harbour and directed to tie up to one of the fishing boats by Louise. As soon as we were made fast I was offered a cuppa, a shower, a dram up at the house which, once I had changed into dry clothing, I accepted the cuppa in the big warm kitchen. The house was full of international guests attending a house-painting party. Louise and Mano open their house to ‘couch surfers’ to help bring a bit of variety into their small community. I stayed in this warm kitchen until after midnight debating the world and everything. Once we had put all that to rights it was back to Ruach for a long heavy sleep.

Louise & Mano's freshly painted house. 

The following day I had the privilege to be invited back to the newly painted Inver House for a BBQ tea. Where I met a number of the locals as well as the international guests.

If anyone out there is having trouble donating at the justgiving sites (behind company firewalls, don't trust the internet with my card details or just don't want to give that way, etc) you can mail me a cheque direct. To do this just send me an email and I'll send you the details.

Don't forget to drop me a note at onpassage@dhippey.co.uk to sign up to be informed when blog updates appear.

Please share this site with your friends and family
( Especially the rich ones :-)  )

If you came to this blog from the main website www.eventoftheyear.co.uk you will hopefully have had a look around the site and be aware of what I'm up to, both the adventure itself and the fact that I'm aiming to raise awareness of dementia in our society and to raise money for the Alzheimer's charities.
I'm doing this trip for fun and funding the trip myself, but while I'm on this venture you can do your bit to by supporting the Alzheimer's charities through either www.justgiving.com/david-hippey or www.justgiving.com/david-hippey-scotland

Catch you next time.

Regards,
David H.

Portnockie to Lossiemouth

On arrival at Lossiemouth, or Lossie to the locals, I called the harbourmaster to secure a berth, but being out of hours I spoke once again to an answer-phone.

 Sunset over Lossiemouth West Basin

All too many of these harbours are feeling the economic pinch and reducing their manned hours. This is a sad sign of our times. Still, that gave me to option to pick my own berth once inside. I chose an easy space in the East basin. The following day I went to the office to meet Ian the harbourmaster, a gently spoken ex-services man who welcomed me to the harbour. He made me feel very welcome as he introduced me to the usual showers toilet and laundry (again very clean) Ian is a credit to this harbour. I spent a couple of days here being buzzed by the military in what seems like 24x7 operational training. 

Lossiemouth East Basin

Today’s Factoid – Lossiemouth is located at the point of Stotfield Head. Just around the corner from the current harbour there was previously located the Hythe, Stotfield’s harbour, where on Christmas Day, 1806, 21 fishermen put to sea. After hauling their fishing lines they made for the shore when a fierce storm blew up from the SSW and not one of the boats were ever seen or heard of again. Twenty-one men and boys, the entire men-folk of the village perished that day. The oldest male left in the village was a boy of 12 years of age, besides two bedridden old men. A sad tale indeed.

How small were Lossiemouth fishermen of old? Compare this door with the road cones.

If anyone out there is having trouble donating at the justgiving sites (behind company firewalls, don't trust the internet with my card details or just don't want to give that way, etc) you can mail me a cheque direct. To do this just send me an email and I'll send you the details.

Don't forget to drop me a note at onpassage@dhippey.co.uk to sign up to be informed when blog updates appear.

Please share this site with your friends and famil

( Especially the rich ones :-)  )

If you came to this blog from the main website www.eventoftheyear.co.uk you will hopefully have had a look around the site and be aware of what I'm up to, both the adventure itself and the fact that I'm aiming to raise awareness of dementia in our society and to raise money for the Alzheimer's charities.

I'm doing this trip for fun and funding the trip myself, but while I'm on this venture you can do your bit to by supporting the Alzheimer's charities through either www.justgiving.com/david-hippey or www.justgiving.com/david-hippey-scotland

Catch you next time.

Regards,

David H.

Banff to Portnockie

Following my arrival at Banff Marina, James the harbourmaster came to welcome me and introduce me to the facilities. One of these facilities being a washing machine and drier, located in a room off of his office. So at last the laundry was done!! I also made use of the very clean toilet and shower in the marina. What a clean boy.

I stayed a couple of days in Banff, sleeping long and catching up on emails etc. James was also very helpful in taking me to the petrol station at the top of the town to fill up Ruachs' petrol tanks. this saved me a very steep walk there and back with 20 litres of fuel.

