SKIPPER JAMES ADVENTURES

    Welcome to my blog and I hope you will join me on the seas in the hills and on the mountains  for fun and adventure !!

Join me , James  , otherwise known as , Skipper James ,  as I sail around the British Isles form my home port in Northern Ireland or walk the hills and mountains. My little Yacht is called " Just because " and she's a Sigma 33 Class . Its all about being on the waves and learning from the Sea . Hope you enjoy the Voyages , Entertainment , Walking  , Survival  and Wild Cooking Videos . If you liked the videos pop over to the YOU TUBE  Channel and please SUBSCRIBE or help me on the way to bring you more Stories , Content or entertainment by clicking on the Funding Buttons Above to help us bring these stories and treasures to life.   in these ventures follow us Circumnavigating the British Isles savouring the Scottish Islands  and showing ordinary folk that it can be done well and professionally on a shoestring. Use the Interactive Map  to link and explore and find  the Journey Videos on Tube 

I've put the blog together to bring the social media and videos all together to make life easy for you get involved, interact  and see were we are sailing on the Voyages Map . Visit the My Map button and you'll see the Just Because Journey Maps , Pictures and Links back to Videos which are growing by the day !! I hope also to develop some of the pages as useful Marine Resources for useful information on the Sea such as Safety , VHF Frequencies and other useful bits so that there is something for everyone from serious sailor to budget adventurers. You can read more About me and How & Why  I started from grass roots up , by clicking on the Sigma 33 Link opposite. whilst the language may be a bit colourful in places the passion comes from the heart so please bear with it and set sail with me.

 

"  Respect The Coast , Respect the Sea,  One Life Live It  "

ZOOM TO FIND SHIPPING VESSELS AROUND THE UK COAST & WORLD

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MOUNTAIN BIKING IN ROSTREVOR - NORTHERN IRELAND - MEGA MISSION + THE PULSE

 MOUNTAIN BIKING IN ROSTREVOR - NORTHERN IRELAND - MEGA MISSION + THE PULSE

So here I am in Rostrevor at the MTB trails and some say it’s the best in Ireland as a whole. I want you to first to remember that I’m only a beginner and secondly just a guy loving life and trying to learn a new skill. So the up here you can hire bike lifts to the top there is also showers,bike wash,camping and a little cafe. So it’s great if you want to spend some time shredding the dirt. So we cycled to the top for the mega mission. This mega mission is a fast downhill trail with many jumps some pretty big. You will have no problem getting air time. I will tell you to be cautious on the first run because you could get badly hurt here are stuck orbiting the moon. The berms here are good big solid ones and you can really Chuck the bike round them. The track surface is really good it’s smooth and I promise it’s fast. If you can’t jump a bike are have no skill at all I would advise learning skills before you hit this beast. Anyway let me know what you think of the first run. So the next downhill run was On the Pulse. Totally different animal altogether and again this one will hurt you if you mess up. Little half man found that one out on his hard tail. This trail offers it all from drop offs,jumps rough ground. Sounds okay but it’s downhill and fast and a full suspension is a must along with good skills and a giant set of balls to go fast. Hope you enjoy this video. If anyone out there in this MTB world is out all the time and wants to help pull a reasonably fast learner along and help him build his skills please give me a shout as I’d like to get into the scene kind of thing. Anyway happy shredding folks

THE HEBRIDES - TIREE TO LOCH NA KEAL

TIREE TO LOCH NA KEAL   

Ok after a quick stop on Tiree I decided to go across to Loch Na Keal on the west side of the Isle of Mull. I call this the wild side. The leg across from Tiree was very uneventful with very little wind it was just a long slow very early morning sail. So why have I can to Loch Na Keal? Well it’s to climb the biggest mountain on the Isle of Mull known as Ben More. I anchored almost at the start of the path to head up into the mountain trail. I personally found that the anchorage had very good holding and I dug her in well in about 8 meters. The bottom was a thick mud which was visible on my anchor. I would have no problem going back there to climb the mountain. The hike up Ben more was pretty easy and well marked. I won’t bore you with all the hiking details but it was a beautiful day and trust me your in for a treat the further up I go. Tell me if you like me walking into heaven because it felt like that’s where I was. I don’t like to bum and brag here but Yano what my weather reading skills has become pretty good for the ocean and the mountains as this years I have successfully timed everything right to get the views. That gives me a lot of satisfaction knowing that’s becoming much better at what i do. Anyway guys not many videos left of this years sailing adventure. So I really hope your enjoying what’s been going on. Guys I put out all my videos for free I give out the best advice I can when I’m asked by folk that follow what I do. I just ask one favour from you all. Please could you recommend the channel to some one you may know get them to hit the subscribe button. Get watching all those videos and help me build this Channel. It’s all real adventure from me and I’m not pretending to be someone I’m not I don’t edit my videos to they are nothing like what it was really like. Just raw adventure.

