Just a nice photo – no connection with the gale! Overnight, the wind got
up as forecast and we let out extra anchor chain as a precaution. By
morning a gale was being funnelled through the gap in the hills east
of Clisham and came roaring over Loch Maaruig, driving white horses
through the anchorage. It set up quite a racket – waves breaking, water
slapping the hull, a howl from the rigging and loud snubbing of the
anchor chain as Arctica sheered about, heeling dramatically in the
strongest gusts. Despite all this, we recorded nothing more than a Force
8 gale. The mind boggles at the thought of being out at sea in a Force
10 – hats off to all deep sea fishermen! The weather did not seem to
affect the otter out fishing for his dinner quite close to the boat. Today is another of gusting wind, but there are signs of the weather moderating. We will be content to spend another day here catching up on our reading.