Caledonian Canal to Wick

10th to 16th July
Caledonian Canal-Inverness-Shandwick-Wick
Route and Pics

Warm evening above locks at Fort Augustus

It was unbelievably soothing and gentle to potter slowly through the Caledonian Canal. There were excitements and lots of interest too: a huge replica Viking long boat came through the canal (they’d been dismasted on their sail from Norway and were heading for Liverpool to get a replacement – 30 crew seemed unflappable!); we enjoyed arduous forest walks on hot sunny days; and had a memorable fast sail 20 miles up Loch Ness (but damaged spinnaker pole).

Vikings come to the Caledonian Canal

Running up Loch Ness

 Local Economy built on a Monster!

Then, at Caley Marina, the brilliant  young men used crane to fix radio with new VHF cable throughout and new windvane and new masthead LED lights; so Misty is now fully shipshape again. It’s a relief to have radio working properly after a month without.

Crane helps work at masthead

 Finally, after a thoroughly restful week in the amazing canal system, I’m back on the open sea. On leaving Inverness the wind was mainly southerly, so I sail north. Also I looked at a map of Britain and can plainly see that the west of the country has the finest sailing. I know that there are bits of the East Coast that have gems, and I’ll be especially sorry to miss the Farne Islands and Suffolk, for example. But overall, stay west! I’ll not go round Britain after all.

Anchored off Shandwick (nr.Cromarty) with fine sunset

Sailing north and approaching Wick yesterday, vessels and helicopter were searching for a car that was driven off Duncansby Head with someone inside. Today the lifeboat and police are here, and I'm told, they've stopped searching. Sad and sobering reality.....
Now, I await tide and less wind before crossing the Pentland Firth to Orkney Islands. Wick Harbour Master is brilliant and gives an alternative plan to the Almanac and Cruising Directions for this rather scary patch of sea.

Harbour at Wick where wind turbines await installation at sea