THE WEATHER EASED - OBAN TO N. ORONSAY

 THE WEATHER EASED - OBAN TO  N. ORONSAY

So after a few days of bad weather on Jura we it was time to make are break to another anchorage but first we had to stop of ESSENTIAL supplies in Oban before heading on back up the sound of Mull again to an anchorage known as Oronsay North of the very north side of the sound of Mull. When we left west loch Tarbert it was a little windy but we had to wait in Glenbatrick bay for the tide and the wind eased while we were waiting ...it was a foggy old morning. We set off with a good sea and not a big pile of wind as we passed the gulf of Corryvreckan the sea got big very fast so again I will tell you be careful round there as that place will eat you up. We make it into Oban that evening and anchored of the coast keeping our distance keeping the boat free from other contact and keeping ourselves safe as possible because of this virus. The next morning we came along side a jetty that we were told we could use to get food so we moored up run yes run into town got ESSENTIAL supplies and straight back aboard ..now as for Oban we ended up in a paper with a bit of bullshit press and bad mouthing then we had someone else give the press a story on our behalf. I wasn’t a bit amused if I’m honest they sounded like we were half starved and ready to die...I’m sure you guys that know and follow me knows we could survive ..kind of use to be part of my job living in the wild in very extreme conditions. The day sailors and part time sailors here in Oban the majority are ok but there is a small group of folk from here that belong to a certain fb page that seemed to have a problem with me people up there own ass and the type of people that is exactly wrong with sailing today. One guy took money of us at the pontoon even tho they were closed for business this guy a nobody may I say tried to lecture us on this covid but all his advice after being round my boat taking money of us and talking to us in close contact for over 30mins went out the window. He had the cheek to say to me you didn’t pick a very good boat to be cruising and living in the cheeky stuck up toffee nose. What do you think of my sigma and her cruising to date?? Please comment. Anyway we got out of there and headed to the anchorage for Darrens birthday in Oronsay north. Great holding in there sheltered in all directions bar north . We explored a bit here before we had to move fast due to wind change strong wind from the north. We just made a quick dart into loch Droma Buie just basically to the other side of Oronsay . Great holding in there to we didn’t leave the boat as we had lots of work to do here and some planning. After staying here again the months had moved on and the covid situation seemed to be holding the same so we started heading south ... we aimed for an anchorage called Gallanach bay just across from the Crinan basin ..the Crinan canal is a very beautiful place I went through it many years ago on “just because” as a novice sailor. Gallanach bay has great holding I’d just be worried if the wind had any strong south in it. Here we enjoyed some swimming and cleaned the bottom of the boat. Enough talk from me so I hope you enjoy the video.

STRONG WIND AT ANCHOR - JURA

 STRONG WIND AT ANCHOR (JURA)

We are still on West loch Tarbert Jura waiting for the bad weather that was forecast. We still get a good adventure around and head to a beautiful little waterfall and pool for two reasons to get fresh water for the tanks onboard and to get ourselves a wash. We actually spent a decent bit of time here it was kind of good as we were totally cut off from the real world as there is no VHF signal in here nor can you get internet unless you go high up in the hills so if things go wrong in here your in trouble fast and the water isn’t warm at all early in the season. When we were anchored here there was two anchors put down as we knew there was serious wind to come. I stick one out one side Darren puts the other out the other... I have boat pointed into wind get the anchors on the bottom then feed out the chain and rope letting the wind push us Back once we have what we need out I will come back watch to see if they have gripped then I engage reverse gear and hold it for maybe 8 10 seconds at about 1700 rpm if she holds then all is well if not you begin the whole process again. We have an anchor on to each cleat so if one breaks at what ever point we still have another. Some will say this is all wrong but it’s how I do it it was held in some very bad weather in the past so it works for me.I see lots of people dropping there hook and have boat in reverse before the anchor even hits the bottom and are racing back ways...awww give it a chance I scream to myself. Remember take your time set it right get lots of rope out if you have the room and you should sit out hard weather. I use the old CQR anchors and they hold very well if set right. If things are bad out there and you have done your checks on the anchor before bed keep everyone inside and the hatches closed stay warm and enjoy the ride the storm always passes I will tell you this don’t be having idiot crew getting pissed thinking they are above the weather if it gets dangerous everyone needs to be on the ball Watch how Darren saves the day big time in this video as I was a complete knob.

