Bye Bye Flushing Loo – Peterhead to Stonehaven, 20 Jul 19

I don’t know if this is a common feeling but it seems to get harder as time goes on to say goodbye to people you care about. I felt very wobbly lipped when seeing Penny and Richard off at the Marina gate in Peterhead.  I spent 3 days at their house and literally didn’t move a finger,  drinks and meals appeared, hot baths, flushing toilets and no requirement to bale out the engine bay after every journey.  But I confess that it was also lovely to see Vela again; unlike my deceased cat, a boat doesn’t sulk when you leave it for a few days! Another notice to other sailors – Peterhead Marina is extremely good value – for my (ahem) 7m boat, I was charged £14 a night – this included electricity and showers!

I left at middayish to make the most of the tide as the wind forecast was a bit pathetic and from the south.  As it turned out there was a breath which supplemented the engine for most of the 37 miles. I was relieved to maintain an average speed of over 5 knots as it drizzled for most of the journey and I was getting cold and damp, (I’ve ceased to be a purist about sailing – I throw everything at any passage of longer than 25 miles to ensure an average speed of 4 knots – particularly if the weather is rubbish).  Visibility was pretty low going past Aberdeen which is a busy port servicing the Offshore Oil Industry and I only just made out the still blades of the wind-farm to the north.  AIS is a real bonus in those situations.

It was with some relief therefore that the skies cleared before I saw the War Memorial which lies on the high ground to the south of Stonehaven. I had already spoken to the Harbour Master about where I could put Vela – as you can see from the top photo, the inner harbour dries out.  It was a choice of alongside a trawler or alongside the wall.  I chose the wall but will be up a few times in my brief hours of sleep to adjust the lines for the rise of the tide which will start at around 10.30pm.  Stonehaven is a very attractive town and I was greeted by a grizzled mate of the HM, Ian who took my lines and recommended a chippy for my tea – all in all a welcoming place for the night.