Setting Off

 By Emma: We are off!

To borrow a line from Becca and Zac of Teulu – we're bloody doing it! (https://www.youtube.com/@TeuluTribe)


The past few weeks have been a bit of whirlwind as we prepared the boat for sailing, the house for renting and ensured respective work handovers were as complete as possible.  (We’ll cover more about our boat prep in a future blog.)


On Saturday 19th April we left Dundee after a phenomenal send-off from my lovely colleagues – thank you all so much for the warm wishes and support! We hopped on the train and made our way across to Inverclyde, where Evolene had spent the winter in the excellent care of James Watt Dock Marina.


Stuart’s brother, sister-in-law, and nephew met us there to help with final provisioning (and absolutely thrash us at cards!). As evening drew in, we wandered up to Scott’s restaurant to meet more family for a final dinner ashore – a perfect evening of laughter, hugs and the kind of conversations that make it hard to say goodbye.


The next morning it was time… we cast off our lines, slipped out of the marina and sailed through familiar waters towards a favourite anchorage on the northeast coast of Bute – a chance to pause, take a breath and let it all sink in!


Leaving James Watt Dock

This anchorage never fails to charm. Gulls, eider ducks and oystercatchers calling in the background and the occasional curious seal popping its head up to say hello. The shoreline was dotted with cherry blossoms in full bloom – a springtime gift.


It was a bit gusty that first night but Evolene’s anchor held firm. The next day was grey and drizzly but we cracked on. Stuart tackled storage optimisation and I experimented with kettlebell workouts aboard – finding our rhythm in this new floating life.


Then came Monday the 22nd – gloriously calm and sunny. As we tucked into a “continental-style” breakfast (i.e. we were low on milk so changed from our usual muesli to yoghurt, fruit, and a ham and cheese roll) we spotted an unusual ripple on the water... an otter! Happily playing in the stillness, enjoying the morning as much as we were.


We sent up the drone and though the otter had ducked out of sight by then, Stuart captured some cracking aerial views of our peaceful anchorage.


Kyles of Bute
Later that morning we weighed anchor and motored down the west side of Bute. As we turned the corner at Ardlamont Point the wind picked up beautifully and we enjoyed a comfortable downwind sail up Loch Fyne to Black Harbour Bay – where we’re anchored now, writing this.

To everyone who’s been part of this journey so far – thank you. For the encouragement, the laughs, the support, the hugs and all the fizz! You’ve helped us get to the start line – and now we can’t wait to share the rest with you as it unfolds.


Cheers!

See you in the next update – next stop: Tarbert.

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