BUIE TO JURA

 BUIE TO JURA

So from the beautiful loch Buie on the Isle of Mull down the west coast of Jura into the anchorage at west loch Tarbert. We made this move as bad weather was soon to blow from the south and you really don’t want to be in Buie in southerlies. When we left Buie we had a lot of wind so it was a 3rd reef day and to deal with the gusts...after all we are cruisers not racers. Heading down the west coast of Jura we had a few sail configurations from 3rd reef to full sails back to 2nd reef. One place I will tell anyone to be careful is passing the gulf of the corryvreckan “the great race” this place can be very dangerous and will in the wrong conditions swallow you up.it extends miles out into the sea so be very careful here and give her a wide berth. Anyway we had a nice fast sail down the Wild West coast of Jura and into west loch Tarbert. The sea got a little bumpy as we were just turning in but that was due to the water getting shallower. As we moved through loch Tarbert and past the raised beaches into the narrow channels to get to the anchorage I was waiting for a difficult entrance as I was told it was tricky but to be honest it was straight forward. Remember tho always do your homework on a place your going. This place is remote no mobile signal are vhf so keep it in mind. It’s a beautiful place here and super holding as you will see in coming video. Anyway enough talking from me hope you enjoy the video and any questions feel free to ask.

HEADING FOR REMOTE AREAS - VIA RATHLIN

 HEADING FOR REMOTE AREAS - VIA  RATHLIN ISLAND

So we head to remote places to avoid all human contact and activity. Rathlin island was virus free and so was “just because” and crew so it was now time to stay like this. Come discover some remote Scottish anchorages ........

RATHLIN ISLAND - NORTHERN IRELAND - EXPLORATION

RATHLIN ISLAND - NORTHERN IRELAND - EXPLORATION

So on my previous video about my home port I said I would come across to Rathlin and give you a quick look about. This is just a short 6mile sail across the Rathlin sound from my home port you can also get a ferry across here if you don’t sail. There is lots of walking on the island which can be made as easy are as difficult as you like the island has a pub,guesthouse,hostel,glamping pods and a little coffee type shop. The island is very scenic with lots of wildlife so keep an eye out for the golden hare over here. Sorry about some of the sound but we had serious bad wind and I’m still waiting on my new mic coming.. get on the web and check out the island ⛵️

THE NEWRY CANAL ULSTERS FORGOTTEN JEWEL PART 2

THE NEWRY CANAL   ULSTERS FORGOTTEN JEWEL

The beautiful Newry canal from Newry to Portadown by canoe. What can I say here only it’s a shame to see such an historic canal go to waste and is badly neglected. This canal was at the top end of engineering in its day being one of the first summit canals in the uk. This canal goes from Carlingford lough (of the Irish Sea)into the river Bann (upper) which in turn goes into lough Neagh (biggest fresh water lough in uk) then you can enter the lower Bann which will lead out into the North Atlantic. It could be a beautiful shortcut through Northern Ireland...bringing work and business to many towns and villages it flows through. A lot of this canal now is un passable unless there has been serious flooding( we waited to a storm and flooding had happened) we hit many miles of totally grew over canal believe it are not parts we even run aground in a canoe. What makes this even more sickening the River Agency had been cleaning stretches of this canal but these where the very places we run aground even with flooding. When you watch the video please look carefully at the banks there is many meters that arnt touched and at some points the canal just the width of a canoe. I think it’s a disgrace that the government agencies do such poor work here and seem to forget that many people want this canal working again. We had so many people so glad to see us coming down the canal battling the weed and mess many of these people hated to see our historic canal going to waste. Many years ago men made this canal with shovels used horses and carts and had this working well...today they have huge diggers which you see and so much more tech and still can’t do a good of job. I think are government agencies,politicians are going backwards in evolution they should be ashamed ...many other canals throughout the uk,Ireland,France and Holland are all working well and booming. Should we be different in Northern Ireland..... you tell me?

