3 Successful Visits

St Kilda is not exactly the easiest place to get to and to stay but this year it seems to have worked out very well. I am just back from the third visit where we had a pleasant smooth crossing to the Outer Hebrides and stayed at Hellisay - Gighay anchorage just N of Barra. Sailed from there up the west of uist to the Monach islands and the day cleared to bright skies and great views and scenery. Hundreds of grey seals in the waters and on the beaches and a wild island to explore. Light winds the following day meant motoring out with little sea to Boreray and the stacks where we spent a good time pottering and taking in the towering scenery and life in this wild place. We left for Hirta and circum navigated anti clockwise to arrive in Village Bay in very calm conditions. Time ashore in the village that evening and the following day a perfect day with little wind and sunny and warm when we all got some good walks around the wilds and summits.
A strong wind was on the cards and a gale warning from Stornoway CG had the others scurrying away. We laid a plan to head for shelter in Berneray, Sound of Harris and had a bit of motoring to start and then a pleasant close reach in a starry moonlit night and calm sea to arrive at daybreak to anchor and await a higher tide prior to entering the harbour and shelter from the impending blow from the SE veering SW.
Some other highlights from the trip were the 50 or more Risso dolphins off the SE of Barra and the spinnaker reach towards Iona with the inquisitive basking shark visiting us several times with open mouth for all to see. Little rain on the trip in daytime and it only poured on arrival in Oban.