We left Peterhead marina at 09-25, there was a strong smell of fish on the air as we exited the port! The sea was heavy just off Peterhead but soon flattened out. The wind was 17kts true, aft of the beam and we were motor sailing under full main with a gybe preventer, and full genoa, SOG of 5.2kts with about a knot of foul tide.
Off Aberdeen the supply vessel Normand Aurora passed close behind us after dodging a Belgian yacht a little way further behind us ( another example of a yacht with an AIS transponder cluttering the airwaves in good visibility, we had to turn off our AIS alarm, as we had constant bleeping due to this yacht travelling at nearly the same speed as us. Fortunately our own vigilance had made us aware of the supply vessel in good time to monitor it's progress past us. Sometimes it is our AIS receiver alarm that helpfully alerts us to approaching large vessels crossing our path. )
Supply Vessel 'Normand Aurora'
Just after 12-00 we picked up a MayDay Relay message from Aberdeen Coastguard relating to an active EPIRB transmission from about 6NM north of Rattray Head. Various vessels in the area were contacted, and asked to provide their EPIRB serial number as a check and a local lifeboat was launched to search in the area. The EPIRB in question was not registered with the authorities, another No No.
By 15-25 we were approaching Stonehaven and by 16-30 we were tied up against the inside of the outer wall with another much smaller yacht rafted alongside us. There was quite a bit of swell making it's presence felt, however the friendly harbour master offered us a berth in the inner harbour as we could take the ground with no problems. By 17-00 we were snug against the inner harbour wall ( with no swell ! ) in 1.2m of water - it really is quite wonderful having the swing keel sometimes!
Approaching Stonehaven.
Yachts moored against the outer wall where we first tied up.
In the evening we had a pleasant walk through the town and along the sea front to the north of the harbour. Just enough time to take a few photographs in the fading light. We liked Stonehaven, it just seemed well loved by it's population.
Stonehaven harbour and town viewed from the north.
'Norman James' in her inner harbour drying berth.
About midnight a slight creaking announced our grounding on the harbour mud. A cursory check of the ropes indicated that all was well. At 08-40 the next morning we left the inner harbour, while we still had water, and tied up against the outer harbour wall to allow the correct timing for our departure for Arbroath.
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