Sunday 19 July, Loch Ness

Did the staircase at Fort Augustus this morning in one hour, from top basin to Pepperpot Lighthouse, entering Loch Ness at 0945. Made it to Urquhart Castle by noon where we coasted past and took pix. 7.5kts of wind on the stbd quarter, genoa up (Chesapeake Bay Reef (CBR)) 2.5 kts , no engine. Bliss. As the wind eased up to around 8 knots on the quarter Steve decided it would be great photo/‘dit’ value to pop the chute. within about 10 mins of faffing, chute up and flying beautifully. Spurred on by this, up went the mizzen staysail. (we were already ‘flying along’ at 4kts in 6-8 kts on the stern with just the chute but no! Steve needed the staysail for the ‘dit value.’ we pretty quickly ran out of sea room and are delighted to report that recovery of said sails went as briefed and without incident.

We finished by sailing into the canal at the other end on the genoa passing through the small and relatively unheard of Loch Douchfour from the end of Loch Ness to bit of canal leading to the Dochgarroch Lock. Locked down and went for an ice cream.

Our new friend Richard, single-handing his boat ‘Ketty II’ on a fund-raising Round Britain trip in aid of the Parkinsons Charity. We will see if we can add the QR code here today so if you would like to donate. Richard has sailed from Plymouth all the way up here and is about to start his return leg, all solo.

We have decided to spend our final night alongside at Dochgarroch. Tomorrow morning our friend Catherine, who lives in Inverness, has offered to come for the ride down the last bit, out into salt water and around into Inverness Marina.Read more