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Morvenna 2023
  • Austen Davies
  • Claire Davies
  • Austen Davies
  • Claire Davies

Morvenna 2023

First year of our sailing trip in our Ovni 435 Morvenna. Looking forward to some great adventures with Rob and Gretel Shaw Read more
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  • Morvenna 2023

    Loch Hourn

    May 16, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    First anchorage for Richard and myself after a rendezvous in Mallaig with Austen. We’d experienced a little train luxury on the Caledonia sleeper and some “Harry Potter” magic scenery across the highlands.
    We spent 2 nights in Loch Hourn and a day exploring on foot    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Portree Skye

    May 17, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 11 °C

    Left Loch Horn bright and early. The last pool of the loch, where we were anchored was silky smooth but we had some shallows and narrows to negotiate before we were back in the clear again. As we began to see the isle of Skye again the wind began to rise. A nice little 20kt reach all the way to Kyle of loch Alsh. The xtra wind had made us 40 minutes early on the tide. I didn’t think this would be a problem, and luckily it wasn’t. But I had definitely misjudged the forces at play here. We were sailing down wind with 25kts behind us into a tide of 4 knots. We got quite a buffeting in the entrance by the ferry. Then we were making steady progress in the narrowing channel which had a 6 knots of adverse tide. We would not of made it through without 25 knots of breeze. We then made a school boy mistake, one which I believe is common at this point. At the end of the Kyle you turn left towards the skye bridge. The tide dissipates and you get the full force of the 25 kts on the side of the boat . All hands on deck to get some sail in and gain control through the narrows under the bridge. Once through the bridge with 2 reefs in and sailing under jib we sailed up wind past scapay and Rassay. With the wind peaking just under 30kts. Morvenna has impeccable manors in these conditions so tea and chocolate all the way.
    Once in Portree harbour area we picked up a bouy and headed to shore for a pint and some supper. We had used one whole gas canister this trip and though it best to find a replacement while still in the UK. 2 phone calls and a walk to the industrial estate. Job done.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Shiant Islands

    May 19, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Left Portree late morning after collecting some gas and shopping for fresh food we took a steady sail towards the outer Hebrides with the hope of stopping at the Shiants if the weather permitted. It did, but only just. We stayed for a couple of hours and and spent most of our time looking at the Puffin soup and trying not to drag anchor Cant believe we didn’t take any photos, this was definitely a wildlife highlight.Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Loch Shell (Lewis)

    May 19, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ 🌫 11 °C

    The weather was far too unstable for an overnight at the Shiant islands so we made the further hop to the Isle of Lewis looking for a nice little sheltered lock and a settle spot to have supper and bed. With 25nts of wind as we closed land we were doing 8 knots straight into the loch, a really nice sail ready for an easy run in. Wrong. It appeared. The whole loch was full of fish farms, not marked on the chart. And in the half light no obvious way around. Especially down wind at 8 knots. Some urgent sail reduction and a gentle scout around to find the path though was required. Once were past the fish farms we managed to anchor under a hill on the south side in 15metres which is was a bit deep and we didn’t know what bottom was. We dug the anchor in and put out 70 metres of chain as the forecast wasn’t good. Sleepless night wind howling 35knts of breeze hill wasn’t offering much protection. Claire was so worried she got dressed in the middle of the night and slept in the cabin ready for quick escape. Rich however slept like a baby and couldn’t hear the wind in the rear cabin.
    When morning came it was still howling but the boat hadn’t moved an inch I love that Rocna.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Stromness

