Scottish Open House Weekend
by Commodore Simon Currin 16 May 19:21 UTC
Stephen Booth, Toby Peyton-Jones and Sally Currin. Cold but observing the 1m rule out of doors © Ocean Cruising Club
A 967 mb low lurking off Ireland and strict pandemic precautions meant that our Scottish Open House weekend was never going to attract the crowds it has in the past.
Nevertheless, a few boats and OCC members did gather on the West Coast enabling the semblance of a return to a social life albeit with folk kept temporally separate and geographically distanced.
First to drop by was s/v Vagrant. Bill and Jayne needed re-heating after two weeks of cruising around Mull in frigid conditions. They had spotted the weather on the horizon and sped home to escape it. Oban's Port Officer, Bob Shepton, was tempted into our local restaurant and the BBQ got lit on a gloriously sunny Friday evening. We also fed Chris and Lynn Comerie who had been exploring the upper reaches of Loch Sunart for a week.
The prize for perseverance went to the crew of s/v Ino who picked up our mooring after battling south against the tides and forecast. Wrapped in oilskins, Stephen Booth and Toby Peyton-Jones came ashore and we spent a lovely evening eating fine food with the lovely Ino's house flag fluttering in a lively breeze.
Sadly COVID regulations kept some away but borders will soon be opening here and many boats are heading for the Hebrides. Perhaps we will be able to reconvene later in the summer when we hope that many rules will be relaxed?
This article has been provided by the courtesy of Ocean Cruising Club.