THE HEBRIDES - SALEM TO TIREE

 THE HEBRIDES - SALEM TO TIREE

Well I leave Salen and head back up Loch Sunart and what a beautiful day for it. The calm loch the smell of pine it was just heave. When I leave the loch I head out towards Coll but is that where I’m for? The wind was light but I get sailing most of the way. I get a brilliant surprise about the half way point. Your going to see me smile a lot because I got another we goal I’ve always wanted. I have dailies past this way a lot but never called in. The evening I sailed past this place when returning from the Faroe Islands a couple of years back was just stunning. We had a big swell and an amazing sunset and I remember saying you have escaped me once again. Well this time just like st kilda I nailed her solo. I’m happy about this one.

Shoreline, small boat hire or sea going charter provide a full range of sea fishing, covering around 20 species and including mackerel, cod, pollock and wrasse. Shoreline fishing from the rocks along Loch Sunart is free as is fishing from Kilchoan pier. Fishing is not permitted from the fish farm jetties.

THE HEBRIDES - ARDNAMURCHAN (highest mountain)

ARDNAMURCHAN (highest mountain)

Well I jump forward a little here and I end up in a beautiful little place know as Salen. Salen is down into Loch Sunart and offers some beautiful views on the way down plus you will always find an anchorage. The little marina has a few berths and some mooring balls with decent showers and a shop. So why am I here? Well it’s to climb the biggest mountain on Ardnamurchan. I wanted to do this as I’ve sailed the notorious Ardnamurchan point now many times I’ve anchored round here a lot to. I’ve just wanted to really explore the life out of this place. It’s all really for a reason tho as I remember many years back when I first started sailing a guy kept niggling at me about how I couldn’t sail and had never rounded the point. The guy belonged to a Facebook drinking club know as sailing and cruising Scotland and the sister group sailing and cruising Northern Ireland. These guys use to think I made up the bad weather I’d encountered over time and wind speeds I’d seen but all was documented so I don’t know what these strange jealous people were thinking. I later left these groups and their drama behind. Thought I’d share that. These videos I share are as honest as I can be they are not edited to the point where it’s not as it was and I am me I’m not pretending to be someone I’m not. As I left plockton to head down here I just had a bad day are two so I had to set the camera down and let the wind and tides take away my bad days. So that’s why the video has jumped forward tho it’s an area you have cruised a lot with me. Sometimes I get some abuse about my videos but these videos are put out for free for all to watch they are done on a very small scale editing with very little equipment. You get to see every single day of a voyage and I’m not talking one clip a day they are in-depth look at real cruising and adventure. I don’t really get any backing on my go fund me page are my sailing PayPal so please keep that in mind. I have people that won’t subscribe to the channel but will watch everything and it’s they just don’t want to add to the channel as it would be seen to be helping you out. I also get so many that will not be seen in public as in Facebook are Instagram speaking to me. They will send me private messages about posts are videos and the reason they won’t is because they belong to the Facebook groups known as sailing and cruising Scotland and sailing and cruising Northern Ireland. Why? Well because the admin was removing everyone from their groups that was friends with me.How childish.Anyway had to share that with you all. This channel really is about loving life doing your best with what you have and staying positive. It’s also you seeing a guy living his life by his rules a free spirit a nomad an adventurer an explorer ......

THE HEBRIDES - TARANSAY TO PLOCKTON (one stop)

 THE HEBRIDES -  TARANSAY TO PLOCKTON (one stop)

I leave a beautiful stunning anchorage an anchorage which I will return to. I head down through the Sound of Harris. Remember the sound is fine if you stay out in the main channels and remember like any narrow tidal channel watch weather and the wind against tide. Avoid if the weather is bad. As I head out into the little Minch I was surprised just how calm it was. Never seen it like this but it was peace of mind as I knew the blue men of the Minch would be down in the depths. As I got over by Skye I spotted a few anchorages to try in the future . Heading down to Portree I got some creepy looking sky’s and heavy rain. I’m glad I made it in before dark as there are lots of pots. Portree is pretty nice and you can get fuel food and water here tho your not allowed to stay on the pontoon. After a couple of days here I move on I had a place in mind but that went tits up and a change of plan was in order but it worked in my favour for the wind. I explain something here and to me it makes perfect sense and I won’t change my mind on this nor will I have you beef up silly apps I’m sorry real marine gear for real marine situations. I get a great sail into Plockton. Plockton is beautiful tho if your cruising make sure your stocked up before going if your not one for eating out. I cruise so every penny counts that’s why I don’t eat out a lot when on my voyages. I hope you enjoy the video and I’d like to hear your comments on the safety chat I have. Have a great week ahead and attack everything with a positive vibe ⛵️

THE HEBRIDES - ST KILDA TO TARANSAY

ST KILDA TO TARANSAY

I leave one magical island for another stunning island. The North Atlantic waters was rather good to me coming back towards the outer Hebrides. St kilda once again just looked amazing as she slowly vanished of my stern. It was a really nice peaceful sail back. I’d done it st kilda and back solo. So I aimed back for Taransay the remote yet stunning island on the west side of the outer Hebrides. The waters here are stunning the sand also clean it’s really hard to imagine your on the wild side of the western isles and on some of the nicest beaches in the UK if not Europe. Listen guys not going to rabbit on here so I hope you have a great weekend what ever your up to. If you got a friend that likes adventure please recommend the channel and help me grow.

