Today, 13th July, is the start of Sail Hebrides. As part of this series of events, a flotilla of boats sailed into Stornoway Harbour this afternoon, between 5 and 6pm. They were accompanied by the Coastguard tug Anglian Prince and the local pilot boat, which carried bunting and a piper, playing a tune or two. Unfortunately, the total number of boats participating did not exceed 10. The northerly wind that was blowing at the time meant that progress was painfully slow as the replica Sgoth Niseach boats (the ones that look like Viking ships) had to tack back and forth across the harbour; tacking meaning lowering the sail, turning round and raising the sail again. It was a nice spectacle to watch (I did so myself from Goat Island), but a wee bit disappointing in its lack of size.
Other events in the Sail Hebrides calendar include a workshop in boatbuilding (not hands on), training youngsters to sail a boat and a mock seabattle in Loch Erisort tomorrow (Friday), near the village of Cromor. This lies 9 miles south of Stornoway by sea and 30 miles by road.
sounds marvelous! thanks Guido!
ReplyDeletenatalie