Queen Victoria would have marked her boredom at the slowness of the operation at the inauguration. They can climb 19.5 m in just 457 m in length, a feat that will remain unequalled until the opening of the Panama Canal. The Neptune stairs are a flight of 8 locks built between 18. It is time to start one of the emblematic passages of the Caledonian canal. The Ros Crana barge which provides meals and accommodates several crews Neptune's stairs To start the first full day, breakfast is served on the Ros Crana barge which will follow us throughout the trip. After a warm first evening at the rugby club, everyone joins his sleeping bag. Loustic passes its 1st lock First bivouacĪ few steps from Fort William, we pitch the tent facing the snow-covered mountains and Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK. Scottish welcome to the sound of the bagpipes For the first and last time, we stubbornly refuse to paddle and arrive very soon after our competitors. We discover that the rules allow to couple sail and paddles simultaneously. In the wind, Loustic's sails are no match for the oars. Unfortunately, the wind is absent to subscribers. Serious briefing despite the presence of a Welsh dragon! 1st regatta: a defeat with the wayĪt the end of the day, a regatta on the"salty" loch is launched to join our first bivouac, at the entrance of the Caledonian canal. Ships waiting in the Fort William Sea Loch That makes us run to find a foghorn, that of the boat having remained in Pornic. British seriousness obliges, the control of the safety equipment is scrupulous on each of the boats. He asks us to dismantle them in order to respect the traditional spirit, to Claude's great displeasure as he tries to negotiate until the end. Unfortunately, the race committee does not like these appendices. It thus offers a neophyte public a safe way to recall. This is indeed a feature of the Multimono, the sailboat model designed by Claude, a former physical education teacher. I discover Loustic, our boat, ready on its trailer, wings spread. Saturday morning is devoted to launching and checking safety equipment. The Multimono Loustic with all wings extended Discovery of the boat and launching After a first haggis, the stuffed sheep's belly, a Scottish speciality, we go back to our beds to enjoy a real mattress before a week of camping. Retired, they were able to take a few days to get in the van to Scotland. He left Pornic with Alain and Jean-Jacques and arrived the day before with the boat in tow. If I had already met Claude, the skipper and designer of the Multimono at the Nautic de Paris, this is my first meeting with the rest of the crew. As soon as I drop my bag at the youth hostel, I go to meet him at the pub. After a full day of travel by train, plane and carpool from southwest France, I arrived in Fort William, entry point of the Caledonian canal and departure point of the SailCaledonia.
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