BLUEMOMENT

As regards liquids, I don't know if the fact that the three of us emptied 5 bottles of whisky in Lossie the day before our debacle contributed at all. In our defence the bottles weren't all full when we started.

I'm afraid I won't be joining Cherry Ripe on the SIPR. Which is a shame as I'd love to see Ken and Ian Cameron sprinting up three mountains. It must be quite an awe inspiring sight. Are you entering it?

Instead I'm heading off to the Ijsselmeer tomorrow to start the long trek from there back to the Baltic in Zophiel. It's 600 miles back to the Swedish east coast and on reflection I don't really know why I didn't just leave her there last autumn.

Thanks for the timely reminder about the shrouds. This time perhaps I'll attach them to the boat before I head out round the Frisian Islands and into the horrid Elbe. I may also make sure the 'Transmit' button on the VHF isn't pushed in for the whole journey this time. For some reason these continentals don't like you blocking channel 16 across all the main shipping lanes.

I confidently expect the Frisian Islands to live up to their name

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I too had an "interesting" time up that way myself on Monday ...
With forecast F4/5 , I set off toward Lossiemouth from Peterheid and made good time, hoping to arrive for my planned lift out before the wind veered to the West and increased. With only 6 Nm to go, the wind began to veer (earlier than forcast) and my progress toward Lossie slowed to around 1.5 knots. I pondered on making toward Buckie as an alternative before deciding to carry on. Progress continued to slow as windspeed increased, then came the dreaded "urgent gale, F8 imminent..." broadcast. By this stage, all sail was down and I was attempting to motor ahead but progress was zero ( even backwards at 1/2 a knot).
Decision then made to head for Buckie, despite the fact that she was a leeshore, I was confident that if push came to shove, I would be able to head north and into clear water. After heading South and keeping well clear of the three groups of rocks off the breakwater, I turned tail and roared into the surprisingly easy entrance of Buckie harbour.
As you can see by the plotter pic, displaying 5 minute interval plots, progress was halted pretty abrubtly. Also, on the 'turn around' to the East, I was under bare poles (also engine not in gear) and doing 6 knots before motoring South.
Certainly a little livelier than I'd bargained for but never felt 'out of control' at any point.

Blimey, that sounds much more dramatic than our puny exploits. That's the problem with that coast. Nice wee harbours but none of them easy when conditions get worse. Here's me just wimped out of heading to sea tomorrow with a '5 to 7' forecast in exactly the right direction.