    May 27, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 11 °C

    Stromness, my first visit to the Orkneys which might require more serious sailing to get here.
    We were weather tied in Kin Loch bervie for a couple of days. And although the weather wasn’t perfect we had an opportunity to get out and make a pass on cap wrath. In total about a 70 mile day in potentially quite big weather. 2 handed we have to be quite careful so we checked everything on the boat and made a plan we both understood. The firs job was to get the sails up in the protection of the loch and then sail an almost upwind coarse out of the narrow loch into a moderately large swell. Dodging the odd rock.
    Nial and and Katherine in Canog in there swede 39 were slightly ahead of us and made it look easy. So we committed to the plan. We were off and the the first few miles needed to be accurate, to position us for a comfortable rounding of cape wrath. About 4 metre swell and 25 knots of breeze, but the boat felt comfortable and Claire helmed solidly round the cape and into the open sea. The tide began to push us east. It was going to be almost dead down wind and that is difficult in a big swell. So we had to add some angle to keep the sails full. We had a dead line of 930pm for Hoy Sound before the tide would be too much to get in. The Orkney islands began to appear on the horizon and it was looking good for schedule. As we pasted the old man of Hoy the light was leaving quickly, but we made it just in time. Wiggle through the harbour and the navigation aids all lit to help us. Canog was there to take our lines as we moored up next to them again. It was festival week end in Stromness and my new Irish friends were keen to get out for as pint or 2. Looks like a late one.
    Stromness is a pretty period town with a regular mainland ferry and a solid fishing fleet very atttractive and already noticeably full of wild life, on the edge of scrappy flow it is popular with the diving fraternity. This week end the town was humming with pipe bands and folk music at every turn.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Fair Isle

    June 1, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    Left Papa Westray 9am expected west wind and a simple sail to the north of Ronaldsay. As always the weather here changes fast and the wind was in the north. South of Ronaldsay it was, we were late on the tide to get through the sound. After an hour of sailing we added some engine to make sure we made it through before it built to the predicted 6 kts against. Fate was on our side as we pushed foul tide. 2 Orca cruised past with the tide on a hunting expedition. Tall Dorsal fins there first give away then a couple of dives and porpoising. They were a real treat. We broke out into the open see and good tide sent us north towards Fair Isle. 15nts old wind just off the beam and very little swell. The sun came out, Champagne sailing couldn’t be better. 5 hours later we had reached Fair isle, where we had been beaten by the dreaded cruise ship. Luckily they were on a short visit only to the south of the island.
    The North harbour is small and already had a work boat and one sailing boat just arrived from Lerwick, Chris and Stephen who offered us a drm as we arrived. Great company and a good contact on our next visit to Lerwick.
    The High pressure had arrrived and it was a day of bird spotting and wild walking for us after a good nights sleep. Friday not a breath of wind and not a cloud in the sky, we set out to circum navigate the island on foot with snacks a camera and some binoculars. I can only say what a stunning day it was. Birds Birds birds. And very few people all friendly.
    Great Skua (bonsey)
    Arctic Skua - just one!
    Puffin
    Razor bill
    Guillemots
    Curlew
    Wheatear
    And what appeared to be almost tame fulmars
    The great skuas were very territorial and Claire was a great target. I’m pretty sure they would have done damage had we pushed our luck. Clings were full of coring birds and the isolated coves of the west of the island were isolated and stunning.
    In the evening after tea we made a flask and went and sat in the Puffin roost area till dark surrounded by bunches of the cutest birds ever. They land and socialise before ducking into burrows, some their own work, others carefully constructed by a rabbit population, with which they appear to happily cohabit.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Mousa Island

    June 3, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    So after an unbelievable 2 nights on fair isle, it looked as if the weather window was to continue. The ferry we were tied up to, had to leave at 7 am and we had to gone by then. It was going to be a no wind no swell motor to Mousa 30 ish miles across a piece of sea known as the Hole. This area has a big reputation for un predictable seas and wildly strong tide and a “Roost” (race) on Sumbah point not fall Into. As the Viking would say, the gods were sleeping as we passed,quietly in the early morning fog. The foggy trip gave me the the opportunity to tune the Radar and right my post from fair isle. By the time we reach sumbagh point the fog had cleared and the high pressure gave zero wind and bright sun. WE were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a Minky Whale rise twice as with our first view of Shetland. It was so still i decided to see if I could catch tea. I dug a fishing rod out from under the floorboards I slowed the engine to nothing and with my first drop hooked a Ling (cod family) about 6 or seven pounds. 3 meals in the bag in under 10 minutes of effort. Engine on again last 5 miles to the anchorage at Mousa in glassy sea cutting conditions.

