UPDATE - Issue 23 - Autumn 2005
Mike Hehir's Celtic Cruise
Departed May 27 after brilliant send off. Battled against a northwesterly to Pittenweem. Overnight to Aberdeen. Perfect conditions at the Pentland Firth. Sailed up past Old Man to Hoy Sound where engine failure. Grateful for tow into Stromness. Off to the West Coast, landfall at Lochinver. Wonderful sailing in midsummer inside Skye, under bridge. Crew a little mutinous, tacking down the Sound of Mull, because of skippers failure to turn into Tobermory for a full Scottish Breakfast. Excellent days sailing compensated as we reached Dunstaffnage. Overnight from Islay to Tory island in Donegal. Atlantic very quiet, saw only 2 fishing vessels near Co Clare and had visits from several schools of friendly dolphins and some whales. Family visits in Clare and generous donations to the charity. A lovely run up from the Fastnet to Cork. The steering cable snapped along this trip but quick response from the crew got the spinnaker down and rigged up a tiller.
Mike Hehir's yacht Altair in Aberdeen, Derek Young on deck
Repairs and off again to Dublin where spent the last June weekend. Via Bangor to Troon where we needed to repair the steering cable again! It snapped as we were 1/2 mile from harbour entrance - most convenient! Through the Crinan canal. Visited Oban distillery, motored, then sailed up to Fort William entering the Caledonian Canal first thing on Saturday. The canal was lovely, lots of people and several donations for the charity and we had a good Spinaker run up Loch Ness. Becalmed and fogbound in the Moray Firth on Tuesday 12th so we finished the trip at Whitehills Marina that evening.
Thanks to crew, family and well-wishers for their support. Numerous friendly helpful seagoing folk, especially coast-guards. To the Forth Valley Health Board for the time off and the Falkirk Herald for publicising a trip that raised over £2,500. More still coming in.