Date: Thursday 4th June 2009
Anchorage: Arisaig
Position: 56°54’.286N, 05°51’.489W
Distance travelled: 49.7NM

Weighed anchor at Canna Harbour, after having negotiated with a very close neighbouring boat whose anchor was very close to ours and who was actually positioned straight above our anchor. From Canna we finished the tour of the Small Isles including Rum, Eigg and Muck. Sailed by the mausoleum, a Greek structure in the middle of the Hebrides, dedicated to Bullough’s parents near Harris on Rum. Although we remained in the more protected areas (lee sides of the islands), the sea was rough enough. At times we were surrounded by more than a dozen of fishing boats, indicating presence of fish in the area, but sightings were few. Most observations were made up by the abundant birds (mainly gulls), remaining in close vicinity of the fishing boats. Later, we saw two rafts of shearwaters, estimating 250 in all, seeming to be in a feeding frenzy. Rum is a breeding place for shearwaters who nest in burrows high above the sea. In another area gannets were plunging for fish. Anchorage tonight is at Arisaig, a scenic village on the west coast of the mainland harbouring many yachts.