MORE ABOUT THIS HIDDEN JEWEL

The Newry Canal, located in Northern Ireland, was built to link the Tyrone coalfields (via Lough Neagh and the River Bann) to the Irish Sea at Carlingford Lough near Newry. It was the first summit level canal to be built in Ireland or Great Britain, [1] and pre-dated the more famous Bridgewater Canal by nearly thirty years and Sankey Canal by fifteen years. It was authorised by the Commissioners of Inland Navigation for Ireland, and was publicly funded. It was opened in 1742, but there were issues with the lock construction, the width of the summit level and the water supply. Below Newry, a ship canal was opened in 1769, and both Newry and the canal flourished.

By 1800, the canal was in a poor condition, and another £57,000 of public money was spent refurbishing it over the following ten years. Closures during the refurbishment resulted in a loss of traffic, which did not fully recover. In 1829, both canals were transferred to a private company, who spent £80,000 on improvements over the next twenty years. The ship canal was enlarged in 1884, to allow ships of 5,000 tons to reach Newry. It reverted to public ownership in 1901, when the Newry Port and Harbour Authority was created. The canal closed in 1936 and most of it was officially abandoned in 1949, with some in 1956. The ship canal closed in 1966 and the Authority was wound up in 1974.

Two sections of the redundant canal were bought by local authorities, for two pounds each, and the middle section was given to another two local authorities. The ship canal has been reopened for use by pleasure craft, and there have been attempts to reopen the Newry Canal, which have not yet been successful. The towpath has become part of a long distance footpath and also part of the National Cycle Network. Some restoration has taken place, and the canal has become a haven for wildlife. Parts of it are also used for coarse fishing.

CHECK OUT THIS INTERACTIVE TOUR BUT REMEMBER SKIPPER JAMES DID IT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE!!!!!

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

So the Video above shows you the Newry Canal in this next video will be showing you how to get to where we finished the Newry Canal Journey at the Point of Whitecoat 

This is a different one from me here I show you were my love of water and boats came from. I take you through part of lough Neagh in Northern Ireland up the upper river bann to my home town of portadown. Were we finish of is about as far as you can go in a boat as the river has become a mess a river with such history. This is a quick look at a little bit of my life.........

HOMEWARD BOUND - FAROE ISLANDS THROUGH THE HEBRIDES VIA SKYE BRIDGE

HOMEWARD BOUND -  FAROE ISLANDS  VIA  THE HEBRIDES THROUGH THE SKYE BRIDGE

So the final leg of the Faroe’s trip. Here we cruise through the Scottish Hebrides. So we head under the bridge at the Isle of Skye and end up heading for an anchorage on one of the cocktail islands due to lack of wind another anchorage in the dark hours of the morning. The next morning when leaving the forecast gave nice wind..but surprise surprise it never came but hey I was glad I set of because the last sunset at sea was just beautiful. So just because was nursed back home with a dodgy head gasket and in need of new valve stem seals but she made it. So now she is back in her berth the work begins. Myself and my land loving friend (machanic) has got stuck into it he is a lot cheaper to pay than some marine machanics so it’s a help. The head now sits in an engineering firm waiting to get tested. The auto pilot is also ready to go so funds are getting low. So if any of you guys would like to help just because keep voyaging please support her on the go fund me page https://www.instagram.com/linkshim/?u... You will also find the link on my Facebook page James Harrison (skipper James) you will also get lots of updates here on what’s going on and where the money gets spent on the jobs onbord. If your adding me please send a message and let me know you follow the YouTube channel. You will also find stuff on my instagram skipper_jamess_33. Many thanks for all your support past and present Remember guys if you have dreams start living them anything is possible if you put your mind to it⛵️

