Counterclockwise round Bressay

 Lerwick is not a restful place. After mooring on the Alfred dock pontoon we discovered that the wash from the Bressay Ferry made Robinetta lurch violently against her lines and fenders. The ferry runs at least once an hour between 7 am and midnight, and although some of the ferry’s arrivals and departures were gentler that others, all of them caused uncomfortable motion along the pontoon.

We had intended to stay 2 nights, but one was enough. After a walk north along the waterside to book our ferry tickets and do some shopping we headed back to Robinetta and got ready to go. We filled our water tanks, then headed for the fuel dock. This would be our first time filling Robinetta’s diesel tanks directly this season, so it will be interesting to find out exactly how much we use an hour from this point on.

Once Julian had paid for the fuel we headed south out of the harbour just before noon, crossing to the Bressay side of Bressay sound to raise sail. Once we turned the engine off we had a gentle very broad reach down to the south end of Bressay. There was very little swell, and no waves worth noticing, perfect sailing conditions, which continued as we hardened up to sail into Hope Wick, aiming to cross it and head to Feadda Ness, the south end of the Isle of Noss.

The north wind went very light, just enough to fill the sails, but we had steerage way, and our planned trip was only 13nm long, so we did not mind ghosting along at 1-2 knots. Julian put the fishing line out, we did not hook anything, but it was fun to plan how we would cook our non existent catch. We stayed patient until the wind strength rose enough to bring Robinetta up to 3 knots, but it also headed us towards Bressay, so we tacked before we got too close. The increase in wind speed saw a decrease in temperature, and before long we were bundled up in jumpers and sailing jackets. However we were also cruising along at 3.5-4 knots, which made a pleasant change.

Rounding Feadda Ness took a couple of tacks, and we needed another to get round Noss Head, but we did not mind. The bird life was spectacular, and we felt part of a great whirl of gannets coming and going from their fishing ground.

Once we cleared the Point of Pundsgeo on the north east end of Noss we were able to fine reach directly for Score Head on Bressay. We left the abundance of bird life behind and concentrated on sailing as we we were getting tired. Once we cleared the rocks at the end of Score Head we went onto a broad reach and aimed for our chosen anchorage of Aith Voe.

We arrived to find another yacht already there, taking up the perfect anchoring spot, but there was plenty of room to drop our own hook, and settle down for a peaceful evening, free of ferry wash or swell.