Dead Calm

The first part of our passage was to take us through the perilous Burgar Rost of Eynhallow Sound [Rost is a local term for very rough and turbulent water caused by strong tides over a shallow and narrow gap]. Our timing was spot on for a safe route through but the lack of wind and calm sea state made for a very undramatic event; no complaints though.

Again mist and fog shrouded the mainland and we had poor visibility for the first few hours. We had intended to hug the coastline as far south as we could but we decided to head away from land on a more direct course to try and escape the mist and fog; this turned out to be good decision. From our position away from the Islands we had a fantastic view of the Old Man of Hoy piercing the solid white fog line with ethereal majesty; a sight we would have missed on our original course.

Chug, chug, chug went the engine as we headed direct for our destination: Scotland; the sea in a mirror-like state except for the slight Atlantic swell. The wind never materialised and so there was more chug, chug, chug all the way to the entrance to Loch Eriboll [15 miles east of Cape Wrath]. Our intended anchorage was 5 miles into the loch and we noticed an immediate increase in air temperature from the heat radiating from the land – heat, something missing from Orkney and Shetland.

Our anchor set on the fourth attempt after previously behaving more like a kelp and weed rake, we stopped the engine and we were then left to enjoy the tranquility of the surroundings...silence.