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!!

Ramstone in Bloom, Start of June

The rhododendrons are now coming to an end but its now the turn of the azaleas both evergreen and deciduous.

Ski Racing, Twin Peaks Weekend 2016

Busy weekend down in the central belt last weekend.  Went down to Stirling on Friday evening so we could get an early start on Saturday for the Fir Park heat of the twin Peaks weekend.  Following the racing we upped sticks and headed down to Hillend for a practice for a couple of hours ready for Sundays racing.  Fantastic weather and some great photos and video.

Ramstone in Bloom June 3rd

Some of the azaleas now coming in to flower and still a strong showing of rhododendrons as the later ones come in to flower.  The azalea bank at the back of the house is starting to flower and should look at its best in hte coming week or so.