Looking Back
On this cold and frosty December morning here in Falmouth, it's hard to imagine that just a few short months ago we were still enjoying the September sun in Kerrera Marina, preparing Eda Frandsen for her annual pilgrimage south.
As I write this I realise that it has been an exceedingly long time since I have written anything vaguely resembling an end-of-season round-up, inevitably one day rolls into another, and in this year's case, some extraordinarily warm and dry November weather has meant that we jumped straight into the jobs list, sanding and varnishing the mast, topmast, gaff and bulwarks before putting up our winter cover and winterising the engine and generator.
2 am Low-tide/its not raining antifouling!
When I look back to earlier this year and our preparations for the season, I can't help but think we have earned this stroke of good fortune, as a particularly wet and stormy March/April meant that our annual haul out at Tom's Yard in Polruan had to be cancelled. This meant a few very long days (and nights) antifouling alongside a quay wall in any small gaps we could find between thunderclouds. There was so much moisture in the air that we had to dry the underside of the boat with heat guns before antifouling so that the paint would stick. Not for the faint-hearted.
Thankfully, that done and dusted, the beginning of our season on the sailing side of things was a breeze.
Our Cornish weekends saw beautiful sunshine and calm seas and the passage to Scotland was as peaceful as can be expected and included a gorgeous night at anchor in the Scillies, if a little more fog than planned on arrival in Scotland. In Oban we were blessed with glorious sunshine and a chance encounter with Bessie Ellen under full sail!
Our Artist Adventure series with Catherine Harvey Jefferson took us from Oban to Mallaig, via Lismore, around Ardnamurchan Point to Muck, on to Rum and into Loch Nevis. Gorgeous days spent sketching on the deck, walks ashore, swimming from the boat and many sightings of puffins that May brings.
Catherine filling the saloon with joy on a stormy day!
It was a great season for Puffins watching….
September Mornings at Kerrera Marina
Bessie Ellen sailing past Kerrera
Stornoway Port for Midsummers Night
Our Midsummer 9-night voyage this year took us to Stornoway via the Sound of Harris with a visit to Luskentyre beach, Taransay and a new-to-us stop off on Ensay, a tiny island right in the sound of Harris, with one solitary house on the beach, a church and the most magnificent views out to sea.
The view from Luskentyre Beach, Harris
Later in the season, a long-awaited voyage to Mingulay to explore the ruins of crofts abandoned only 100 years ago, the friendliest Puffin Colony I have yet to encounter and a white sandy beach, guarded by enormous seals, lounging in the water around the dinghy as we arrived.
What followed was perhaps one of the best sails of our Eda Frandsen career so far, a full-steam ahead voyage from Vatersay to Coll averaging 7.5 knots all the way!
Full steam ahead crossing the Minch.
We continued our Walking and Sailing voyages in 2024, eventually making our way back to Oban and south to Falmouth, finally to our winter berth in Penryn before somehow finding the time to also have a wedding at the beginning of October.
Thank you to everyone for the well wishes at that time, they were greatly appreciated and very lovely to receive, this perhaps explains why I have been a little slow to gather my end of season thoughts this year. It’s been a busy one!
Sailing in Scotland for the last 4 years has taught me many things. It has taught me to listen, to watch, to take time and be patient. The prize for your patience is a lifetime of places to discover. 4 years into exploring its Western Coastline, I still feel as though we have barely scratched the surface.
So here is to many more seasons of Eda, of preserving her story, of respecting the places she takes us and sharing the journey with all of you!
Fair Winds and we look forward to seeing you in 2025!
Stella & Mungo
