 |
| Snow around perhaps the most famous bus stop!? |
Almost a month since our last post! I will try to update you as much as possible!
 |
| Calm but cold |
As Daniel travelled up from Orkney the wind dropped away and we were forecast an incredibly calm few days, an almost perfect weather window opportunity to cross to Norway. Alas with Daniel arriving in the middle of the good weather we had to make a tough decision on leaving or not. This time of year usually brings with it poorer weather and crossings would normally be unheard of. After several discussions we made the decision that with the weather window shortening and the amount still to do aboard, with several other British based engagements approaching too, we would instead use the nicer weather to finish up getting Quickstep ready to leave when the next circumstances allowed. As well as heading for a few walks, taking Daniel to Sand Wick beach as promised.
 |
| Doesn't get much calmer! |
 |
| It has been very handy to have the car on Unst |
First thing on our list of jobs was to cut in the new deck hatch, which in turn would allow us to finally finish packing the boat. The deck hatch was cut in without too much difficulty and we filled the space, there has been a huge amount of repacking, repositioning and reorganising. Since our previous trip to Norway in 2014, where we were living aboard as part of a trio, we haven't had that long aboard to see what is needed, and what is not, so as we spend longer living aboard we are able to make informed decisions to remove some objects and to increase or change others. Though monotonous it is crucial to make the best of our space, in turn making the adventure as comfortable as possible, which should help crew morale if nothing else!!
 |
| Skaw beach |
 |
| A bit cold indeed! |
First of the British based commitments was a trip down to St Andrews for Amanda, with a hen weekend to attend! So a few days after Daniels arrival, Amanda headed down on the ferry to Aberdeen before heading further south. A handful of days in the south, with a group of lovely ladies, and details I will spare you from, I made it back home to the boat in one piece! In the meantime Daniels Mum and sister had arrived from Orkney for a visit to Daniel and Unst.
We have now decided that with varying arrangements in the UK we will not leave before at least mid April, as the cost of returning by flight for these would be too high and complicated. So with that in mind the weather seems to be doing its best to rub in that every now and again March provides stunningly calm and summery weather, strangely enough though 160miles away in the area of Norway we hope to land they aren't having such calm weather, with forces 5 and up! When we hope to do the crossing we are looking for forces 4 or less for both areas. With virtual flat calms we gave in to the pull of the sea and went for a trip by our auxiliary power, the two Yamaha outboards. Heading for the northern most point of the UK, muckle flugga and Out Stack, it was interesting to see with no wind that there can still be a strong swell. This swell when coupled with the notorious fierce seas off the north of Unst can be exceptionally dangerous, and we made sure to pass through it rapidly. The north of Unst had also been suggested to us as a great fishing area and so when past the worst of the tidal disturbance we threw our line over, within seconds we had caught ourself tea for a few nights in the form of two Ceuths, or Coley. We raced between Yell and Unst following the strong tides, reaching around 10 knots with the outboards, which until then were sitting at 4-5knots! We pulled back in to Baltasound around 3.30pm having left with the first light just after 6am, having finally motored past the most northern point, which we tried and failed in 2014. We did the entire 40mile circumnavigation by outboard, gaining confidence in them as a useful and satisfactory back up.
 |
| Cutting the deck hatch in |
 |
| Sunset from Balta Island |
Today with weather still calm and warm we finished a few jobs aboard before taking the boat to the East of Balta island, playing and practising with the main and auxiliary power. Whilst in Unst we have so rarely taken the boat out, its great to get used to her performance again and have her at sea. The tides have been exceptionally low over the past week, with many of the boats in the marina going aground at low tide.
In the next few days we will be accompanying Daniels family back to Orkney to finish up a few bits there, with Amanda then heading south for a Wedding before we both meet again in Unst early April shortly before we will begin to keep our eye out for suitable crossings.
 |
| Twa three birds! |
 |
| Muckle Flugga Lighthouse |
 |
| Out Stack and Muckle Flugga |
 |
| Dinner sorted! |
 |
| A few birds! |
