Stornoway to Acairsed Mhor, Rona
Bliss
Fri 17 Jun 2016 10:15
Wind was north-easterly force 5-7! Sea was big, waves up to 4 metres, Chris did a brilliant job of keeping us on course and, more or less upright. It was a great sail, somewhere between total exhilaration and terror. I hovered nearer the total terror range of the scale whereas Chris was way up in the "this is what sailing is all about, bring it on" range. We covered 44 miles in 6 hours, Chris helmed most of the way, (auto-helm couldn't cope) I realised that today's sail was not ordinary by most standards when, upon arriving in Rona, and chatting to Bill, the slightly crazy Scotsman who runs the Lodge here, and was advising some anxious sailors who'd had a nerve-racking sail from Gairlochy, that they might want to avoid the Sound of Rasaay tomorrow as it's likely to be rough, when we told him what we'd done and how quickly, he suggested that the Sound of Rasaay should be a piece of cake!!!
Rona seems to have a population of 4! The Lodge here makes a living out of yachtsmen, who are the majority of visitors, they charge £1 per person to land, but also provide showers and sell eggs, venison, postcards, have their own stamps, which you can put on the postcards which will be taken to Skye, on a Friday, and then on to their final destination, providing you've also used a Royal Mail stamp. It is a truly beautiful place with a very special atmosphere. Bill suggested the introduction of Red Deer some 15 years ago, there is now a thriving population which also provides an income from the venison he sells, grown, hunted, butchered here on the island, minimal food miles, and absolutely delicious.
Apparently stags swim across, the 8 miles, from Skye when the females are in season, sometimes the fishermen catch them !!!!
Captain's Log.......
A brilliant 6 hour roller coaster ride, maximum speed 11..7 knots surfing down a bit of freak breaking wave. Only broached twice and narrowly avoided couple of crash gybes .
Ashore , Bill plied us with whisky saying " it loosens the purse" - and it did : Helen bought lots of venison and a apron . Have to say the venison was delicious!
