Weather had closed in for our 0900 depart from Islay, rain pending, wind building. Made us appreciate the amazingly good weather we've enjoyed and sun tans we've caught since Scrabster.
We looked back wistfully in bidding farewell to Scotland, time to lower the courtesy Saltire. A rendition of Robbie Burns suitably marked the passing:
Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North,
The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.
My heart's in the Highlands ... Wherever I go.
South towards N.Ireland the SW wind picked up to 5 and 6 gusting 7, the wave crests breaking with some spray. Reefed in with the 'weather helm' - when steerage is lost through the boat turning to wind! A great blast followed as we approached a TSS around the tip of Ireland. A Traffic Separation Scheme keeps shipping apart in two lanes in restricted waters. Small craft (<20m) are required to cross the scheme with our bows at right angles to the channel. We'd set off to cross NE of Rathlin, but the changing wind and direction meant that we'd not keep 90 degrees at an elbow in the TSS. It was early on so a new course took us across the west end of the TSS and allowed an approach to the harbour in the lee of Rathlin.
Through the scheme and I took the helm as the boat was heeling and sailing fabulously. I'd not put up my hood (pic) so for the first time I took a couple of waves down the neck! Brian has just this moment of writing exclaimed 'horrendous lovely day!'
Around the corner we tacked east towards the harbour against the F6; brilliant. I took the first tack too cautiously to help get sails through but I didn't get round; had to speed up again, 7kts and turn, caution to the wind gone thereafter, great.
Engine on and aka Debbie followed on the helm, sails down and we entered Rathlin for some easy shelter from the strong winds: joke!
Now the fun started, skipper on the helm we approached the pontoon; 4 craft took up the best leeward side so we went close in to the other side maintained at a minimum depth by dredging to 2.8m (joke!) - for we stopped at the end if the pontoon and the strong wind blew us on but not satisfactorily to moor.
Clearly on the soft bottom, skipper stepped off to view the too small a spot along in the elbow of the leeward side. Paced the spot and the boat; a snug fit, no problem with no wind to blow us off on to the anchors of the boats either side; no problem too with enough water! I stayed on pontoon to get the bows secured to the corner when they arrived.
Caught the line, got the cleat, but the length proved too long to shorten, wind was awful upon the bows. The boat retreated for a second approach, nervous neighbours now alerted and out to help (great except for any advice contrary to the skipper's!). A context for keeping a cool head, skipper kept assured in his commands, especially in knowing the weight of this boat on lines in such wind!
Second approach, got line on the pontoon, used it to spring in stern slightly, a stern line to a neighbour but at mid ships along pontoon, around stern winch and wind in; a second stern line, a second bow line and spring the boat away from anchors of neighbours.
46ft squeezed in 50ft with F6 over bows and water too shallow; amazed and relieved neighbours, cool crew taking it all in our stride as routine!
After a late lunch the harbour master visited to settle up for the night only to inform us that they'd thought to re-dredge the pontoons last year as they thought they looked shallow ... so maybe they'd get round to it next year! Coupled, I think, with an extreme Spring Tide and a string SW blowing the water out of the harbour, we arrived at the perfect moment, dead on low tide!
Later, all is calm and the harbour is transformed and beautiful, 100 people live on this lovely island, the tide has risen and the crew have enjoyed a Guiness in the local which took 10 minutes to poor! Excellent.
Welcome to Northern Ireland!
Twi pictures too of me texted by Brian, a Viking navigating (Skip asleep!) and enjoying dessert at dinner in Oban!
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