LET'S START WITH THE WHY
Why does somebody having his boat on Canary Islands desire to go to the North, yes even worth, so much north that 4 month a year the water is covered with ice, the temperature goes down to minus 20 and the sun doesn't show up for more then some poor hours every day. So much north that in summer the water doesn't get warm, the west wind doesn't stop blowing and where ever you go better avoid stones and underwater rocks (No good stuff for boats). Yes, why would somebody do that when Canary summer sailing promise sun, beach and dark tanned body's and the Caribian sea is around the corner.
Easy aswer is, this person is crazy.
A more complex answer is that this person wan't to live and work in the north and have his boat arround. An answer with some truth might be that such a person want to go back to his roots, sailing Baltic and North sea where he was born and spend his childhoot. And the answer from the heart is that this person loves the north with all flaws and limitations, loves midsummer and light at midnight, loves people with well defined position and wide open hearts. 
And why going via Ireland and Scotland. Well, this was clearly a touch of craziness. I just had some private stuff to do in Dublin ... Despite that the idea developed when in winter 2004 reading the book "The Celtic Ring" from Danish author Bjoern Larsen. Larsson's thriller is a homage to Erskine Childers "The Riddle of the Sands" and introduces us two reluctant heroes Ulf and Torben, who encounter an enigmatic Finn, Pekka, who before his demise reveals the existence of something called the Celtic Ring. Driven by curiosity and masochism the two sail across the North Sea in the dead of winter and further via the Caledonian canal to Ireland. The book is full of plenty splendid nautical detail and gripping scenes of peril at sea makes it just high-interest fare for lovers of tales of the salt.
Like me. It graped me! Why shouldn't I visit the places the Celtic Ring describes, sailing to North Ireland, the Caledonian canal, visit the ruins of Urquhart castle, mooring in Inverness, crossing the North Sea. It took me one of my "Me-and-Molly-Mallones evenings with a beer or many and with every additional pint the pictures became clearer. Summerwind in "Neptunes Staircase". Me and friends in the
Highlands, Loch Ness and mabey a visit to Findhorn bay where Mike concluded his "Long way to the light". At the end of the night I was so exited and the decision was made. Summerwind will go where the winter
