Jenny helped me sort the boat out for an early start on Sunday. However, even as I helped her with her bag to the taxi it was clear it was going to be another day in port. The visibility was about 400m and there was no sign that it would improve.

The day was spent buying some stores and reading. The downside of Portpatrick is the cost. At £9 a night it is not cheap considering there are no facilities and you even have to pay 20p to use the toilets (not a huge price but you try finding 20p when you need it!). The harbourmaster takes great delight in informing visiting English yachts that an Englishman owns the harbour and he sets the fees!

Willy the harbour master (who seems to have a side line in providing fuel to visitors) came down onto the boat on Sunday and told me the best time to leave going north (contra to the tidal atlas) was 2 hours before local high water. The idea is to follow the 10m contours along the coast avoiding the rocks for about 6 miles. Only problem was that this would mean motoring 50m from the shore at 4am – I decided to make my own plan! All is looking good for a 9am departure to Troon on Monday.