We set off in the general direction of Little Cumbrae.

We set off from Largs in the general direction of the  Little Cumbrae.

We had originally intended launching at Portencross, 9km south of Largs because the wind was forecast to be F3-4 SW, backing 4-5 SE increasing 6. When we arrived at Portencros,s the wind had already gone round to the south and was a fitful F4 gusting to 25knots. We decided to move up to Largs, which would allow a reach out to Little Cumbrae and back in a SE wind.

In the shelter of the Largs hills, the wind was a lot less than at Portencross (well beyond the cranes on the horizon). However, it had already gone round to the SE, which allowed us to lay the end of the Little Cumbrae on a very tight reach.

 As we approached Hunterston, Phil noticed...

 ...two new masts. They are anemometer towers to test the wind prior to building 3 huge (198.5m) test offshore wind turbines for the SSE company. About £180 per year of every UK electricity bill is used to subsidise building such monstrous devices.

As we drew level with the port no 9 buoy of the Hunterston Channel, off the south end of the Great Cumbrae, it was apparent just how much all the recent flood water had increased the flow of the neap ebb tide. It was now two and a half hours after HW and the tide was zipping past the buoy. With the increasing wind against the tide, we knew we would be in for a rough crossing to the Little Cumbrae....yippee!

RNLB Grace Ritchie 70-002

Just as we set off from Largs, the former RNLI lifeboat, Grace Ritchie 70-002, left her berth at the marina. She is a steel hulled Clyde class lifeboat and was built by Yarrows on the Clyde in 1965. She is 70 feet long and weighs 85 tons. She is powered by two 230 BHP Gardner diesel engines giving her a top speed of just over 11knots. She is now privately owned but has a very interesting service history.

In the winter of 1988/69 she was based in Kirkwall, Orkney for winter trials. On the tragic night of 17/3/1969 she launched together with the Longhope lifeboat, TGB, to help the Liberian steamer Irene, which was drifting out of control in the Pentland Firth. The two lifeboats entered the Firth, south of Ronaldsay, at the worst possible time. The race was running at 9 knots against a force 9 wind. At one point Grace Ritchie climbed a huge wave, broke through the crest then fell for nine seconds. Waves that night were estimated to be 60 to 120 feet high. She survived the giant waves but sadly the TGB did not and all eight aboard her died. Seven bodies were recovered the next day and their coffins were returned to the grief stricken community at Longhope aboard the Grace Ritchie.

TGB has been restored and can be seen at the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine.

As a water user I am pleased to be an RNLI supporter. The volunteer crews are prepared to risk their own lives to assist those at peril on the sea. In the UK and Republic of Ireland the RNLI operate a lifeboat service that is a charity, dependant on public donations. It is not a government organisation.

Thank you to the brave volunteers.

Vikings and IKEA bags at Largs.

 Yesterday we reconvened at Largs...

 ...less than a week after our last trip. We unpacked our IKEA bags for a trip to...

 ...Little Cumbrae island, which can be seen on the horizon on the left beyond the bulk of its bigger sister the Great Cumbrae.

Soon we were on the water below the Largs Pencil, which commemorates the departure of another group of seafarers from these waters...

...the Vikings. I am not sure if they had IKEA bags to help with their packing.

Packing the IKEA bags at the Largs checkout.

All too soon, our sojourn on Little Cumbrae came to an end and it hadn't cost us a penny. It got quite bumpy with an exciting few moments crossing the east end of the Tan. Then the wind dropped completely as we made our way up the Hunterston Channel past the ore terminal...

 ...to Largs.

Then it was time to pack the IKEA bags and make our way home.

With as much aplomb as possible in a public place.

One of the great problems of sea kayaking is trying to look cool in all the gear required to survive the Scottish winter. Simon has done a passable job except for that necessary evil, the spray skirt. I call it a skirt not to beat about the bush (as some commentators do) and call it a "spray deck".

What a euphemism but even in Scotland, land of the kilt, we are usually adverse to calling it a skirt. To Simon's great credit he is wearing his with as much aplomb as possible in a public place.

I think his mugshot sums it up rather well.

The tale of Wee Cumby.

One of the great joys of sea kayaking is the second luncheon. We gather round on the rocks at the top of the beach, often under the walls of an ancient castle, and share stories of past expeditions while we eat. On this particular stop, on Little Cumbrae island, we were joined by the local pack of assorted hungry hounds. They are clearly doing well on visiting sea kayakers as their number has recently increased from four to five. No sooner had Phil opened his sandwiches than...

...pleading eyes caused the good natured Phil to donate half his luncheon to such needy canine creatures. He then escaped up to the castle to enjoy what little sustenance he had left.

He was not quick enough. This little fellow (Wee Cumby, the pack's latest arrival) spotted an opportunity and ran expectantly after Phil, just as fast as his little legs could carry him.

However, Phil was not to be parted from his few remaining crumbs. He was resolute. "Back to your mother" he commanded.

Wee Cumby obediently (but hungrily) made his way back to the beach. His ears were back and his tail was between his legs.

Little Cumbrae island is now private. At £5 each, that'll be £35 then.

As we pulled into our usual spot between Little Cumbrae and Castle Island a new sign greeted our arrival. It had appeared since our last visit in the spring.

"Private Island. 

Landing Fee Applies £5 per person 

Island Manager : 07900886689 

No Littering No Fires Permitted". 

A man (who I had not seen on previous visits) made his way down to the shore to meet us with a pack of five barking dogs (the dogs are very friendly). He was standing underneath the sign and two of us approached him and attempted to engage in conversation by admiring the new pup, which had been born since our last visit. He remained uncommunicative and we did not offer to pay.

We retired to our usual picnic spot on the shore below the castle and the man watched us for about 10 minutes before making his way back to the houses on Little Cumbrae. As we have never made a habit of paying landing fees, I wrote to the North Ayrshire Access Officer enquiring about the legality of the sign and demand for money. I will update when I get a reply.