This being Scotland in summer, you expect the odd blow. But we are beset with foul weather. Southerly gale after gale, with lots of rain. However, we caught a break yesterday and awoke to momentarily blue skies and calm winds. We are on spring tides (when the moon and sun work together) so are seeing a bit of tidal current in spots. The photo above indicates SOG (speed over ground) of 17.5 knots. That’s 6.6 knots of positive current.

A few hours later, off the Mull of Kintyre, things were a bit more adverse.

Look at the SOG (middle right). It is down to 3.2 knots (from 10.1 through the water speed). 6.9 knots of adverse current, a new record for Wind Horse!

We rounded the point in almost calm conditions. Yet the sea was a mass of confused and steep four to six foot (1.2 to 1.8m) seas. Can you imagine what this would be like in a gale?

There is nothing to give scale to this photo, but the seas were impressive.

By the time we were an hour past the point the current had dropped off to a couple of knots and seas were more regular. A couple of hours more and we were securely anchored in Loch Ryan. That’s a good thing as it has been blowing a gale since just past dinner.

Our goal from here is to get ourselves to southern Britain, the area past Land’s End starting with Falmouth. Last year’s schedule forced us to give this area less than its due. The problem is these southerly gales coupled with the current infested Irish Sea is not a place to be caught in adverse weather, even in a vessel as quick and weatherly as Wind Horse.

This is the GFS model run for Monday. The conditions look light between Ireland and the UK. Of course a slight change in the position of the 978mb low could have a major impact on wind strength.

We have a several harbors laid out where we can anchor between Loch Ryan and Land’s End. We’ll check the forecast tonight, and again in the morning. If it stays this way we are off, at least for the first 120 miles. Beyond tomorrow a succession of depressions are forecast.

We’ll close with this cousin of the albatross, a frigate bird. They love the breeze. Yesterday they were working in the light air which made it easier to catch this one with the camera.