Category: The Jan Mayen Expedition
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Diversity Officer Resigned
As you all know Peter Mercer has been Sumara’s Diversity Officer for the past ten years. Sadly after an incident this morning Peter feels it necessary to resign the post. Peter has done some excellent work over the years and it is a shame that we are going to have to lose him at this…
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Preparing for the Faroes
Ullapool. F2 SE. Just started to rain. Torsten caught the bus to Inverness yesterday and Sarah will arrive this afternoon. Hopefully Thembi will sail in soon too. The expedition team is gradually assembling. Although there is a whacking great big depression working it’s way towards Ireland it looks like the winds up north will be…
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Portree to Ullapool via Acairseid Mor, Rona
Ullapool. NW 5-7, Raining.We had a pleasant morning in Portree. A lovely Finnish double ender picked up a buoy near us. I had a feeling these were very experienced sailors who knew what they were doing. The boat was called “Feshie of Caladh” and was owned by Malcolm and Moyra Stewart. We had a little…
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Ice Reports
Ullapool Scoresbysund is often blocked by ice even in the summer. In order to approach we need good up to date ice reports as a 26ft wooden boat isn’t exactly an ice breaker. We need to thank John and Phyllis from Morgans Cloud (excellent website for Arctic Sailing) for the method and also Gerry, Samantha…
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Life tips from a small boat
Ullapool. North Westerly F6. Dreich.Every time I go sailing I learn something from my amazing crew. The problem is I forget them but no more. We have decided to write them all down in the log book and publish a little book in aid of charity in time for Christmas. No Peter, not the Sumara…
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Ardnamurchan and Kyle Rhea
Portree. Still sunny and light SW wind.We stayed for a day in Tobermory because there was very little wind. The following morning it blew old boots from the west and we had to beat into a rough sea for four hours before finally clearing ‘ard n murcky point. Once we came off the wind Sumara…
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The Big Adventure Begins
Tobermory. Sunny and light NE wind. It’s 7.30am and we are moored in Tobermory Harbour. Peter and Torsten arrived on the “sleeper” from London. They got cheap tickets but ended up in seats not beds so they were quite tired when I met them at Oban Station but nevertheless up for a short 24 nm…
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Last Day before Setting Sail
Dunstaffnage, Light south westerly, just started to rain. Now all the gear has been stowed away I am enjoying my last quiet evening onboard alone. Peter and Torsten arrive tomorrow morning and I hope we can sail to Tobermory in the afternoon. The weather this week is looking pretty unsettled. It’s lovely sailing with crew,…
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Saving Weight
Dunstaffnage. Light westerley, overcast but pleasant. Everything takes a bit longer on a boat. I set off for my long Sunday run at 8.30. It wasn’t too long, just around the cliffs to Oban and back. By the time I had my shower and brewed up some coffee it was 11am. Sumara is basically full up, and…
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Over 70 knots at Dunstaffnage
Here are a couple of amazing pictures taken last week when one boat was registering well over 70 knots of wind. It’s a good job the cover was well made!No damage to the boat thanks to the marina staff who rose to the challenge. Sumara is on the left of the cream coloured Fisher, virtually covered by…