Sunday 16/07/06

The day starts overcast but fairly bright. Blue patches appear after midday. The ferry went out at 10 am (unusually). It may have been put on for festival goers who attended last night's concert, but need to be back at work on Monday. Further south, temperatures are likely to reach 36C this week; temperatures in this corner of the UK will stay in the low 20s. After midday, a large, two-masted French yacht comes into port. The pilot boat was out waiting by the beacon since 11.20. It is very windy, with a force 6 to 7 blowing. The Alba Volunteer sails at 12.45; the ferry comes back into port at 1pm. No idea why she went out at all. The Alba V is heading straight into the wind and only makes slow progress. I later hear that she put into Cromor, 9 miles to the south, for shelter. As mrs B and myself are driven to the Watermill for a walk at 4, the mast of a yacht can be seen, protruding at a crazy angle above the quayside of no 1 pier. She is lying on her side, in only a foot or so of water. The tide is still going out, low tide is at 6pm. The town and his wife is out there, having a look. Once at the Watermill, we go up and down the lade, then traverse the Golf Course towards the Clubhouse. Nobody is there, it's blowing hard and it's starting to rain. We carry on over the YM bridge and over the Cromwell Street Quay. We have a look round the Sail Loft conversion and presently arrive at the no 1 pier, where the yacht is now lying on its side on the sand. The coastguard is in attendance, but can't do much until the tide comes in; next high tide is at midnight. It is very cold on the way back along Newton and I'm only too happy to get back inside. Supper consists of a stirfry, provided by the butchers. Notice that North Rona is being battered by a force 9 gale with 53 knots winds. Although the rain stops at 9pm, it stays dark and gloomy.