Ship's log
Angus and I worked two hour shifts. Two hours is quite long enough to concentrate at the wheel, especially in coarse weather or at night. In a 24hr period, you can never get fully rested so we made a number of runs down to the Kyle of Tongue to recharge our batteries. Here we could throw the anchor in and both get some sleep as we were very sheltered with little chance of dragging. We were also able to get a few dives in and generally explore the area. My most abiding memory of the week is just how fortunate with the weather we were. When things are good the going is easy and it is possible to conquer the world; when things are bad life quickly becomes hard work and the range of options available swiftly narrows. Part of the success on the Stack was due to days of sun drying the slippery weed that covers the lower slopes and making the climb difficult if not impossible. My final point to make is the most elementary: the boat crew got on well and added to the pleasure of the trip. The ringers themselves applied absolute dedication to their end of things whilst were good company for the brief spells we crossed paths on the boat. As always it is the people that make a trip. Sat 12 July 2003 0600 Depart Stromness Forecast (OH)/:  Sun 13 July 03 0837 Depart Scrabster Forecast (OH)/: 1353 Arrive Sule Skerry/ start landing Forecast (OH)/: 2042 Depart for Stack  Mon 14 July 0000 58 57.04N 004 29.31W Forecast (ACg)/: 0557 Anchored Kyle of Tongue Forecast (OH)/: 1513 Weighed anchor Kyle of Tongue Tues 15 July 0319 Weighed anchor Kyle of Tongue (ETA S Skerry 1800) Forecast (OH)/: 1227 Depart Sule Skerry for N Rona  Wed 16 July 0410 Weighed anchor Forecast (SCg)/:  Thurs 17 July 0103 Depart Kyle of Tongue Forecast(OH):/ 1300 Arrive Sule Skerry  Friday 18 July 2255 Depart Sule Skerry for Scrabster  Sat 19 July 0410 Alongside Scrabster Pier Forecast (OH):/ 1026 Depart Scrabster Sun 20 July 0305 Arrive Sule Skerry Forecast (OH):/ Runs to Sule Stack and back  Mon 21 July 1259 Depart Skerry for North Rona Forecast(SCg):/  Tues 22 July 0315 Engine started: possible anchor drag  Wed 23 July 0303 Arrive Kyle of Tongue Fri 25 July 0455 Depart Kyle of Tongue  Key:/ (OH) Orkney Harbours forecast
Bob Anderson: bob@mvhalton.co.uk Tel:(01856) 851532
©Halton Charters
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Throughout the two weeks we kept a log to record important events: the forecast, an hourly lat/long, an hourly engine check and so on. Should a mishap occur, it is always the first source of reference and there were a number of times we were glad of the the routine. In a 24hr cycle of 2hr shifts it can be tricky to orientate time of day, let alone days of the week! It is hard to convey the distances covered; in the first week alone a rough tally came to nearly 490nm, which, when the boat averages around 7kts, is quite a way.