Thursday

Had an active day today, up early to catch the high tide for launching the rib and popping it onto the mooring.  Did a quick shakedown cruise through Cuan on route to the mooring to charge up the batteries.

Ellie then kindly lent a hand grouting the tiles on the patio and after that it was off to Benderloch for a cycle down Loch Etive and then up over the hill to Barcaldine before returning along the cycle track to Benderloch and on to Poppies for lunch.

 

Isobel and I closed up the day with an evening Kayak up to the Bridge over The Atlantic on the evening high tide.

Firth of Lorn Races

Tuesday was our last day of racing in West Highland Week and was a round the cans race off Kerrera and Seil in the Firth of Lorn.  The start was just south of the north entrance to Oban bay and the first leg was a tight reach down to Bach Island.  We adopted our usual tactics of maximum speed on the middle of the line aiming for clear air and it again paid dividends with us third at the first mark.  The beat was again a struggle and we were soon in the usual parking lot in the third / fourth legs but the wind filled in for a final beat to the shortened course.

The day was finished off in perfect fashion with a meal at Piazza for the full crew and shore party!  Thanks go to Ian for providing the boat, Tom for providing supper at Piazza and for Tom, Jim and Isobel for putting up with the helmsman!

Craobh to Oban Race

Monday morning dawned bright but somewhat windless, not much good for sailing!  It was an early start so we could catch the tide up the Sound of Luing.  Despite the race officers best efforts a start was not possible in the light and often non-existant wind so the whole fleet motored up the Sound of Luing past Cullipool and on past Easdale.  We finally found enough wind to get a start at Ardencaple bay off Seil.  We got a good start but along with 4 other members of our class sailed into one of the many holes in the wind and were left watching everyone else sail away.  We did finish the race but plain last!

It was a gorgeous evening so it was supper outside on the patio and puddings on the platform overlooking the sound.

Round Shuna Race

Sunday saw us lining up for the Round Shuna Race.  Every year that we have done this race it has been blessed with absolute champagne sailing conditions, this year was no exception.  With the wind from the NW it was a clockwise course round Shuna with a reaching start.  With the line heavily biased we went for the leeward end and got clear air and a great start.  We were overtaken by two faster boats in our class but had third at the first mark and held on round the course finishing fourth over the line and fifth on handicap, our best result so far.

Whilst Isobel and I were sailing, Julie and Ellie had a day cooking together and laid on a wonderful spread for the whole crew and support team, the puddings especially were fantastic!

Summer Holidays (At last!)

Summer hols have at last arrived, great to have both girls back in the country and more importantly, in the same place!  Ellie was at an indoor ski training camp at Braehead last week and Isobel was at a hockey camp in Edinburgh and Julie just acting as chauffeur.

Saturday at last saw us all in the same place.  Isobel and I were joining Tom Ian and Jim to sail on Ian's boat Tioram in Wet Highland Week.

Saturday was the feeder race from Oban to Craobh Haven.  We got a good start in clear air mid-line and were able to maintain it down the sound of Kerera emerging from the Sound in 6th place and all was looking good until the usual parking lot saw us becalmed off Easdale as the first three boats sailed off into the distance.  The rest of the fleet then sailed up behind us on the new breeze and although we were fifth over the line the smaller boats beat us on handicap having been favoured by the new breeze.

Ellie Baking

With Isobel away in Sri Lanka still,  Ellie has taken over the baking duties, some delicious cupcakes!

Hintertux 2016 Part 2

Ellie had a fantastic time at Hintertux, sunny weather all week!  Even factor 50 didn't completely block the suns rays up on the glacier.

They had a great time training up on the glacier between 8 and 1pm before then having lunch and heading down to the valley for their fitness sessions which involved hikes, bathing in freezing mountain streams and various punishing exercise regimes, photos below.

Ellie on extreme right

Hintertux 2016

Yesterday Ellie jetted off to Hintertux for a week of race training with ATC.  Skiing 8AM till 1AM and then back down to the valley in the afternoon for some fitness training.  Here are some photos from day 1, posted by an extremely jealous father!!