THE HEBRIDES - ST KILDA

 THE HEBRIDES -  ST KILDA

Well here it is my solo sail to st kilda. Unfortunately I lost a lot of footage really good footage at that but hey that’s life I’m more gutted for you guys as I love taking you along on the full voyage. I talk a little here and have some footage and nice pics so I hope you enjoy.. I leave from Taransay the perfect spot to head out to the magical st kilda. If you are heading out here just be careful and be very aware that things can change fast. When kilda appeared out of the fog my heart skipped a beat. I was really doing this solo. The closer I got the greener the place became I just can’t explain to you how it felt. When I dropped the anchor it all just sank in as I was looking around. I started to get a feeling that this was a special place. It was the colour of the water the size of the hills and cliffs around me it almost gave me goosebumps. As soon as my feet hit the land I knew that it was like a great honour to be setting foot here and it certainly is a special place. I’ve read a little book on the island I’ve listen to old traditional songs of st kilda and studied old pictures this really set a picture in my head as I walked up the village I could almost hear the songs of st kilda I could almost smell the puffins cooking. This place is magical I’d honestly love to spend a winter in one of the village houses that’s been fixed up. I’d work for free and document a winter on st kilda. I love this place

THE HEBRIDES - VATERSAY TO LOCH BOISDALE

VATERSAY TO LOCH BOISDALE

Ok so it’s a short hop to Barra where I can get food and do some washing. Barra is a beautiful place the people are very friendly as I found out. The marina can be exposed so be aware of wind direction here. There is a few places to anchor if it changes and you need to get out. I get all sorted and I take a walk climbing the biggest hill on Barra where I got some beautiful views. I got a bit of a surprise when I got back as the big french boat I’d moored beside had set up a concert plying live music. The woman has a full blown piano onboard and she is cruising the world playing everywhere she stop. This actually was unreal I loved it. This was the start of the evening for me before it got messy. The harbour master and his mate came round collecting the fees and I was talking away before I knew it I was standing up at the harbour drinking beer with a guy I’d been speaking to for a few minutes Elvin was his name. He use to live on the island and knew loads of people. Next thing down came a couple of his friends and before we even caught each other’s names I was invited to a house by the harbour for a session and what a night I had I had no drink onboard the shops where closed but they all didn’t care and got me absolutely pissed. What a night . I remember telling them about the channel and i thing one of the girls looked it up. So if you guys and girls are watching thank you very much for a great night and if I’m ever back I will return the favour and get the beers in. I was actually treated like a good friend as if I’d known these people all my life. It’s something I won’t forget ever. The next day I had a bit of a bad hangover but it was time to move on as I was starting to prepare myself for the highlight of my voyage. I mad a short move to a little anchorage known as Acairseid. This has a bit of a tight entrance so keep your wits about you. Now the reason I went in here was so it gave me a little more knowledge on the area and places to hide. The next morning I was another short hop up to lock Boisbal. LISTEN I KNOW I WAS SAYING THIS WRONG SO FORGIVE ME I DO GET IT RIGHT AT SOME POINT. As I was heading up here I seen a huge whale broach now it was far away from me and I heard it and seen a huge splash. I’ve never experienced something like this it was huge and it kind of made me feel very small. It then had my mind playing wee games as I knew I was heading to wild place soon and into a bit of wild open water. Anyway I got into loch Boisdale marina the approach is very straight forward and no hazards. The marina itself is well looked after and good shelter. There is no shops close by and mobile signal isn’t good out here. The marina has reasonable WiFi plus you can get fuel here. Didn’t do much here only watching weather forecasts and pressure charts. It’s only now my solo adventure is feeling real I’m actually in the process of doing something I use to dream about doing...I’m doing what people where once laughing at and doubting what I’d do. I free I’m owned by no one answer to no one my time is ruled by the tides and weather I’m free.

THE HEBRIDES - CANNA TO VATERSAY

 CANNA TO VATERSAY

So take a ride across the sea of the Hebrides onboard just because. This was a brilliant crossing with some really nice sailing. If you like the sound of sailing you will certainly like this video. The sea of the Hebrides can be a wild place so just keep that in mind. So my plans changed as I neared the other side I was Planning on a different location but I thought let’s make hay while the sun is shining. I headed down to Vatersay. There is no real hazards coming in and the anchorage has great holding. I got this place in perfect weather and I can say this ...it was absolutely beautiful. If your a sailor this place is a must. I hope you enjoy this video because I really enjoyed this run I was so pleased with myself sailing solo and fast to the bottom end of the outer Hebrides. This was always something I’d thought about and always said to myself ..imagine doing that solo. Well I done it and I was so happy