Sails in Stromness

As we were watching to see if the Europa would put her sails up (she did, but only a few as you can see)

... another ship, the Tecla, set off...

... followed by the Maybe ...

... and then the John Laing.

The bay was starting to look like it must have done years ago, with sailing ships coming in and out.

I went out on an Orkney Yole for a sail around the harbour. It was great fun and getting to see the tall ships from the water was brilliant.

Back ashore again, I spotted a crew member relaxing aboard the Gallant.

We then headed up Brinkie's Brae to get some views looking down into the bay.

The Europa was sailing out in the Flow, heading back to Stromness.

Ships were still leaving ...

... and arriving. The Wylde Swan took her time coming through the tide race off Graemsay.

What fantastic sights these boats make. And I should be seeing even more in Shetland very soon now.

A sea of masts

A sea of masts is how Stromness looked on Monday when I visited. There were around 9 tall ships berthed there, then throughout the day the numbers kept changing as some ships left and others arrived.

Some of the ships were just gorgeous - all polished wood and brass. This one is the Christian Radich.

We were able to go aboard the Sorlandet for a look around her decks. Again, I jumped at the chance!

She had a bell at each end of the deck.

The deck of the Sorlandet was a great place to look across at the Christian Radich, who had won the first leg of the race from Waterford to Greenock. She had just arrived in Stromness and was being readied for a "party on the poop deck" to be taking place in the afternoon.

Aboard the Sorlandet there was also work ongoing...

Lots of small boats were out, enjoying the views of the tall ships from the water. We spotted Jimmy Moar from Hoy, who had featured in the Spirit Dancer DVD!

The deck of the Sorlandet also proved to be a great place to watch as the Eurpoa headed off for another "party on the poop deck".

She was a beautiful sight as she headed off towards Scapa Flow, and we decided to watch for a while to see if she was going to put her sails up.

Mir

The Russian ship, the Mir, was the largest of the tall ships to call into Orkney. She berthed at Hatston Pier (presumbly being too big to berth at the Kirkwall Pier or marina) where she dwarfed cars.

They were allowing people on board to have a look around the decks, so I jumped at the opportunity!

She really is tall. Last year with the Spirit Dancer, some of the crew were allowed up the rigging of the Statsrad Lehmkuhl to take photos and video of the Spirit Dancer canoe passing below. The masts of the Mir were much higher though, and it looked like 4 stops (crow's nests?) on the way up.

Even the ship's wheels were huge.

The decks were extremely wide...

 ... and there was even space to set out a stall selling a selection of 'Mir' branded goods and photos.

A very impressive ship, with the reputation of being the fastest tall ship in the race. She didn't win the first leg, though, from Waterford to Greenock, as that was won by the Christian Radich, which also visited Orkney. It'll be interesting to follow the race results to see how she does in the next leg from Lerwick to Stavanger.

Cruise in Company to Orkney

As part of the Tall Ships race there is a Cruise in Company leg, between Greenock and Lerwick, where the ships choose their own routes and sail leisurely, making as many stops as they want along the way, enjoying the company and the scenery. Ports vie for the ships as they're a big attraction - and this year the 'official' guest ports on this leg are Ullapool, Stornoway, Campbeltown, Orkney (both Kirkwall and Stromness) and various other ports in Shetland, including Fair Isle, Cullivoe, Unst and Scalloway. Of course where the ships actually end up calling in is very weather dependent, and the current north easterlies have meant a few ships haven't arrived in some of the ports as planned, but it's generally been a very successful cruise as far as I can tell.

I saw my first tall ship (of this trip, as obviously I'd seen rather a lot of them in Arran too), the Wyvern, on my way to Orkney. She had travelled through the Caledonian Canal and I saw her as I drove over the Kessock Bridge. Then I saw my next, the Svanhild, from the ferry, a beautiful sight. I believe she was the only ship who actually sailed the whole way during the Kirkwall to Stromness sailing challenge.

I was lucky enough to also see gannets diving, puffins & 3 porpoises from the ferry - a great start to my holiday.

This is the Gulden Leeuw, first passing Graemsay, with the Hoy High lighthouse and my friend Sian's house clearly visible...

... and then passing the Hall of Clestrain, where John Rae (the Arctic explorer who discovered the North West Passage) grew up.

I was here to see the tall ships, catch up with some friends, and rejoin the crew of the Spirit Dancer Canadian canoe, who were heading for Shetland. They had returned to Orkney to collect Spirit Dancer who had been over-wintered there (I'm making her sound like cattle now!) and were heading for Shetland, where I'll be joining them in a few days (more about the Spirit Dancer & her crew later...)

Meanwhile, I was enjoying the spectacle of the many tall ships visiting Orkney, mostly berthed in Stromness...

There were 9 tall ships berthed in Stromness on Sunday.

A festival had been organised locally around the ships, with food, stalls and music. You could also buy tickets for "parties on the poop deck" of some of the ships.

The Harbours Department tug was kept busy...

There were yole trips around the harbour.

 Tecla and Pogoria

 Statsraad Lehmkuhl and Eendracht

 Svanhild leaving the harbour...

... seemingly being chased by a yole...

... but she escaped!

I left Stromness to meet the Spirit Dancer crew, but with plans to return again the next day...