    It was Saturday and the Bird reserve has no visitors on Saturday. The island was all ours. Dinghy ashore and off we set in what would be a 2 hour walk around the outside of the island. We now have a keen ear for new birds and the binoculars go everywhere with us. First new sound followed by siting was a Whimbrel. And then some weird sounds coming from inside the stone walls. We would find out what these were later. The first big thing we found was the Broch which is a building shaped like a 70s cooling tower made from stone. This building is nearly 3000 years old and has cavity walls ans internal staircases. It house small communities of subsistence farmers, apparently this one is the best preserved anywhere.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Noss island

    June 4, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Lazy morning in the sun at Mousa followed by a lazy Genoa only 10 nm sail to Noss Island in the afternoon breeze. A beautiful anchorage on the SW side we arrived at 6pm and settled in for Veggi Haggis again. By 8pm Claire was ready for her evening walk and to scale the islands peak where there was rumour of big see bird colonies. We hopped in the dinghy and ran shore. The diced to see if we could do the complete lap of the island before dark. About 10 KM. We were the only people on the Island again. Which alway gives walk an adventurous feel. It was a steep climb up the North west edge of the island. Every cliff edge had puffins, Guilimottes, Razor bills, Gannets. And each clif seem seem to have consistently more birds than the last. Some colonies were thousands of birds and the noise was fantastic. WE even heard storm pectorals in the walls as we had on Mousa. Again a great evening adventure with a great feel of isolation. Not disappointed.Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Lerwick

    June 6, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Lerwick is then final destination before in the uk before a 200nm hop to Bergen and is the place where we will wait for the correct weather to go . Rob and and Nick will arrive today after and flight to Aberdeen and a ferry to Lerwick making it a thick end of 24 hours to get from Cornwall. That’s a great reminder of how far we have come. Luckily on arrival from a nice little hop round from Noss Island we rafted up with Jon and Cindy from Maine and their American J46. They had just completed 6 summers in Norway and had plenty of great advice for us. After a brief chat we were invited for cocktails and given a list of great destinations for the trip.

    NIck and Rob arrived on the overnight ferry. After a short walk to the boat, breakfast was urgent.
    Fred, Nick’s old friend who lives in Lerwick arrived for a bacon sarnie & coffee and, he had set up a full day of entertainment. First was a trip to his composite workshop, to see what he had been up to for the past 30 years. Quite a bit, it seems. From making life size Orca whales to scare seals for the salmon industry, to giant wind and heat pump powered heat stores. Today, though Fred was taking us to his family holiday home and for a picnic and fishing at his secret spot in his old Plymouth pilot. When we arrived at the west coast we hopped on the old boat, checked the oil disconnected the electrics and puttered out into the lock. A couple of miles later we arrived at the house which has no road access. What a spot, a converted Croft hidden in the landscape. Which had been converted by Fred and his architect father. We picked up the fishing hand lines and a some water. We headed to a very protected cove to see seals and arctic turns via a cave a smoking engine and bumping a rock en route after eating our lunch on the edge of the beach. The tide was dropping so next stop was the fishing hole. After lining up both headlands and a distant doctors house. The hand made fishing lines were dropped over the side to see what was there. At first we didn’t have much hope as the lures were old and rusty and we had used 2spanners and a shackle as weights. Fred said we we are nearly on the spot as the wind pushed us over the transits. Boom. Rob was in straight away Cod 1 about 3lbs in the bag. These rusty old lures still work. Down they went again boom! Robs says this ones a bit bigger 6lbs cod in the bag. Nick after raiding the tool kit for spanner’s now felt he had the right combination to fish the hole. Booms! String of mackerel. At the same time Rob was in again this time 4lb cod like fish, one more string of mackerel for nick and we were done. 40mins total of fishing and we had a feast to feed the family, Fred called his family to assist with eating the catch, who would of thought it? we were BBQing in Lerwick under what felt like the only tree on the Shetlands, that happened to be in Freds Garden. Top day and top company, a proper treat whilst travelling through, thanks to Fred, Magdalena, and their family for making it fun.

