What a difference a day makes, Woke early to blue sky and sunshine! Our departure time was 0830 so got started 7 ish. After yesterday we hoped we had sussed the tides with local knowledge from Colin and Paul On Nigg bay, the commercial vessel acting as the ferry. The tidal atlas doesn’t seem detailed enough…. At least when there are other factors such as waves and wind involved . The tide yesterday definitely turned before the calculated time. It was calmer than yesterday and the wind was SSW instead of SE. Putting up the main with two reefs in and 50% headsail, We started with 15-20 knots of wind but the big difference was that the sea was flat! It started to cloud over but we seemed to at least be heading for the bright skies to the east. We had a brilliant sail down the sound of Faray. Tacking but making good progress with the tide. We eventually popped out into Westray firth like a champagne cork and were propelled in an almost straight line south, despite tacking across the firth! At the southern end there is a tricky shallow area between Shapinsay and Mainland which is shallow with various reefs, and dotted with cardinals marking them. We briefly put the donkey on to negotiate a small distance of turbulent water but otherwise sailed with our minimal rig all the way to Elwick bay on the south west corner of Shapinsay island. It’s very different if you know where you’re going and what you might find there. When all you have to go on is a pilot book and a chart, things can be more challenging . However the breeze was kind and still in flat water we entered the bay, hoping either to find a visitor mooring or a good spot to anchor according to the pilot. We found a lovely red buoy with “ visiting yachts” written on it. Hurrah!😀. Picked up the trot and got my “ yellow “ mooring pole out to thread a rope and our new and highly over engineered, ( weighs a ton) chain bridle , through the metal hoop. All secure we relaxed and enjoyed the sunshine of the afternoon. A beautiful old boat came and anchored near us in the bay with crew getting off into kayaks. I fell asleep on deck in the sunshine. We are glad to be on our southward journey now but need to just add a word of huge thanks to all the folk at Periowall who were so helpful and made us so welcome. Special thanks to Tom the harbour Master, Jacob his assistant and Paul and Colin on “Nigg bay”. Their kindness will be our forever memory of the most northerly point of our voyage.
What I learned today….. actually it was yesterday but never mind. This is a sad one. The crab processing factory at Periowall is not doing well. It buys and processes crabs to crab meat straight off the boats which catch them. At least they don’t have to travel far. Apparently their business is being eroded because the Chinese pay a lot more per kilo for live crabs, so of course the fishermen sell to the dealers instead of a local business. They cut their claw tendons so they can’t fight and send them by plane from Heathrow in huge tanks. Julian and I were appalled and Apologise if this upsets you too. So in answer Paul to your question…. Yes it’s still there but for how long?…..😔
Sue x
Angelique 