Southbound from Rousay and through Vassa Sound once again shrouded in mist. Our passage plan was again spot on for an easy passage through the sound. We chose the main buoyed channel in preference to the inside route knowing full well our visual transit to Kirkwall Cathedral would be obscured. At one point we shared the narrow channel with a northbound ferry still transmitting his AIS data as 'Moored', destination 'Kirkwall [the other way]' and speed 9 kts! – not quite MCA practice I'm sure. What really made us more angry though were the crab pots in the same narrow channel marked only by 5 litre black or dark blue oil cans almost completely submerged by the strong tide, not something to get tangled in with rocks and shallows both sides; these would have been totally invisible at night.
Anyhow, back to Kirkwall for protection from the strong northerlies and a return to fender juggling before planning our next sortie.
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