News
For the News of 2006, click here
December
With the year almost over some of us look back to the season just gone - the sun, the rain, the wind, the waves, the company, the wildlife... In short, the memories that make sailing such a special pursuit. It is also a time to look forward to next year's challenges, and with that in mind we now have confirmed dates for the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore theory course.
All that remains is to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and fair winds for 2008.
October
I can't quite believe it is October already - where has the summer gone? Although some might ask did it ever arrive! It may not have been as glorious as last year, but there were still some great days of sailing to be had, with the occasional drop of rain thrown in. On a circumnavigation of Mull it was calm enough to land on Staffa, a rare treat. We even managed a couple of overnight trips on Kazumoya, venturing as far away as Loch Spelve. There we were treated to sightings of the golden eagles, and the occasional glimpse of sea otters.
We have been busy in the classroom too, with three VHF/GMDSS courses having been run since May. We have just ordered another pair of training radios, which will enhance the quality of students' learning. It is planned to run some theory courses at the start of 2008, check back for dates.
Preparations are under way for the annual visit to the Red Sea, where it is just starting to cool down to comfortable temperatures.
May
31st: Would you consider sailing for 12 hours to get somewhere, just to arrive and find out that you may have to turn right around again? When that somewhere is the magical archipelago of St Kilda, the answer can only be yes. We were more fortunate than that - we managed to spend 2 hours on shore on the evening we arrived. And how lucky we were - we had to clear out at sunrise the following morning, to stay ahead of a particularly violent storm (for May anyway). There was a huge sense of achievement once we were safely attached to a mooring buoy in Lochmaddy, and the intensity of the storm that followed made us realise just what a privilege it had been. Have a look at the new album in the Photo Gallery for images of the trip.
8th: Life has been so busy over the last month there hasn't been time to keep you updated! I have been fortunate enough to enjoy the best of the weather out on the water, both here and amongst the Croatian islands of the Dalmatian Coast. We have just enjoyed 10 consecutive days of glorious sunshine, all due to a dominant high pressure system over the UK. It's back to normal now though, with a series of low pressure systems coming in from the Atlantic and bringing with them quite a lot of rain!
March
It seems that the mild winter is making way for Spring - the snowdrops have been and gone, the daffodils have shot up. I wonder if there is a sting in the tail still to come? Some people have already started thinking of getting back on the water, and attended the SRC course run at the beginning of the month. On a day which saw four seasons of weather we were glad to still be inside.
January 2007
Happy New Year to you all! At this time of year it is only the brave or foolhardy who might consider going afloat, while the rest of us think only of staying indoors! I hope to be able to publish dates for Theory courses soon, once a new venue is found. Otherwise thoughts turn to Spring - why not brush up your boat handling while the marinas are still quiet? Enquire now for dates.
If you have a specific query, or would like to find out more, call or email us at info@bluefinsailing.co.uk