058:26.372 N
003:05.071 W

Wick, North Sea

The alarms rang (we’d set 2!) and we were rewarded by a fabulous sunrise across a glassy Switha Sound. In absolutely no wind, as expected, we slipped our mooring and motored around the Island of South Walls, leaving the Orkney islands and entering into the Pentland Firth.

However much reading, re-reading and triple checking of our times, we were still a little anxious about what might lie ahead. However, with zero wind and the engine purring away, we followed the required route ~ take the remains of the west going tide along the south of South Walls island, then when opposite Aith Hope, head directly south to the centre of the channel, line up for a clear run between Swona and Stroma Islands, turn east and go for it.

Well it was text book. There was a large uncomfortable swell but we just headed between the two islands and watched the speedo increase. We were probably, in hindsight, about 30-45 minutes too early so caught the tail end of the foul tide, our speedo began at 3 knots which was a tad painful and the max we reached before being spat out was 8.8 knots, nothing too spectacular, and happily all uneventful.

Another vessel passed us and it was interesting to hear him being contacted by Shetland Coastguard when spotted on the AIS entering the Pentland Firth. They needed to describe their cargo, say number of crew, number of containers on board, where they are bound. The ship was heading for Montreal; ships often choose this route over the English Channel as there is much less traffic. Fortunately the Coastguard wasn’t interested in us, so we tiptoed in and tiptoed out and carried on our way south towards Wick.

It was a very special moment to see John O’Groats again; almost 32 years ago to the day. In 1994 a group of us cycled there from St Catherine’s Point on the IOW raising money for the Ocean Youth Club. We had two superb support cars, one towing a trailer and the other towing a caravan, one was being driven by my parents, the other by Marion and Richard Heming. It was lovely to remember such a wonderful bike trip and the terrific evening we spent on our last evening at the John O’Groats campsite with everyone, and here we were, sailing past it on Thursday’s Child, all these years later.

We had the most friendly welcome into Wick Marina with our lines being caught by harbour staff. This afternoon we walked along the stunning coastal path; high cliffs with thousands of sea birds flying, perching, roosting, fishing, squabbling, swimming, the sound was terrific and it was mesmerising to see.

The highlight of today was the moment a Minke Whale came up right beside the cockpit, what a thrilling moment to be so close to this beautiful creature. Fortunately, all three of us were there to see and marvel at such close quarters, perhaps six feet away, a really special moment and our first whale sighting of the trip.