    Next stop is to plan the crossing !!.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    The Crossing to Bergen

    June 7, 2023 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    As always, with any crossing of 200nm watching the weather and swell for several days before is essential. I was confident in the boat and everyone on the boat. Claire was trying out some behind ear patches to help with sea sickness. The original plan was to leave early Thursday, when the stiff wind in the centre of the North Sea had subsided. And the crossing could be done with only one night sail. As it turned out night doesn’t really happen anymore. The weather patterns were moving quite quickly and it was looking as if there would be almost no wind on Thursday and probably a left over swell. The worst of both worlds. We decided to leave Wednesday afternoon and make the most of what Northerly wind was left. The plan was use the early light wind for the first third of the journey stay north as much as possible just in case the stronger wind mid crossing was very strong and we needed to bare off. Then see what we had left for wind tho make landfall south of Bergen. We set off around 3pm motor sailing on the rumb line. It was time to organise the watch system with almost entirely daylight hours this far north, night experience wasn’t really a factor. I decided that we would have 4 hour watches with 1 hour overlap at each end of the watch. Plenty of sleep and not too long alone. When I went off watch at 1am we were sailing nicely with full sail. A 7kt reach slightly north of destination. By the time I re appeared at 7am we had 1 reef in and half the head sail. About 20knts of breeze still in the north. I put in another reef with nick and let out some head sail. The boat felt better balanced. The sea was building and it was ugly and disorganised very difficult for us to steer and impossible for George the auto helm to get around. The up side it was a totally blue day. The sea continued build and continued to send ugly crescent shaped waves our way. Mostly on our beam but sometimes not. We had about 12 hours to run and it was going to hard work on the helm. Claire offered to make tea before she went to bed, which meant the patches were working. ( Don’t tell Austen I didn’t actually remember to put them on until I went to bed and realised there was only a 20:80 chance at best of managing not to be tipped out if it!) About 4 hours out of Bergen, the sea began to moderate and the wind was dying. We wanted to be out of the swell before the wind completely went. The first sight of Norway was the snowy mountains behind Bergen in a red sun set we eventually entered the south channel to Bergen at about 10.30pm. The sensible thing was to find an Anchorage and head into Bergen and the Customs game the following day. We had a look through the chart and Hummelsund looked like a likely candidate. Wow what a spot . So beautiful and so still, it felt like we anchoring in the village green .Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Utoskavagen

    June 11, 2023 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Well we just sailed a little way out of Bergen. (20 miles)Took a casual glance at the chart, thought better find somewhere to anchor later, saw this little nook and said we will give that a go, didn’t know what to expect.

    After a nice gentle upwind sail from Bergen and photos of various grass roofed houses. They are still a novelty., and a super casual stop by the customs boat .We headed to the entrance of the nook. By this time it was 15 knots on the beam and the first gap in the rocks wasn’t too wide. Sails down motor on and we slippped into the glassy calm water on the inside of the island. Just followed our nose through rocks and round 180 degree turns until it opened out into a perfect totally enclosed pool. Wow!! What a spot, Norway definitely looking promising.

    WE had it to our selves, so we dinghyed ashore and walked up the hill for photic opportunities. Look at the photos. Say no more.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Gulen

    June 12, 2023 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Guess what, we stumbled on Nial and Katherine. By accident in a little lunch time anchorage, on the way to Gulen. We dingied them over to the boat for lunch and to hear where they had been. I think they think we are storking them. Adrian had now been dropped off in Bergen, so it was now just Katherine and Nial. We agreed to meet in Gulen. Which was an un official race challenge. About 15 miles though the channels. Luckily for us Katherine didn’t know which way she was facing so we got the jump on her. In what was probably the slowest race ever,with only the Genoa up our sail trimming team never lost concentration. Lucky Nial didn’t put up the kite.
    Gulen, home of the Viking parliament. And other historical stuff. The showers on the pontoon were defiantly Viking era. We had a short evening walk. And we were invited to tea with the Canogs we took back the bottle of wine they had brought us in stromness and took some more too. 7 for tea in a 40 foot boat was going to be cosy, and fun. Katherine let her hair down and told a few good yarns. Going to be sore heads in the morning.
    IN the morning a walking tour to Viking Parliament place was planned.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Arevika

