Date: Tuesday 2nd June 2009
Anchorage: Loch Boisdale
Position: 57°09’.257N, 07°18’.004W
Distance travelled: 59.7NM

Thought for this day: we otter do better than this.

At the regular time, we left from Vatersay and soon we saw two minke whales. Shorty after these sightings, we sailed south into the fog bank and the temperature fell drastically. As we came out of the fog the cliffs of Barra Head and Mingulay loomed before us. Birds were everywhere and noise – birds and their echoes from the caves – guillemots (common, bridled and black), puffins, razor bills, shags, kittiwakes, fulmars, rock doves were all nesting on the ledges. We proceeded toward the Atlantic and then northward on the westerly side of the Outer Hebrides. This is the most fertile and populous side of the Outer Hebrides. Our skipper skillfully navigated us through the treacherous Barra Sound past plundering and raiding McNeil Clan pirate hideouts of Eriskay. Dinner wasn’t ready yet when we pulled into the Acasaid Mor. The anchor refused to hold so we ventured on to Loch Boisdale where we encountered an otter. On the way, we had a scientific discussion and identification catalogues where more closely examined. Unfortunately no pics of the Barra boys (the resident bottlenose dolphins of the Sound of Barra) to compare. Arriving at the final destination for today, dinner was ready and enjoyed by everyone, while outside the wind was howling.