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In any case, we got to know each other fairly rapidly however as we tried to fathom the strange reefing system. Well, yeah, it could have been a good idea to check it out before we left. But hey. Somebody had also jammed the topping lift by cleating it up in a very funny way. And the lazy jacks were a bit broken.
So when we arrived, and met the others on their way back from the pub saying that it was mobbed, and not doing meals because it was a wedding, we somehow lost impetus. Some heroes (Martin and Steve) pumped up the dinghy and Ian and I rowed over to the others for a council of war. In view of a forecast of SE6-7, we decided to drop the idea of the Small Isles and go North, between Skye and the mainland and through Kyle Rhea. This meant leaving at 7am, as this little stretch of water is the only place likely to stop you going wherever you want to quote the guide book - when the tide runs through at 5 or 6 knots, you kind of need to get it right. After lots of discussion-what if the wind goes round to the east- will there be enough shelter? if we go too far north will we get back in time? we decided on Plockton, and had a sandwich and a glass of wine and went to bed. We were all freezing in the night. I woke at 5.30, put more clothes on, and went back to sleep for 45 minutes. I was under orders to be out on deck in time to thoroughly sort the reefing before departure. We congratulated ourselves later on time well spent, as we had three reefs in for most of the weekend. The third reef is often a little less straightforward than the first two. Of course, the wind was NE and strong and we had to motorsail all the way up and through Kyle Rhea, until we could turn left for the bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh. Just before the narrows it got squally and Sapphire took down their sail completely. We forged ahead, with our pocket handkerchief. Then at the shallow corner at the entrance we watched with some merriment as they made a sudden 90 degree turn as someone noticed the depth! We had a nice sail down under the bridge, and then hardened up again to battle our way into Loch Carron. On the small scale chart this looks scarily peppered with rocks, but we sailed nearly all the way in, beating between the shoals, with Ian tutoring Mel on the navigation. Home More General Stories Search News Story Submissions Comments (0)No comments. |
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