Afternoon jottings

It is now dark, although the shift in sunset times is slowly becoming noticeable. There were a few showers this afternoon, and it's still not warm with 5C. The weather radar shows a band of rain moving northeast, about to affect us.

Stornoway Harbour has a facility for overseas fishermen to change crews at a reduced rate. All vessels berthing here have to pay a fee (as per normal in any port), but Stornoway offers a 25% discount if the berthing lasts less than 24 hours and is for the purposes of a crew change. So, we are regularly treated to the sight of brightly coloured French trawlers popping in for 60 to 90 minutes, whilst their crews are changed. The old crew is flown home on the same charter flight that brought their relief in. The airport is 4 miles from the harbour.

Still on matters maritime, our ferry service is currently being carried out by a different vessel. The MV Isle of Lewis is in drydock at Gourock, west of Glasgow, for a refit. The MV Clansman has taken her place. The Clansman is a smaller boat with a lower speed, which results in 15 minute delays on each crossing.