Dave rebuilt the engine in 'Callisto' our
Elizabethan 30 over the winter We planned to sail her North to the West Coast of
Scotland this summer and leave her there for a few years. Our border collie Jack
has been sailing on the Humber with us, but never done a night passage so we
decided to take him with us for the summer. We moved down to Hull Marina in July
so that we could leave whenever the weather was okay. Jack had never been in the
dinghy so we inflated it at the marina and we thought that the rubber floor
might worry him, but as soon as it was in the water he jumped in and refused to
get out until he had been rowed around the marina. The next thing we had to
think about was getting hold of an artificial grass mat for Jack to use at sea.
A trip to the local fruit shop secured one free of charge. So we were fully
equipped to sail with a dog. Sunday 17th July was a lovely day with a
good forecast so we set sail for Whitby at 14.30hrs. We had a great sail down
river and as we reached Spurn light vessel we turned North and the wind was on
our starboard quarter. It rose and fell all night and as we reached Runswick bay
it stopped altogether so we started the engine to make sure that we reached
Whitby in time. High tide was at 14.00hrs and we entered the harbour at 15.25hrs
and called the bridge to find that we were just in time for the last opening at
15.40hrs. We motored into the marina and rafted to a boat from the Amble. Jack
had been on the boat 24 hours without going to the toilet at all so Dave took
him ashore for a walk and a swim. The night passage with him had been great, we
expected him to want to be on watch with whoever was awake, but he just slept on
the saloon floor next to the one of us who was asleep. Distance run 91.5nm.
Dave and Sue, who we met last year in Peterhead live in Whitby and took us to
their home for dinner. It was great; their plans to sail off have been put on
hold until they sell their house. The forecast is for strong N.W. winds so we
decided to stay for a few days to see the tall ships that were due to visit at the weekend. They berthed opposite us at Endeavour
Wharf and we strolled around to view them. We had a visit from Derek another
Elizabethan Association Member who had called into Whitby on his way back to the
East Coast rivers. He is the first Elizabethan owner that we have met and it was
great to have a look at his Elizabethan 31. The wind remained strong N.W. until
Tuesday 26th July. We set sail at 10.00hrs heading North for Hartlepool, it was
a fast sail and we arrived outside the harbour at 14.30hrs, and called the lock
keeper who informed us that there was only .5 metre in the channel, so we
dropped anchor for 2 hours, it was very rolly but good holding, we were glad to
tie up inside the Marina at 17.00hrs. The North winds increased and we were
waiting for 6 days at Hartlepool. Jack loved it as there was a great beach
nearby. We listened to the radio and heard that 4 of the tall ships had turned
back to Newcastle, because of the strong winds. One of them with a broken mast.
Distance run 25nm Monday 1st August. We got a forecast if N.W.0-2 so we
decided to leave for Blyth. Fortunately the wind turned S.E. and we had a great
sail arriving at 19.00hrs. We took Jack ashore for a walk; then had showers and
a drink in the club house. It is a good forecast for the next two days so we
decided to leave tomorrow for Peterhead. Distance run 27nm. Tuesday 2nd
August. We left Blyth at 07.15am after taking Jack for a walk. The wind was
light SW and we had to motorsail for 2 hours. Finally we got a nice 3 to 4 and
started sailing at a healthy 5 knots. During the night Forth Coastguard gave a
forecast of West 4-5 occasionally 6. At 23.00hrs the wind increased and Dave
went out to put a reef in the main, as he was doing it we were hit by a squall
so he put three reefs in. We settled down nicely doing 6-7 knots. As the wind
increased the sea picked up and became heavier but the boat did not take on any
water and it was an exhilarating sail, Jack took the heavy weather in his stride
curling up on the saloon floor and sleeping through it. We had a fast passage to
Peterhead and arrived at The Skerries just South of Peterhead at 13.00hrs. on
Wednesday 3rd August. We were hit by another squall and the heavens opened
drenching us, visibility was bad so we waited for it to blow over before we
called the harbour for permission to enter, finally tying up in the Marina at
14.00hrs Dave took Jack for a walk; he had been at sea for 31 hours and really
needed to go to the loo, as he would not use the artificial grass. Distance run
151nm Thursday 4th August we checked the oil and did a few little jobs.
The wind is strong NW and we will have to wait until it dies down or changes
direction before we round Rattery Head. Tuesday 9th August. The forecast
was for light North winds so we decided to motorsail to the Moray Firth. We left
the marina at 06.00hrs and headed North. There were very big rollers but the sea
was not too rough. The marina master had advised us to give Rattery Head at
least 4 miles offing and we had to tack all the way and then beat down the Moray
Firth to Whitehills harbour. The entrance looked horrific with big breakers and
surrounding reefs so we called the harbour master to ask if it was safe to
enter. He came to the harbour wall and talked us in. It is a very narrow
entrance with a sharp left turn into the harbour. He put us in the inner harbour
as it is more protected. There are excellent facilities here with washing
machines and a small sitting room with a microwave which is for our use.
Distanace run 45nm Thursday 11th August. We
left Whitehills harbour at noon with a light westerly wind on the nose and motor
sailed to Lossiemouth. There were still quite big rollers but they died down as
the wind disappeared and the sea became glassy.We arrived at Lossiemouth at
18.00hrs and called the harbour master but he did not answer. He came around and
told us to see him tomorrow. Distance run 24nm Friday 12th August. The
glorious twelfth and our 37th wedding anniversary. We decided to stay tonight as
the wind is still west but forecast SE tomorrow. >Saturday 13th August.
