Pitstop

I don't think Peterhead is on the tourist map despite the excellent marina facilities so we planned our departure for the next day, destination Wick. In boating terms you can't always guarantee your destination and the log often reads something like "Peterhead 'towards' Wick" as passage plans sometimes have to be altered for weather or other situations that may arise along the way.

Departing Peterhead, we took the recommendation from the harbour master to catch the tide right and we had a fine sail around Rattray Head -- generally, the tide accelerates in speed and strength around headlands. It was quite 'lively' at times due to the NW'ly swell with a very short period between waves but Arbalest is the kind of yacht that can take it in her stride and with some seasoned helming we slid over the worst of it. Close hauled we couldn't quite keep our course with the wind direction and decided to change tack, when we did the wind dropped again leaving us becalmed; on with the engine. If the wind had held we would have had a perfect course for an over-nighter to Kirkwall in the Orkneys but without a proper passage plan we decided not to gamble and stick with our original destination.

We arrived in Wick just after sunset tired but pleased that we had made the decision to make progress rather than wait for the never-to-arrive 'perfect day'. Again, we were entertained by a wealth of bird life on the way from puffins, guillemots, auks and the occasional skua to the now ubiquitous beady-eyed and curious fulmar. The North Sea can be very black at times but today was glorious and it never ceases to amaze how quiet it is, there is so little traffic.