2025 May 14th, Day 46. To Kirkwall for resupply.

Still pictures to be added if the computer can recover the corrupt camera disk with my hi-res pics on, fortunately most stuff to Kerkwall and from Eriboll and a few others are either OK or backed up to the lap top. Most of this was posted previously on Facebook.

It was a very busy afternoon, I left the anchorage at 12:00 for slack tide across the Stronsay Firth which has very strong currents, through “The String” as it changed favourable at the far end and alongside Kirkwall at 15:15. Since then it has been non stop.

The forecast wind tomorrow is not good, very light but improving later to the west, but Friday and Saturday are worse probably with no usable wind so it’s a fairly early start tomorrow at 04:30 or a tad later to get to the Burgar Rost during the last hour of the favourable tide, earlier than that a day after springs is a no-no even in light winds, an hour or two later and the tide will be running at up to 7 knots against.

I made two trips to Tescos and one to a garage for diesel in case I missed the short visit by the berth master (evening visit time was not advertised, it is now, and no answer on the phone), I got more diesel when he turned up so I now have up to 400 nm range at economic cruising (no reserve which is clearly not something I’d do except in a dire emergency on the boat). By the time I had a shower it was 20:00, I am knackered and my feet will be complaining in the morning.

Tomorrow will be another long day getting to Loch Eriboll, with winds with north in them there is no real alternative other than to stay in Orkney. I will probably then have a rest day before tackling Cape Wrath, likely for the last time, then probably Stornoway in two or even three easy legs and then hopefully down to Barra.

14 miles in 3 hours.

Click here for Loch Eriboll.

2025 30th April Days 33 - 36, Kirkwall.

A lovely morning on Wednesday and a quick motor with the tide down to Kirkwall, in the afternoon it was even warm enough for me to ditch the thermally lined trousers and winter shirt in favour of summer attire for a couple of hours and I was feeling a bit down for not having left for Shetland but as I posted on FB there is an old aviation saying that is applicable:

"Its better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air

than in the air wishing you were on the ground."

As I write this on Thursday I am feeling much better about it as it is cold and I'm being bumped around a bit in the marina, the shelter is rather better than I feared from looking at the chart and I had taken the trouble to turn the boat round to face west to lay on the north side of the E - W pontoon so am being blown off and the main hatch is to leeward, although its been closed today.

Wind gusts @13:00: Orkney 31 knts, Fair Isle: 29 Knts Shetland 33 knts.

Approaching Kirkwall

Orkney is very dependant on the cruise ships but it does result in
busy streets and lots of touristy based shops although how some
of them make a living in a few months of the year I don't know.

14.4 miles in 3 hours.

Update Friday

If this mornings models are correct I should be able to move out of the marina on Sunday or Monday and head for Shetland on Monday or Tuesday. 

Update Saturday

The wind is now round to the north 20 gusting 30++ I should be able to leave the marina when the wind goes round to the west on Monday and move north on Monday or Tuesday ready for the off. Ironically with light winds forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday it may be best to wait for a nice southerly forecast by some models for Thursday but with the high pressure area slow moving and close by it’s anyone’s guess what will actually happen that far out, or even on the day. 

My 2 favoured models for Tuesday lunch time

Click for Shapensay.