Elsa & Barb on watch, grinning in the rougher seas

Position at Anchor 55º52.543 N 005º 54.979W
Distance Travelled 60 NM
Weather Beautiful sunshine deteriorating later to rain (once we’d anchored).

You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows…
The day started with the gentle lapping of water against the Silurian and a beautiful sunrise over Port Ellen, Islay. The weathermen were promising us force 8 gales from the South West so the crew were discussing which anchorage would provide a port in the storm for tonight. The rest of us went to avail ourselves of the fine single malts from the island. After a quiet wildlife day yesterday we were hoping for Dolphin and Minke Whale today, we headed out past the Mull of Oa and the Rhinns of Islay, the boat was rockin’ and rollin’ along and before long one of our number was re-experiencing her breakfast! the rest of us munching on sandwiches and Duncan’s delicious chocolate brownies.
After seeing the Risso’s Dolphin yesterday we were still hopeful of more cetaceans leaping our way; but no, just 4 Porpoise picked up acoustically, a dead sea Urchin, a Lion’s Mane jellyfish and a few grey Seals.
Later, Silurian running under sail tilting at a perfect angle to the sea at speeds approaching 7 knots had volunteers clipped onto the mast and walking at angles, inside the boat nothing but water visible from the windows portside and the sky starboard and Duncan was particularly proud of his zig zags. We set anchor for the night in Loch Tarbert on Jura, a beautiful sheltered spot and hoped for a good night’s sleep and dreams of leaping Dolphin. If the wildlife wasn’t exciting the sailing certainly was!

Kym, Earthwatch volunteer