GOODBYE TO THE FAROE ISLANDS

 GOODBYE TO THE FAROE ISLANDS

Well the time has come to set of across the cold North Atlantic again and head for Scotland. It was very nice of the islands to let us go so easy...I would say one of the clearest days ever the fog lifted just to let us have one last look at the magical Faroe’s before we went over the horizon. So what a lot of people didn’t know about this trip which made it a lot harder for me planning...from Stornaway Scotland and the rest of the trip out to Faroe’s and back to the home port was done with a dodgy engine..the head gasket was starting to go and leaking valve stem seals in the engine. Doing this trip with a boat in perfect order is hard enough but doing it with this sort of thing going on just adds to the mental pressure it didn’t help as we have a failing autopilot that is on its last legs also. This is going to possibly put the boat out of action for some time as this all needs sorting. If anyone would be interested in helping us please find the go fund me page on my Facebook page James Harrison (skipper James ) are on my Instagram skipper_jamess_33 it would be greatly appreciated and even a small amount will go a long way. You will see on the YouTube and on my Facebook exactly were this money goes on the boat.... . Just like to say thanks to all you followers for sticking with the adventures and to all you that has help in the past and continue to help⛵️

FAROES SANDOY TO TVOROYRI

 FAROES SANDOY TO TVOROYRI

So we left Sandoy kind of fast as the fog lifted for the first time in days...it was kind of sad as we didn’t get to say good bye to our new friend but I’m sure he understood as he once told me that when an opportunity comes you got to move. If you take time to read up on the waters round Sandoy and Suduroy you will get a good understanding rather than me speaking about it lots. It’s an eye opener. So we aim for Tvøroyi on the southern most island Suduroy. Once we stared coming between Skuoe and Store Dimon and Lille Dimon the fog got thick and heavy again but hey no surprise there it was becoming normal. We make it into Tvøroyri and what a beautiful place it is. We ended up beside the new fish processing plant due to the small wooden pier being full but it was fine apart from the first night were we got blasted with 40kts of wind and beat against the pier a little. Again this town the people were very friendly some came down to the pier for no other reason than just to talk to us and ask about voyage and if we needed anything. They do kind of make you feel special and welcome. Think this place had one of the nicest walks in the Faroe Islands and we caught some cracking cod and Plaice here also...it has just been a blast heading out to the Islands it can be a dangerous crossing and all that and weather can change fast it has more lows that hang over it and around it than I’ve ever seen anywhere..but it’s not impossible and the place is well worth the visit.
I’d just like to say thank you to the hospitality and kindness of the people of the Faroe Islands ⛵️⛵️

FAROE ISLANDS - MIDVAAG TO SANDOY - RED LADDER AREA

 FAROE ISLANDS - MIDVAAG TO SANDOY  - RED LADDER AREA

So we move from Midvaag to Sandoy we tackle one of the dangerous red ladder areas and we made it into sandoy just in time. I was actually nervous about this run as the day before I tried to move on and was greeted by 3mtrs seas and to me that wasn’t settled for taking on these danger areas. It’s an intimidating area with its coast tides and fog. Arriving in Sandoy was just magical I won’t forget this island. We had an old school fisherman that caught the ropes when we arrived he had some laugh as he watched us coming across one of the red ladder areas ...the sea got big as the tide just started to change only for the massive swell behind us I don’t reckon we would of got in we had a skimp of headsail out engine flat out and a hell of a blow going on I was glad to get in. The hospitality we received here was the best I’ve ever had( maybe is because sailing boats don’t try this place often with the danger areas) the local fisherman who caught are ropes spoke to us everyday then we met him in the street outside his home ...that was the start of it. Try these Faroe’s beers so we start drinking beer like crazy at the back of his van ,next he runs of laughing and returns with a fine Scottish malt...shots everywhere .. before long the rain started and into his shed were we got more beer and whisky and tried some lamb that was drying out and some dried fish the stories we told each other was the best nights craic I have had in a long time... before long we were welcomed into his home and met his wife also. The man would not hear tell of us getting him some beer back in fact I though he my of took offence to us even suggesting it. I can’t remember leaving was it day are night...who knows as it never really got to dark.... the next few days he gave me an almanac for this area a brand new one he was an absolute credit to the Faroese people and I mean this from the bottom of my heart a true gent. We got stuck here for a time waiting on settled weather so we had time to explore...and explore we did. I hope these videos give you a good look around the islands as not many sailors are showing you this much adventure of this stunning place. Hope you enjoy⛵️⛵️