we knew this was going to be a longish day with over 40 nautical miles between Barra and the island of Muck. We had a bit of a delayed start because the chart plotter started playing up again and would not recognise the Navionics chart. In the end we sent off at around 08:30 intending to navigate the old fashioned way but as we left Castlebay we managed to have it working properly again. It seems temperamental so a service is on the winter job list.
Once off Barra, accompanied by some friendly dolphins, we hoisted the mainsail and then the wind gradually built from the north-east such that eventually we were going along really nicely close hauled. But this only lasted just over an hour and then the wind died away and we ended up motoring over a glassy sea. It was sunny and bright, if a little cool, and we took it in turns to be on watch to make the time pass quicker. The wind kept teasing us by occasionally appearing, but not quite strong enough to sail, and then disappearing again. As compensation the views of Rhum and Eigg as we passed were marvellous.
We anchored in the small port, Port Mor, on the southeast side of Muck. As in many places there are now mooring buoys (we later found they were used by fish farm vessels as one steamed in later that evening) in the best positions to anchor, but we found enough space. After a long day we decided not to go ashore straight away. Yesterday evening Richard had been chatting to some fellow sailors about fishing and had been given four pollock fillets that Richard tray baked with tomatoes and red pepper and, complete with Scottish new potatoes, they made a really good supper. Thank you guys.
