BLUEMOMENT

This summer a so called "super El Niño" has been developing in the South Pacific. An El Niño forms when the warm water in the west Pacific, that has been pushed from east to west by prevailing winds, rushes back towards South America. It messes up the heat distribution and impacts the jet ...

Ha ha

Who folding down the spray hood be careful if there are any items that could press against the collapsed window. I lowered my spray hood onto the power cable socket and it has left a permanent indentation on the window material and stretched the plastic. I assume because the hot weather has softened...

My decks are too hot to stand on barefoot during the day and at night the temperature cools right down so that with hatches open, it is pleasant nights sleep. Unfortunately, no sailing, just a quick visit over a couple of nights to check on the boat as other matters are taking up all my time. But su...

Many of us might have learned decades ago the rules of thumb, 3 x chain, 6 x times warp, or mixed rode. It worked then, even using CQRs. Today, it is usually 4 x for chain and 7 x for mixed rode with massively improved anchor reliability, so I don't understand the need to go for more rode length. Ev...

NTM from April describing damage to the outer breakwater pontoons. https://www.castlebaymarina.com/post/season-2026-for-castlebay-marina The pontoons section of Castlebay Marina is now open. Unfortunately, due to some damage sustained during the winter the outer section will remain closed until furt...

If you want to try and influence the UKHO stance on paper charts, they have a survey to be completed. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YJVF22J?fbclid=IwVERFWAS0cLxwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUJ2R661PZVypdJRsnK_uo_0AtfvPemV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzE3Mzg0NzY0MjY3MDM3MAABHpjN3Waom3IGOHESu1yA89MoCdinbA8pOdHtk357sF...

Arrival is between July 10 to 13th, then some open boat stuff and departure on July 19th for a parade of sail. Last time the boats were arranged around the north pier pontoon breakwater (outer pontoon) but no sure what the arrangement is this time, probably the same assuming all is okay with the rep...

At Aros Bay the refurbished building works have been accepted by A&BC. The fixtures and fittings will be installed in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully the new facilities will be open soon.

Such is life; what was once certain becomes doubtful, what was once routine becomes unusual.

CCC have issued a "Notice to Sailors" which popped up on my FB page. In the outer part of Loch Skipport there are two abandoned mussel ropes with no buoys on them running E to W in the approximate position N57 degrees 19.8 minutes, W007 degrees 14.7 minutes. The ropes have no floatation de...

The RABT is now back to its normal self with all the construction traffic and equipment gone and no single lane control in place. Thank Goodness. Also if you are driving up the side of Loch Lomond between Duck Bay Marina and Tarbet, the average speed cameras have now been reinstated after they were ...

Lochmaddy Marina power and water supply has now been reinstated on the pontoons. That’s them back up and running fully now.

Information is directly from them on Facebook, not from visiting.

Many forumites will know these waters well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXz7qqWsAJw

I am heading to Norway (on another boat) from Inverness to Bodo, leaving around the 8th of June. It's been a few years since I last sailed in those waters, on the Banff to Stavanger race. Looking forward to it.