Onward Virgin Sailors - 8:56 PM, Aug. 30, 2005

Have been a bit remiss in keeping this up to date so a couple of catch-up entries are required.

Wednesday 27th July

Went up to the boat with my son-in-law Jamie for his first sail. Forecast winds were a bit brisker than ideal for a first sail and we had to be back on Friday so we weren't going to get far. The wind was a gusty F5 when we arrived in the afternoon and we postponed sailing until the morrow when there would hopefully be less of it. We passed the rest of the day with "Sailing 101" as the Americans say. How interesting was that, I wonder?

Thursday 30th July

Set off mid-morning tacking into F4 with a reef in the main and a couple of rolls out of the genoa but still heeled slightly too much for novice sensibilities as Jamie confessed later. The wind eased and veered and we came on to a reach and finally a run as we altered course for Puilladobhrain (again) round the south end of Kerrera. Dropping anchor went without a hitch and I was halfway through the second beer when a large yacht decided to anchor in the admittedly generously wide berth I had given our nearest neighbour. There were only half a dozen other boats.

 They made a trial run with the echo-sounder while enquiring about the position of Silkie's anchor and the scope we had out. On their second run they failed to set their hook and motored off down the anchorage. I suppose I assumed that they were going to try their luck elsewhere and went below to rattle some pans. Next thing I heard was Jamie calling from the cockpit "They've caught our anchor!" The newcomer had come round for another try, failed to set their anchor again and tripped Silkie's by motoring forward with their anchor trailing, hooking our chain as they went.

They apologised repeatedly while disentangling the ground tackle. We re-set Silkie's 20lb plough where it fell while they motored off an appropriate distance to try again. After eating we took a stroll over the hill where the other crew signally failed to buy us a pint!

Friday 31st July

Sad to say, I really don't remember much about the return to Dunstaffnage. A senior moment perhaps. I'll talk to Jamie and fill this in later.

Jamie hasn't been pestering me to go again.

Miles this trip 25

Miles this season 666! (s/h 93)