Out on exercise, Kinghorn

An early start of 8.30 for exercise, the plan is to navigate to various channel marker buoys. We head up to the ops room to chart out our course first to green Channel buoy no 6. We meticulously calculate the bearing, true and compass, the distance and the time to get their if travelling at 20 knots. Then do the same for Green no 1 and the safe water mark that indicates the beginning of the two deep water channels. We prep the boat, get suited up and launch by 09.00 heading East into a fairly calm sunny January sea.  

Once out on the water, the sea conditions deteriorate to a 4, the wind funnelling down the Forth from the West and the navigation electronics fail. We have no plotter, radar or speed indicator. Plans for the exercise are modified while we try to recover some signal from the panels.
We proceed with the bearings and an estimation of speed, while I time the distances. Distracted slightly by the appearance of puffins attempting flight. 
A seal surveys us as if knowing things were not going to plan and as we head out to the first channel marker buoy some porpoises pass us heading purposely in the opposite direction.
The safe water mark seems further than expected, there is little activity on the water apart from a few large tankers anchored of Gullan and Methel accompanied by two rigs lying dormant.  
I am surprised by the sea state as we turn West for home. The sea is up to a force 5 or 6 and makes heavy going. Mark handles the troughs and peaks skill-fully however he is frustrated by the lightness of the throttle on the replacement boat. Any shift of his body weight results in a rapid acceleration into the next on coming wave. My preference is to stand and dampen the force of the waves however protocol dictates we must be seated.
Heading round the South of Inchkeith Mark points out the wreck that required a wide berth a long with shallow water and rocks.
We enter the Inchkeith harbour on the West side of the inland and receive some welcome shelter from the icy wind. We discuss our navigation and Matthew practices his parking. The island looks fascinating and well worth exploring in better seasons.
Leaving Inchkeith for home we struggle to make contact with the coastguard. I drive the boat to the bay. Once their our exercise continues with Blair gaining experience of lifejacket inflation, as I watch with some amusement at the difficulty he experiences trying to get back in the boat it is decided that I two must go overboard. Needles to say I am no more competent. Fortunately with engines off it is possible to clamber in the back before Mark neatly parks it reversing into the trailer. Any thought of our heroics jumping in the sea in our dry suits in January were soon extinguished when we saw swimmers heading out to sea.
Pam awaits us at the boathouse with a welcoming basket of scones and jam. The boat wash down and crew fed we retire to out families.

Only to be paged a few hours later for a swimmer in the water of Portobello.Fortunately we were stood down before launch.

Finally back at the flat I watch in amazement as two female swimmer head out in darkness accompanied each with a lantern.