Date: Wednesday 23th September
Anchorage: Loch Scresort, Rum
Position: 57°00’.767N, 06°16’.102W
Distance: 29.4NM

Can it get better? The volunteers are bonding superbly. After an introduction last night and this morning, we bravely left Tobermory heading around Ardnamurchin and then up north. Some words on the weather. Initially sunny calm and showery but moving out of bed we discovered a little more realistic weather. Showers became a little more squally and wind speeds rose together with the sea heights. The first bit of the travel was OK, but soon big seas where ahead of us. A forecasted South West five to seven. As said: forecasted. Reality turned out to be worse although we were in relatively sheltered areas. Measurements showed that we had occasional gusts of force 9! The professional way in which the crew handed out the hot soup and tea was worthy of special mention (we were told not to mention however the bread on the floor). It was very difficult to spot anything in the rough waters and it was decided to shorten the route, so we anchored closer by in the bay on the east side of Rum. Our first day sightings were restricted to a variety of seabirds, an otter and a couple of ferries and multiple white horses. An illegal stowaway in the form of a wasp was escorted off the premises. To reduce the overcrowding in the galley a contingent braved the crossing from the anchorage to the shore which fortunately supported a pub surrounded by a castle. One of passengers misheard pub as “pup” and was sorely disappointed but was revivable under the influence of a refreshing elixir. In the mean time, the remaining team on board produced a very eatable bolognaise. Listen out for the next bulletin.