Adventures on Xiphias

Escape from Atlantic swell and strong SW winds

I have made it to the Western Isles of Scotland. Having rounded Malin Head, famous to all shipping forecast listeners. The last couple of weeks has been like sailing in a tunnel. The low cloud and the islands on either side have made for a strangely claustrophobic experience. Highlights have been the good sails once around Bloody Foreland (named for the colour of the rocks not some Celtic tragedy.) I rarely went ashore. Either it was too miserable, no sailing or it was just good enough to get going. I left Eire at Lock Swilly, where an Amarda ship was lost, now dotted with holiday homes, there is not a cove or anchorage that was not overlooked.

Northern Ireland

I stopped three nights at Portrush, the typical seaside town. The train took me to Derry city where I wanted to visit the museum about the Armada ship. It was excavated by a group in the 1970′s. The City has recovered from the dark days of the troubles. At one time 80% of the buildings inside the famous walls had been damaged. The day I visited there had been a bomb placed outside the city police station. The local reaction was annoyance and the barber who cut my hair insisted I visit the Bogside as a top tourist venue.

Island hopping in Britain’s best cruising ground

The Western Isles are amazing, challenging tidal flows, numerous anchorages and for me best of all company. It’s great to see other boats. Off the Irish coast I would leave one harbour and not see another boat till I arrived at the next. Maybe that’s because the vis. was never more that  5 miles.

Where next?

• Mull for sure, Tobermory is the prettiest town in the islands, although there’s not much competition as its one of the few towns!

• Arisaig, a useful pick up where I will be joined for a week. I’m looking forward to someone other than myself to talk to.

• Skye, Uists, Lewis, The choice is great and being protected from the Atlantic swell will make life so much more pleasant.