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My partner, John, amongst other things, is a very keen sailor. When we met a couple of years ago his living room was stuffed full of racing trophies, won when sailing his yacht, Enigma, around Anglesey. My father had taught all his children to sail a dinghy when we were young so I was happy to end John's solo sailing days (and as it happens ended his racing career too - so far we haven't won a race when we've been sailing together - not sure why that is!)
We don't hang about much, and after a couple of months sailing Enigma, we were looking around for a bigger boat. John had always wanted to take three months off work to spend time sailing the beautiful Scottish Isles and in celebration of a significant birthday we planned the trip this summer.
I have my own graphic design company, A P Design, and we have been working with independent opticians all over the UK alongside Myers La Roche. I didn't want to hide the fact that I wasn't going to be at my desk all summer (I have my laptop, mobile broadband and iphone and some very good staff back at the office) so I wanted to publicise the trip and at the same time raise money for a charity connected with the profession that I am proud to have been working with for over 20 years.
Optometry Giving Sight is an international charity at the forefront of efforts to end refractive error blindness by the year 2020. This type of blindness is very preventable. Just £2.50 could provide someone in the developing world with an eye exam and a pair of glasses.
Most of us take good vision for granted in the UK, my own optician, Andrea Downs of Kay Downs Opticians in Stockport, has been helping me find the best prescription and type of contact lenses to help me see the instruments on the yacht without the need for spectacles. John lost his glasses last summer when we hit a squall just outside Dublin. It only takes one second, a flapping sheet, and off they went into the Irish Sea.
Now we have the yacht Soay, a Sadler 32, named after a small Scottish Island (and an ancient breed of sheep that inhabited it). We hope to visit as many islands as possible along the Western coast of Scotland (hopefully about 15), and we would love it if you would sponsor our dog Oscar for every named island he sets paw on.
Oscar loves sailing, but his favourite bit is being allowed out of the cabin when we have anchored, so he can jump in the dinghy and be rowed ashore. I will be taking pictures when he lands.
Sunday 12 July Beaumaris to Cemaes Bay, Anglesey 4 hours sailing in winds 20 to 33 knots of wind (Dolphins playing in the Bay)
Monday 13 July Cemaes Bay, Anglesey to Peel, Isle of Man 10.5 hours sailing in heavy rain to begin with, sunny in the middle and drizzly towards the end. 10 to 15 knots of wind Oscar sets paw on first island at 4:30pm (Oscar in front of Peel Castle)
Tuesday 14 July Day in Peel
Wednesday 15 July Peel, Isle of Man to Bangor, N. Ireland. Another early start setting off at 5.45 am. 9 hours motoring as wind died away. Oscar’s paw on second island timed at 14:45 Friendly seal in marina asked us for some fish!
Thursday 16 July Bangor, N. Ireland to Ardminish Bay, Gigha, SCOTLAND! Reasonable start at 08:30. Motor sailed most of the way, only one hour sailing without engine. Lovely weather, although black clouds over the Kintyre peninsula and the Isles of Islay and Jura. Lovely sunshine on Gigha. Lots of birds and the lovely Maidens on the way. (birds and Maidens) Oscar set paw at 15:00. A beautiful little island. (Oscar and John at the cross roads).
Friday 17 July Day on Gigha visiting Achamore gardens. Gigha was bought by the islanders in 2002 there ending centuries of feudal existence. It has a ferry across from the mainland and we can certainly recommend a visit – its lovely. (Achamore Gardens)
Saturday 18 July. Gigha to Islay. Left the anchorage in Gigha at 08:10 going around the north end and then south to Port Ellen, Isle of Islay (known for its whiskey). Arrived at annual sports day. Oscar set paw at 1:30pm. (Oscar and Tess with Jean)