One afternoon James mentioned that he was going out for an evening sail in his Westerly Centaur, so I asked if he wanted a crew. Offer accepted we sailed about five miles West to Portsoy, while sailing he regaled me with tales of the actor Timothy Spall and his barge which overwintered in Banff. Off Portsoy we met a couple of other Banff yachts, so all returned together on the gentle evening breeze. The Westerly Centaur is not one of the fastest boats around, but they are very capable safe seaworthy boats. the Centaur was one of the first yachts I skippered and this sail brought back many fond memories.

I think Ruach was starting to take root in Banff so it was time to haul anchor and head to pastures new. The following day I set out for Portnockie, about 10 miles further up the coast.

I recieved a phone call from Bruce, a guy I had not seen for far too many years. A mutual friend had alerted him to my little adventure (Thanks John). So we arranged to meet up once I arrived at Portnockie.

Just before arriving at Portnockie I passed the little port of Cullen. This port is made famous by the dish Cullen Skink. Now I'm led to believe that the Skink around Cullen are related to the Haggis, the small hairy beasties that have one leg shorter than the other to ease their grazing in the Scottish highlands. The way these wee beasties are caught is to chase them the wrong way around the hillside until they overbalance and roll down the hillside to be caught in the glen below. Whatever the Skink is, they do make a tasty soup.

The Port of Cullen, famous for Cullen Skink

Interesting 'Bow Fiddle' rock formation near Portnockie

A mile off the port I received another phone call from Bruce, "Fancy a fish supper?". Now who am I to refuse such an offer. Half an hour later I'd been introduced to Bruce's daughter Eve and we were feasting on Cullen's finest Chips.

Bruce & Eve

Three year old Eve was more than happy climbing up the vertical harbour wall ladders with gay abandon; These are the ladders that I certainly don’t enjoy climbing.



Eve at the helm of Ruach.

"Come on Dad, can we get our boat in the water too"

Just before leaving town Alsion, Bruces wife came down to the pier to see me too. What a great suprise, and what a great day. We really must keep in touch this time. 
Finally this day I was rewarded with a Portnockie sunset.

Sunset over Portknockie

Today's Factoid - Portknockie is in Gaelic Port Chnocaidh, the hilly port.... and it certainly is.
The port surrounded by a natural bowl of rock atop the village is placed. Which of course means no phone signals in or out..... Bliss :-)

Ruach turned out to be quite a spectacle in town, whenever I looked up to the top of the harbour wall there seemed to be someone else looking back at me. Or if I was walking back to the boat from a sojourn ashore there were often one or two people looking over her from the quay. When they saw me coming they’d frequently pass the time with me having a bit of a ‘bleather’ about boats and such.

On my final night in Portnockie I was to receive an unwelcome surprise. the Harbour master came down to the boat about 5.30 to suggest I squeeze into the inner harbour as it was going to blow up a bit in the night. One of the locals helped me move into the inner harbour. Then stayed for a cuppa and a chat aboard Ruach. His boat was the pretty Shetland double-ender moored next to Ruach. It is believed to be the sixth boat from the bottom pictured here.

Then during the night blow up it did. Force 8 occasionally 9 according to the  forecast, with the seas breaking over the harbour wall I can believe it too. 

If anyone out there is having trouble donating at the justgiving sites (behind company firewalls, don't trust the internet with my card details or just don't want to give that way, etc) you can mail me a cheque direct. To do this just send me an email and I'll send you the details.

Don't forget to drop me a note at onpassage@dhippey.co.uk to sign up to be informed when blog updates appear.

Please share this site with your friends and family ( Especially the rich ones :-)  )

If you came to this blog from the main website www.eventoftheyear.co.ukyou will hopefully have had a look around the site and be aware of what I'm up to, both the adventure itself and the fact that I'm aiming to raise awareness of dementia in our society and to raise money for the Alzheimer's charities.
I'm doing this trip for fun and funding the trip myself, but while I'm on this venture you can do your bit to by supporting the Alzheimer's charities through either www.justgiving.com/david-hippey orwww.justgiving.com/david-hippey-scotland

Catch you next time.

Regards,
David H.