May 27 Bonnie " Rainy" Scotland At Last

The weather was meant to be challenging and we crept out of the marina a bit like marines about to step off their boats into enemy territory. We were reefed, lashed downed, so'westered, prepared for our battle across the North Channel. After all gales had been raging and the sea whipped up into mountains of foam. The Belfast coastguard even took pictures of the angry sea, it had to be bad. We even thought of bailing out before we got to the breakwater of Bangor Marina, but we peeked out and there was an ordinary sea. So out towards the channel we crept with trepadation, we were the only yacht in sight. Had we not heard the weather report correctly? But bravely we continued out to the big water.

You can imagine our relief and disappointment when we were greeted by an ordinary sea with marginal winds, where were the force 7's. By noon the wind died completely an our epic journey became a motor across a windless mill pond. We relieved our boredom by the boat Yahtzee challenge, reading aloud from Yachting Monthly, and celebrating the approach of the Mull of Kintyre with a cup of pot noodles.
Nevertheless we arrived in Scotland. Rumline my beautiful brave little Contessa got us here safely, without a fuss, in her graceful and swift footed way. She has become my home, a friend and my companion.

welcome to bonnie Scotland, it got foggier

Crew celebrating with pot noodle, vintage of course

Scotland greeted us with rain and fog, I am certain it looked beautiful, if I could only see the coastline. We arrived and that's all that mattered. So we washed Rummy's hull so she looked as she deserves to look, and hosed the salt off her topsides and then went off to explore. We should have listened more closely when the Harbour Master said the best attraction was the local pool. Sadly this pretty port is at the foot of a deprived and grey town. Local boys keep themselves warm and entertained by sitting in the COOP foyer, shops lay empty, and the pubs have 'stop domestic violence' posters pinned to their front doors. This is a town in need of regeneration, every yacht should stop and help by visiting and providing tourist pounds desperately needed.