Stromness to Long Hope

After three days in Stromness it was time to move. We decided on a short trip, to remind us that we do not have to sail all day, and after checking on the tides and wind direction (NE) decided to head for Long Hope. We left the pontoon at 0900 and motored gently out past Stavros S Niarchos which arrived yesterday while we were out exploring on our hired bikes.

The weather was a bit cold and grey, but the wind was a steady force 3 and took us where we wanted to go. We only encountered one yacht, a catamaran in the channel between Hoy and Fara. There was a huge shed on a pontoon looked like it was on an uncharted jetty. As we got closer we could see it was a fish farm, and the catamaran made it plain which side to pass it, but I'm glad it was broad day light; we might have hit it in the dark!

I've been coasting a bit, letting Julian do all the planning, so today was the first day in a while I've laid in the course, and set the departure time. It all worked, which was good! I also helmed most of the way, with Julian being an exemplary crew. By the time we got to Long Hope at 1230 I was tired, so Julian took over the helm, and we picked up the mooring buoy under sail. A good end to an okay sail. I think I'm feeling a bit tired after yesterday's cycling!

The sun came out in the afternoon, and Julian did some woodwork in the cockpit, trying to make a new autopilot holder with waste wood we had rescued from a skip in Wick. Unfortunately it split after he had spent quite some time working on it. The auto-pilot adventure continues....