    June 13, 2023 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    After our long morning walk with the Canogs it was time to head off towards Sognefjord. The very large intimidating fjord on the map. Perfect blues sky sent us on our way late afternoons. We had a loose plan to meet up with Katherine and Nial in the next few days, but didn’t know where or when. We slid gently though the channels heading north and had spotted a small inland water area in the north west of the fjord which might have a place to anchor. I think it was about 830 pm by the time we had slipped in through the narrows and into the very calm inland area called Lifjordan I think.
    There was a low wire over the exit channel so we could only go so far that way. Just slightly west of the the narrows there was a likely nook. Glassy and surrounded by trees we glided into 2 metres depth with keel up we dropped anchor less than 10 metres from the bank. And reversed back a bit. We had absolutely no swing room so we put 2 stern lines ashore. Nick was so exited he dropped all the cooking utensils and was in the dingy with spoons towing the lines ashore. Great fun and a unique spot. I decided to go on a late night dingy expedition with Claire in the half light that was what is called night here. Still no Otters. Although there was a hint of an otter on arrival.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Soreide

    June 14, 2023 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Not an early start. But untied from our 3 point anchorage. Stowed the ropes and headed down the giant fjord just to see how big it is and wether we fancied going to the end. After a full day of sunny, motoring, motor sailing, beating. Drifting. What appeared to be no progress had been made on this giant piece of nature. Completely at random we went to the nearest inlet. Again with no research and looked for somewhere to anchor. As it happened there was a single dock in the middle of the settlement with tyres etc. It looked perfect and Nick glided the boat boat in. Ready for everyone to take a well earns walk. In normal fashion, Rob and Claire set a punishing pace in the afternoon heat. Actually it might have been evening or even night. Its getting difficult to tell. A moderate view was had but with too m any trees. Back down the hilll for a swim to cool off.
    Well Claire and spoons anyway.
    This was a very pretty bay and so quiet. After a couple of cold beers took a stroll to the head of the bay. To our surprise there was a tidal inlet leading to another picture postcard fjord. All with jumping fish. All to good to be true. Norway seems to have world class beautiful spots hidden round every corner.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Skifjorden

    June 15, 2023 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Also known as Robs little crack. We were bumbling our way around late in the evening thinking about anchoring when Rob spotted this place on the chart. Somewhere you would never pass by in 2 lifetimes. Perfect, still, and warm enough to swim. Spoons and Claire anyway. Tiny paradise for an evening. Norway just keeps givingRead more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Kvalstadvagen

    June 16, 2023 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    This was todays anchorage, obviously we are now struggling to find perfect little bits of paradise and we had to settle for this one. It had several contenders for house of the day and the fishing wasn’t too bad either. After Mackerel tea and beers we went to bed with and Island walk planned for the morning.
    Sunny again, Norways reputation for rain wasn’t holding up. So warm we had all the hatches open duvets adrift. Dingy to shore. Nick was spotting some foraging opportunities on the dock as we landed for our walk. Some nice big juicy muscles. The island seems to be mainly rain deer farming but I’m sure that’s not the case. Beautiful walk to Svanoy up hill and down dale. Where we came across our first ever in manned shop.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023

    Svanoy

    June 17, 2023 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    After the Morning walk we decide do go and gets the boat and sail it round to Svanoy on the north-of the island. The main reason for the move was to use the washing machines and get showers. As it turned out we experienced the un manned shop, Cameras and contactless sales. We met a whale local whale boat captain called, amnesia . And we swam multiple times, once loosing my only bank card to the bottom of the sea. And we drunk beer in the sun that didn’t go down. All in all another good day.Read more

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