Over The Sea Day 10 – Towards Canna

In which Sid and Doris glide along under the cliffs watching the birds to arrive at a scenic, sheltered mooring.

Dr Fowler from the Swan 53 came to push us off and kindly suggested to Sid which way off the pontoon would make best use of the wind. What an excellent bedside manner.

The wind came round to be on the nose but was not strong enough to have us rushing on from tack to tack; the speed made good to destination fell to about two knots. Motor on, auto helm on with our next fun meeting Her Netherlands Majesty’s F831 on converging courses. We were stand on vessel but their helm got ahead of us.

A pod of dolphins join us for a while with the characteristic “phoof!” noise that they do to get your attention. The seas and skies are otherwise empty.

Canna is the 4th of the Small Isles along with Egg, Muck and Rhum. As we get close the wind rises a touch and is at an angle so we can silence the motor and sail along the cliffs. The birds are dense on the lower shelves sounding like Northgate End Mixed Infants at play time. We sail through rafts of birds waiting to go out to feed, watching to see where others are coming back from.

 

The bay has a horse shoe of moorings and Doris guides Flyer while Sid picks up the buoy and strop. It is No Fuss Norris and soon the engine off for tea and buns in the cockpit, and the chance to see the ferry docking – a procedure which seems to require everyone to drive or walk (because Canna is so small that a lot of people haven’t brought cars) through the sea.

Sid spots three seals, two humans and a dog on the shore. The seals put on no show. They would for David Attenborough.