Motoring in fine weather

 

Robinetta was rock solid on her anchor all night, and the only disturbance came when Worm started gently rocking in the slight swell, that made her mooring rope creak. The swell soon died away, and I went back to sleep until 06:30 when Julian put the kettle on. Occasional fluffy white clouds dotted the blue sky, but there was no wind, and the air was cold.

We got the engine at 07:20, then Julian went forward to pull up the anchor. I had been afraid that we might have problems getting the anchor free, as we were in an area with rocks on the foreshore, but it came up easily, with only a little kelp on the flukes. I had plotted a course to Lochinver last night, so this morning it was just a case of following it under engine. Once we were through the sound between Isle Ristol and Eilean Mullagrach I put some porridge on to cook, while Julian rigged our tiller pilot “George”. The sea was glassy smooth, but with a noticeable swell.

We did get a little wind by 10:00, but when we reduced engine revs we soon discovered that most of it was of our own forward motion, and the swell discouraged us from trying to sail with the little that was left.

As we approached Lochinver we were totally sheltered from any wind, and the sun began to feel hot. Julian took off a couple of layers, saying he felt warmer as soon as he took his coat and jumper off.

We were tied up on the pontoons in Lochinver by 11:00, after an uneventful, but rather beautiful, motor.