57:84.1N 005:58.7W

Northerly swell considerably reduced. That being the case, we planned to round Cape Wrath by going inside Duslic Rock, close into Cape Wrath, where there is a constant westerly current.

Our plan was scuppered however by the US Navy which was conducting live gunnery practice in the area, firing towards Cape Wrath. They were requesting vessels to keep clear by 15 miles which would have taken us the whole day to comply with. However, a radio call to them and we were given clearance to steer North until past them, after which we could turn West to clear the Cape. Quite dramatic to hear the deep boom of artillery and the clouds of smoke coming from the ship. Once round the Cape, the wind gradually dropped and we had to motor the rest of the way into Aultbey. For the first time in years, our Rocna anchor failed to set first time round. On retrieving the anchor we found that it had hooked onto an abandoned lobster pot. The second attempt was more successful, but didn’t feel totally solid. Luckily there was no wind so we settled for the night. It was a beautiful clear evening with the sun still hot at 8.00 pm so supper was had in the cockpit.