Round the corner.

Well, we had a very easy passage across the Pentland Firth from Stromness to Wick on the East coast of Scotland.

I must have got the tides and weather right!

We slipped Stromness at 08.30 planning to cross Scpa Flow and arrive at Cantick Head at low water. We put the sails up as soon as we cleared the tidal effect of Hoy Sound, but we were only making around 3 knots. As my passage plan required 5.5 to arrive at low water at the start of the Firth, we motor saoled in overcast conditions through the Flow. Still very pleasant though. We were glad to be leaving the Orkneys after a very enjoyable six days, despite the not very nice weather. We did attend a very good concert yesterday afternoon by the Aranowich Ensemble, better than the football.

When we rounded the point into the Firth we switched off the engine and sailed for about 45 minutes before the wind died again and the engine was engaged. The Firth was rearkably smooth, with wind and tide together. At one point we touched a speed of 11.9 knots over the ground, despite doing only 5.9 through the water.

Rounding Duncansby head the wind picked up so we killed the engine and had a very enjoyable two hour reach to Wick, where we are now tied up in the new marina in the old fishing quay.

At one time Wick was the largest herring harbour in the world. One day in 18something, nearly 1,000 boats landed 24 million herring, which were all gutted and packed by 3,000 gutters in one day. Must have been a bit smelly.

For the first time for a couple of weeks the sun is now shining and we have just had a delicious meal outside in the cockpit. Not as brave as the French crew on the adjoining boat who bought and cooked three large crabs from the local boats.

Should be heading towards Whitehills tomorrow. We have just had a call from my cousin's son, Simon Hunter, who is working for the oil companies in Aberdeen. We hope we shall be able to meet up in Peterhead or Stonehaven later in the week.