Seahound - wind starting to get up

Day 8 - Portree/Kyle of Lochalsh/ Stornoway to Stromness

The forecast in the morning was for the weather to improve, with the wind dropping from Force 5 to Force 4 and possible 3 later, but still from the North.

All boats set off from the three ports.  The main fleet from Portree left at about 0900 in full wet weather kit.  Heading North ducking in and out of headlands for shelter before pulling into Lochinver at about 1230 for a rest, a review, and lunch.

Skellig contacted us and was running about two hours behind.  Bluewater Raven called us with a warning. They had rounded Cape Wrath at 1315 in the roughest water they had ever been in, 25ft waves coming from all directions and breaking over the boat - advice was to approach with caution.  Mike Thornton said later that after nearly 50 years in boats, he had never seen anything like this before, the waves  came from everywhere, the boat was picked up, dropped, tossed around and at one stage the side windows where touching the sea.  Once through they found a river and motored up it for a few miles to rest and recover. 

We being the rest of the fleet except Skellig headed out at 1400 hours and up to Cape Wrath. Following Bluewater Raven's experience we devised a strategy, especially with single engine open RIBs in the fleet,  and stayed at least 3 miles offshore where we were saved the same experience as Bluewater Raven. We kept in sight of each other and rounded the Cape at 1600 hours.  Skellig took the same route and followed behind.

Turning for Stromness the seas remained very uncomfortable and the wind made the ride very wet.

We made Stromness at about 1830. The bay is famous for its running seas and Quickflash, which unfortunately still had its tabs down, did a full and fantastic nose dive, filling the boat with water and ripping off its windscreen, but no injuries thank goodness.

The fleet is in Stromness with Skellig in Scrabster.  We all need fuel and the supply here is limited.  But the wonderful harbour crew have got us a tanker to come and fill us up in the morning - a great help.

The drying room in the Hotel is full of our clothes!

Tomorrow is our longest run and it may be that the fleet will all be in the same port for the night.  Let hope's so.

Patrick Byrne - Stromness Hotel Sunday morning.