Raffee is a Rival 34, a boat designed for crossing the Atlantic and such things. She's based at the moment in the Bristol Channel.
The picture was taken at Tobermory, on the Scottish island of Mull. I've done most of my sailing in this area, basing Raffee at Oban, the 'capital' of the Western Isles. where I own a mooring. Email me if you want to use it; it's often free.
Probably the most demanding and exciting tri[p Raffee has done in my time is the journey from Cardiff round the west of Ireland and eventually into Oban, passing through Cork, Castletown Berehaven, Baltimore, Dingle, Sheep's Haven, and Islay.
Most of the journey we did two-handed with some assistance from Gareth Daw from Cardiff to Cork. Here's an avi file of Raffee in 30kts of wind. unusually the sun is shining. Clearly shome mishtake...
Places
Scotland
The west coast of Scotland is possibly the finest cruising area in Europe. The sailing is hard, make no mistake; if you get caught out here you could lose your boat and maybe your life. But the benefits are huge - wild beaches, beautiful sands, ancient castles, working fishing villages...
In one day you can leave Tobermory and sail via the remote island of Eigg to Mallaig, thereby passing from a tourist town to a remote family community rarely visited to a bustling, fishing town with all the facilities you want. You sail seas passed over ny the vikings and follow the routes of the Lord of the Isles as his galleys, like today's aircraft carriers, projected power into the political crisis situations of the time. These are the seas which provided support for Robert the Bruce in his quest for Scotland's independence and for Bonny Prince Charlie as he tried vainly to spring Scotland away from the Protestant crown.
Weather
Here are some useful weather sites for sailing around UK and sometimes further afield.
http://uk.weather.com/index.html
http://www.ybw.com/weather/home.html
http://www.greatweather.co.uk/
http://www.maalla.co.uk/uk-weather/