We left Lossiemouth at 06.00am with a light SE breeze. It was lovely and calm
and we enjoyed the spectacular scenery along the Moray coast. We reached the
Channory narrows at 13.30hrs, just as the SW flow started and sailed straight
down the middle and arrived at the Caledonian Canal buoy at 15.00hrs. As we
sailed under the Kessock bridge we called the canal and arranged to lock in at
15.30hrs. It was becoming very overcast and as we entered the lock it rained
heavily, drenching us. We paid £138 for an 8 day transit and locked into seaport
marina for the night. We walked Jack to the local Co-op and bought supplies for
the evening. Distance run 38.5nm Sunday 14th August we had showers then
set off down the canal. We went through a swing bridge, and four locks at
Muirtown then another swing bridge and arrived at Dochgarroch pontoons for the
night. There is another boat called Callisto , with a dark blue hull, which is
berthed here permanently and we are confusing the lock keepers when we call up.
The boat next to us is a charter boat and they have given us all their spare
stores as they are going home tomorrow. Jack loves it on the canal as he can
swim to his hearts content once the locks have stopped operating for the night.
Distance run 4nm Monday 15th August. We passed through the lock at
14.00hrs and motored towards Loch Ness. The wind was from the SW and on the
nose, as we entered the lock we hoisted the sail and tacked back and forth
across the loch. We sailed close up to Urquart Castle and into Drumnadrochit bay
and picked up a visitors mooring for the night. Distance run 10nm. The
next day was lovely and we decided to stay as the scenery was spectacular. Dave
took Jack ashore for a swim. We left the next day at noon and had to tack into a
strong SW The rain started as we arrived at Fort Augustus. The lock was very
busy so we had to raft up for the night. Distance run 20nm Thursday 18th
August. The lock keeper decided to do a double locking as there are so many
boats. The yachts went first and then the motor cruisers. We had to walk the
boat between the 5 locks. We tied to the jetty at the other end and went
shopping. Finally at 16.00hrs we set off to Loch Oich where we tied up to a
jetty near a picnic area for the night. It is still raining. Distance run 6.5nm
Friday 19th August. We motored into the wind down Loch Lochy and arrived
at Gairloch at 17.00hrs; we went through the lock and stayed on the jetty at the
other side for the night as it is nice and quiet. Distance run 10.3nm
Saturday 20th August. We motored to Banavie and had showers at he
excellent facility block, we had a wonderful view of Ben Nevis as we locked into
the first of the eight locks which make up Neptunes Staircase. The boat had to
be walked between locks again and the transit took us one and a half hours. It
was a beautiful day and we motored to Corpach basin for the night. Distance run
10nm Sunday 21st August. We locked out of the basin at 08.15hrs and
sailed past Fort William to the Corran Narrows. As we reached them we were doing
7.5 knots and went through several whirlpools. The wind increased and we sailed
SW towards Oban along the East coast of Lismore Island. 5 miles from Oban the
wind increased and Dave had to put a reef in the main. It rained very heavily
and we were soaked by the time we tied up at Oban Yacht Services on Kerrera
Island. Distance run 27.9nm Monday 22nd August we caught the taxi boat
to Oban and went to Tesco to replenish our stores. Force 9 gales are forecast
for Wednesday so we decided to stay at Kerrera until they pass over. >The
gales blew all week peaking at a force 10 and we kept our eye on the barometer,
which fell really quickly. On Monday 29th August the forecast was for SW 5 or 6
so we decided to leave and head up the sound of Mull. It was very rough in the
Firth and the wind went NW so we decided to beat into Craignure Bay for the
night. Distance run 12.4nm Tuesday 30th August It was a lovely morning
and Dave took Jack ashore for a run before we set sail at 09.00hrs. The wind was
SE 4 or 5 and we goose winged all the way to Tobermory, covering the 15.9 nm in
3 hours. We picked up a mooring which cost £12 a night and went ashore. It was a
lovely balmy evening and we had sundowners in the cockpit as the sunset.
Distance run 15.9nm Wednesday 31st August. It is pouring down but the
forecast is S-SE 4-5 so we have decided to sail around Ardmurchan Point, the
most westerly point on the British mainland, to Arisaig. The wind was very light
at first so we motorsailed. We saw a lot of porpoises and Jack was facinated by
them. There were not many boats sailing in this area. We arrived off Arisaig at
16.00hrs and wound our way down the channel taking a mooring for the night. We
went ashore to arrange to leave the boat here for the winter. It is going to be
hauled out and stored ashore ready for some serious cruising next summer.
Distance run 26nm We tied the traditional bunch of heather to the bows
before we were lifted out to celebrate having rounded Ardmurchan Point for the
first time. The boat is now ashore and prepared for the winter. We have been
very pleased with Jack on the cruise, we found out a lot about cruising with
him. Firstly that he has the sense to stay below in bad weather and secondly
that he manages to go a long time without going to the loo. He is a great
sailing companion and lots of tourists took photos of him as we went through the
Caledonian Canal. We look forward to sailing with him again next year.
Total Distance run on cruise 552.8nm..Dave and Shelby Milner and Jack the
dog
