Helmsdale is another amazingly friendly place. Walking around the village everyone says “hello” or starts to chat. After a fairly stressful day on Sunday trying to clear the rope from Foreness’s prop we went to the Belgrave Arms Hotel for a drink. We were soon involved with conversations with the locals and friendly banter from the landlord.
We returned again on Sunday night to be on the receiving end of even more banter as the England vs Spain football was on. The cheeses Spanish music kept coming from the juke box. A lot of the support for Spain seemed more to do with bets placed than a dislike for England. When we were leaving the landlord and several of the locals made a point of shaking our hands and wishing us a good onwards journey.
We departed Helmsdale harbour mid morning as the tide was falling and before we settled into the silt for another day. The breeze had turned South Westerly and there wasnt the chilly bight in the air that we have felt for most of the trip. It was a straight line course between Helmsdale and Lossiemouth. Despite putting the sails up there wasnt enough wind to sail, so more diesel burnt.We arrived at Lossiemouth in sunshine that was a bit of a novelty and the first day at sea for some considerable time without wearing full waterproofs.
Arriving in Lossiemouth was a bit of a key moment for me on the trip. My Dad was stationed at RAF Kinloss during his National Service in the 1950s. I grew up hearing about his time at kinloss, Lossiemouth and Findhorn Bay. He was a member of the RAF sailing club and sailed Airbourne Lifeboats, Airbourne lifeboats were designed during the war to be carried by aircraft and dropped for downed aircrew to sail themselves to safety. It was probably his time here that inspired his love of sailing that he passed on to me. Its possible if he hadnt been stationed here i may not have been doing this trip.
