Heading South

The forecast for the trip down to Lossiemouth didn't look that promising. Light winds from the south or south east meant it would be a motor all the way. We topped up the diesel tank and set off just after 0930.

As predicted the wind was light to non existant, so we motored on glassy grey waters with laden clouds overhead. Apart from spotting a basking shark there was nothing much to report until the breeze increased at about 11 am and we were able to sail at 5 knots on course to miss the Beatrice Oil Field out in the middle of the Moray Firth. A bit later Kirsty could hear an engine noise coming from somewhere. We looked around, nothing on the water nearby. Still we scanned the horizon, still nothing but there was definitely an engine somewhere. Seconds later we were buzzed by an RAF Tornado at what looked, from where we were sitting, at mast height. Sneaky pilot had come up from behind our genoa on our leeward side, turning to pass our windward side. I'm sure it wasn't at mast height, but it was low and loud as it flew past.

The wind held out, and increased as we started closing on Lossiemouth. It was about 15 knots true, so on the wind we were getting around 20 knots on deck, but we were going well with full main and a few rolls in the genoa. The wind came slightly too south for us, leaving us around 1/2 a mile down wind from the harbour mouth, so for the last bit we put the engine on.

The entrance to Lossimouth Harbour looks straight forward on a chart. But what you don't get is the scale of the walls you're about to enter. Locals fishing off the pier head look down on you as they pull fish from the water. Once in the mouth the wind dies and you are left to motor what at first appears a maze of walls. It's all straight forward, however when for the last eight hours our horizon had been 20 miles away, and now it was just metres, it felt strange.

Lossiemouth used to be a busy fishing port, we're moored infront of the fish market at the moment, but most of the fishing boats have gone and the doors on the fishmarket have rusted closed. The two basined harbour is now almost full with pleasure craft like our own, and Lossiemouth has a vibrance about its clean tidy streets. There is alfresco dining on the harbour front, miles of sandy beach and a steady flow of visitors to this appealing town. The marina facilities are good, the showers are new and clean, and the harbour is looking to the future to make the most of the space they have.