Friday 20th May 2016

We had a slow start with a full Scottish breakfast the Loch Maddy hotel. Then we set off into much easier conditions of 25 knots topsail under genoa only northwards towards Harris.

Once across the Sound of Harris we explored a little loch called Roday, anchoring close under a cliff to have lunch in eh sunshine, but rolling heavily in the remnants of the swell that crept into they. The old church here is the burial place of the standard bearers of the MacLeod clan, and is reputed to have fine architecture, but sadly we didn't have time to venture ashore.

Loch Roday

Once under sail again the wind dropped to 15-18 knots and at last we flew our new spinnaker which gave us 7.5-8.5 knots in 14-15 knots of wind. However getting the Parasailor down proved difficult at first, with Mark hanging his whole weight on the rope to snuff it and then getting lifted off the deck!

Richard helmed us through the rocks of Loch Tarbert to North Harbour on Scalpay Island where, after 3 attempts, we managed to get the anchor to hold in thick weed. The harbour had fishing vessels moored on one side and some houses around the other end. A beautiful sunset rewarded us and we sat on deck until the night chill drove us down to the warn cabin where Mark had prepared a delicious supper. Meanwhile I set an anchor alarm in case the wind blew up and our anchor dragged in the night.

North Harbour, Scalpay Island