Peterhead to Arbroath is a long way, and you have to get there in time… so the tidal gates ( physical gates) are open at the other end. We decided that would be pushing it even if we set off very early so decided to anchor In Lunan bay about 10 miles north of Arbroath. We had checked with the harbour master about the suitability of the anchorage and he confirmed it would be good! So off we set into the sunshine. ( after radioing in to port authority to get permission!) The weather forecast for today was a “moderate breeze“ which sounds very summery but actually there were gusts well into the 30s. However at least the wind was in the right direction, Westerly going a bit northwest so we just had the headsail up. Also the water was relatively flat because it was an off shore wind. We zoomed along doing 8 + knots and tide was with us too. It got a bit hairy when the wind was averaging 25 knots and gusting up to 37! At which point our top speed was 10.7! An added challenge was that just when the wind was at it strongest, we were having to thread ourselves between a wind farm and the shallow water on the approach to Aberdeen. Fortunately my watch on the helm ended before we then had all the waiting traffic that was queuing up to go into Aberdeen. Huge ships just anchored. One cruise liner started moving then turned round to come out again, and another one went in … all very close to us. Once past that however, everything calmed down, the shoreline was lovely with hundreds of seabirds mainly gulliemots, out at sea and obviously living on the cliffs. We were even joined by a pod of huge dolphins, bottlenose variety I think, which is the first time this holiday we’ve seen anything but far off single ones. The wind calmed too and we were able to actually enjoy the North Sea for the first time! We kept inshore so as to get the flattest water, passing some stunning scenery including a couple of wonderful castles. The other hazard along this coast is many little lobster pot buoys which have flags on them … all the way along! Always something! Eventually we passed the entrance to Montrose and our anchorage was the next bay along. It turned out to be the perfect place to spend the night . Flat water and good protection from the wind. A gentle swell but by and large wonderful!
What I learned today…… that the North Sea and the east coast is not such a hostile place after all, it just has its moments.
Leaving Peterhead 
Windfarm 
Waiting ships 
Pot flags 
Slains castle 
Anchored 
Lunan bay
Angelique 