2025 May 12th, Day 44. To Grutness Voe.

 Draft

Disappointing weather today, not so long ago the forecast was for sun all day but this morning it was for overcast and early morning (before 09:00) mist. Before I left I was toying with the idea of anchoring for the night at Stova Voe a couple of miles north of here but as soon as I cleared the anchorage I quickly changed my mind, The Bay of Fladdabister is better protected from the SE than I thought, not big waves but not what you would want to anchor in even if you could guarantee being bows on, which would be unlikely given significant changes in wind direction forecast. And it would likely be worse with the waves going up a narrowing channel.

About 40 minutes from Grutness the wind increased from 0 - 3 knots to 5 - 7 and fog came in with visibility down to about 30 yards at times.

30 minutes out.

15 minutes out. The modern "broadband" doppler radars are the
bee's knees as short range and even better than this as I got further
in but by then I had things other than photos to concern me.

Fortunately as I got within the Voe the visibility improved so that I could just see both sides and the end.

Intentions:

I will be heading to Kirkwall Tuesday / Wednesday for Tescos and fuel. Like my experiance at Lerwick Coops across Scotland and particularly on the islands are still badly impacted by the hacking attacks with reports on a Facebook sailing group of shortages at Tobermory, Tarbert, Stornoway, Brodick, Lochgilphead and Castle Bay Barra.

Also at economical speed in calm water I should have fuel to get to Stornoway with a small reserve, whilst I don't want to motor at all, and should not have to, with the forecasts showing patchy wind for some days I need to be prepared and have a bigger reserve. With only Kirkwall and Stromness possible fuelling stops on route it seems sensible to go where I can get fresh food. Till then I'll be living on steak, Gammon, perhaps some spuds (they are chitting), bread (plenty of part cooked baguets on board) and tinned stuff. Live can be hard 😀.

Models for Thursday lunch time. Saturday and Sunday  may
have fresh N or NE winds but by then I should be crossing
to the western Isles.

An early start in the morning with fog patches likely 😒 but hopefully some wind, the models indicate F4 may be on the high side but I live in hope:

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Tuesday 13 May until 1200 UTC on Tuesday 13 May: North or northwest 3 or 4. Moderate, but slight in waters east of shetland. Fog patches in south and east at first, otherwise fair. Good, occasionally very poor in south and east at first.

14 NM in a little over 3 hours.

Click here for Stronsay.