Day 18: The Old Man of Hoy and GPS Blocking

25th April 2012

I've spent the past couple of days ready with pilotage and a passage plan to take us around Cape Wrath to the west. I could have been a bit sharper with the weather which was steadily NE F4 to 7s over the last few days. But it was threatening to build to Storm Force 8. The Met Office inshore forecast at midnight left a final opportunity for us to get past the 'Turning Point' (Wrath in the Norse root of the word meant tuning point!). So, I set up the boat ready for leave Stromness at 0630 this morning and leave for the cape via a slight detour to see The Old Man of Hoy.

I arose at 0530 and checked the 0600 forecast. For Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath for next 24 hrs it read: NE 5 or 6, increasing 7 or 8; moderate or rough; becoming rough or very rough. Could we run ahead of this still or had we lost the weather window? Although the skipper was clear, for training purposes, he waited to see what I would do if I want to gain my offshore yacht master. After dithering with all the factors, including delay in being decisive, I commended leaving the beatiful Orkney's And visiting The Old Man ahead of returning to the mainland with a visit to Scrabster and Thurso.

Trouble is we're now weathered in here for 2 if not 3 days.

Stromness to Scrabster
ETD 0750, 28nm, NE 4/5

The sail over was splendid with wind gusting off Hoy and modest swell to the west of Pentland Firth.

We could imagine how treacherous it was becomming in the wind over tide. Fully reefed in we still sailed at 8kts. Pictures show the passage past the Old Man, and the chart and Scrabster view from the Navionics chart app. We nearly hada bit of excitement when at 1100, the radio (VHF) announced 'Securite, securite, securite; Shetland Coastguard, Shetland Coastguard, Shetland Coastguard, All Stations ... Your GPS will be blocked from 1110 for one hour! A new one on us as the military exercise sought to block GPS signals. In the event, apart from being brushed by a fighter jet, it was no event.

We were greeted at the harbour by the duty Harbourmaster taking our lines against the high wall. Time now to explore the port kindly sposored by Dave and by Mike & Pat in helping me support the Climate Justice Fund; whilst Thurso town was sposored by the late Chris Holden who passed away the week I left and who is rembrred with warmth and affection.

In Thurso I'll see if I can get a signal to upload this blog. Anyway, I can say there we be no sailing tomorrow; perhaps not again until my birthday!