Wick and Sinclair's bay.

So as we headed out from Whitehills the westerly turned out to be a north westerly so a nice reach turned into a nasty beat with a moderate sea, what joy.  To top it all the engine cooling failed again and I thought I had cracked it.  At least I knew what it was with the help of the high level clear topped water inlet strainer.

The conditions were such that with the wind and sea state the engine inlet was out of the water for a lot of the time.  The time it was under water was not enough to pull the water through before it was out again.  So the Morray firth was crossed without any help from the engine but with 26 knots over the deck and a clean bottom we made pretty good progress.  As we neared Wick  the sea calmed down as we came under the lee.  The engine was started and the cooling was fine now it was back under water!  I wonder whether I should put another intake on the opposite side and select the most appropriate.

Back to Wick, we were approaching the port hand turn inside the southern breakwater.  As it was my first time the photos show us going out.
 
 
 Then you hang a right into the outer harbour, remarkably empty.
 

And into the inner harbour and peace, except with the wind being offshore it wasn't un-peaceful anyway.


 The first row of finger berths are reserved for visitors so I snook into one near the gangway but not too close.



They are very posh pontoons, look at the shape of the service pillar, E.U. no doubt, or maybe it's the Gaelic influence?



So we had another well deserved sleep and in the morning, about 1030, went to see the harbour master and do some shopping at the Co-op.  Thus victualled we set off with a fair tide a few miles up the coast to Sinclair's bay to anchor for a day or two until the wind decided to come from the south.  We rounded Noss head with its lighthouse close inshore to avoid the tumbley bits a bit further out.
 
 
The hook was dropped close inshore and once more Tutak folded her wings away and tucked up.  The wind howled in the night but being offshore we were very comfy thank you.

This middle part of the bay is sand dunes with a gap where a burn finds its way to the sea.  Birds aplenty and we spent a happy time there with rest and repairs.  The mizzen was up the whole time to keep us into the wind and dampen any tendency to Tutak to roll about as she does oh so well.  Soon it will be time to take on the tail of the Pentland firth and make the crossing to Orkadia once more.