Round Britain for the RNLI Blog

I am now back on board the boat and I have to say that the weather here this afternoon has not been good. very heavy thunderstorms and torrential rain had my enthusasm down this afternoon. However, that has now all past and it is now a beautiful evening… almost dead calm, not warm but not cold and quiet with the sea almost dead flat.

The weather for tomorrow is similar to today - F2-3 and thundery showers. I am planning on getting away from Glenarm at about 1130 so I pass the Mull of Kintyre at about Dover HW. I will have to be cautious as tomorrow is springs but at the time I plan to do the trip there shouldn’t be too much of a problem at either end nor in the middle. None the less, rather than go direct from here to the Mull I am going to stick to the coast as I go north and then cut across the shipping lanes at right angles to the Mull. Then north on the west coast of Kintyre until I eventually turn west towards Islay. This route gives me the best options for shelter should I need it and reduces my exposure to the TSS and shipping lanes to the minimum… always a good idea in such a small boat!

So, after a hearty evening meal of Hot Packs Lancashire Hotpot with Trifle after I am hopeful for tomorrow. Saturday and Sunday look like it could be windy but early next week is promising and I am hoping to get into the Caledonian Canal Tuesday or Wednesday and through to Inverness by Thursday or Friday.

More tomorrow when I have reviewed the weather for the leg from Glenarm to Port Askaig…

It was lovely to have him home for a while but I couldn’t keep him. Too much important boating to be done. We had a lovely break, doing lots of normal things, seeing some good friends, relaxing and catching Saltash Regatta too which was great fun - gets bigger and better every year.

This morning we went off to Exeter Airport and I set off back at around 1210. Didn’t get home until 1530 and it’s only 50 miles - I went via Trago Mills, Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s! For those who don’t know, Trago Mills is an enormous sales outlet in the South West that sells pretty much everything. I didn’t buy anything there though!

So now I’m back home getting used to being alone again. Physiotherapy tomorrow - seeing if a bit of neck maintenance might help my intractable head pain.