So FedEx were supposed to have delivered the part for the hoist by now, although to be fair, the weather is atrocious. Even if they manage to get the hoist repaired today, it would be a very tricky lift in these high winds, so we’re resigned to have to wait until Tuesday. Even then, we will need to carry out several checks around the repairs, and there is no chance of getting the genoa bent on. It’s looking increasingly likely that it will be Wednesday before we can get the water moving under her keels. We’ve revised passage plans several times already, but even if we make it up near Ratlin island, there is no guarantee that the tides and weather won’t conspire against us.

This is a much more promising forecast, but we’re tracking the low to the NW of Ireland very carefully! The jet stream (and hence the weather patterns) seem to be tracking more southerly earlier in the year than previously. This is the weather we would normally associate with October…

The direction of the flood (rising tide) and ebb (falling tide) changes  in the north channel. This is the narrow stretch of water between Mull of Kintyre and Ulster. In the right (wrong?) conditions, this can set up some unpleasant standing waves and overalls, so timing is everything. The pilot books are clear…..get it wrong, and the best outcome is that you get spat out the way you came. Timing over the next few days will be everything…

*late update….the part arrived and will be commissioned tomorrow morning. So definitely no sailing until Wednesday. It’s a tough life, but we resigned ourselves to an early evening drink (s) and an early bird dinner at Sale et Pepe. This turns out to be a great meal, very reminiscent of the atmosphere at the old Logis hotels in France.

Early to bed, ready to welcome the yard staff  first thing.