2025 May 21st, Days 53 - ? In Stornoway.

Wednesday 21st.

The forecast gets worse, although the worst of it appears to be a
little south of here, the Loch Boisdale area is going to get a
hammering but the marina is very well sheltered, but I would
rather be here!

Visited today by Tim, another member of the Achilles Facebook group for a long natter.

The "town" marina, it feels a bit more roomy than when I was
here in 2021, perhaps bad memory or they may have adjusted
the fingers after the new marina was built.

Thursday 22nd

Facebook Post:

Thursday will be a make and mend day, mainly using the (forecast) lovely weather to catch up with the external varnishing I couldn't get done last winter when I did most of the rest.

The weather was not that good, sunny intervals rather than sun all day and a bitter wind but I had the varnishing done, including prep work before 9:30 after an early start and it was dry by early afternoon.

All back together by late afternoon, outside of washboards, trim
to hatch, piece behind instruments and the grove the washboards
fit in all varnished.

Friday 23rd.

So far the weather has been very good today and reasonably warm. Currently the bad weather looks to be arriving tomorrow and could last through Monday and perhaps Tuesday, then possibly more at the end of the week.

The Minch - Strong wind warning 

24 hour forecast: South 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6, then veering southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor. 

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 or 5, veering west 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Todays work included taking the engine box apart to access and lubricate the gear box linkage which has been giving problems going from astern to forward, a bit of a problem going onto a berth! Both ends lubricated and it is now much easier to operate and tested alongside it worked fine changing at minimum revs without problem rather than having to push the leaver to high revs (the leaver is both the gear change and throttle, the normal thing on sailing boats).

Cleaning this afternoon, mainly exterior as I have access to fresh water.