The sharp angular cliffs of Hirta on the isolated St Kilda archipelago were now getting too close for comfort. We needed to tack our 1973 Nicholson 32, Blue Venturer, to get into Village Bay but we were struggling to turn her in the heavy swell and the waves. The steering had also become unusually heavy and sluggish. A check of the wind vane soon confirmed the problem: the rudder was jammed. My partner Alison took my spot on deck as I clipped on to the pushpit and climbed over the transom, a good bucketful of Scotland’s notorious icy waters hitting me square in the face. Crouching at the bottom of the transom ladder I managed to reach underwater to the rudder and detach it, pulling it back aboard via the lanyard.
The relief as we motored into Village Bay and dropped anchor close inshore was palpable. Exhausted, we put the kettle on. Our sons, Reuben, 9, and Donald, 7, had already forgotten about the near danger we were just in and were already back on form, spotting with excitement a basking shark just metres from the boat. I, in my ignorance and tiredness, mistakenly asserted that its fin was, in fact, nothing more than kelp. We managed to stay awake long enough to eat dinner before passing out.
Our voyage had started a few weeks earlier from our home mooring on the Gareloch, in the upper Firth of Clyde. Plans had still been vague when we had thrown off the lines and pushed Blue Venturer’s bow through the cool deep waters. The Mull of Kintyre, Northern Ireland, then northwards, with ideas about Skye, the Hebrides, and then maybe, just maybe, St. Kilda.
After a tranquil first night at Millport we continued to Campbeltown, pausing for lunch and a swim off Arran. Opinion was divided amongst our crew as to the merits and method of sea swimming. I favour the direct plunge off the guardrail approach. Provided one avoids immediate heart failure, the overall experience is, I think, superior.
Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av Yachting Monthly.
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Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av Yachting Monthly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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I WAS THE ONLY SAILOR ON OUR FAMILY CHARTER AND IT HAD TO GO WELL
Crystal waters, cliff tombs and sunken outboards lain Willis wanted to ensure plain sailing for his family’s first charter around Turkey's Lycian Coast
HOW IT WORKS SEAWATER PUMP
The water and oil seals on a water pump shaft will eventually wear with time, leading to pump-shaft corrosion or loss of engine oil.
THOUSANDS OF MILES ACROSS THE INDIAN OCEAN
Floris and Ivar battled severe weather and cross swell to sail from Australia to South Africa, but there were beautiful islands on the way
The secret of yachts with enduring appeal
Fashions come and go, but J-Boats remain a safe choice for great sailing boats, whether you want to own it for ever or sell it
Tragic sinking of Bayesian; Italian prosecutors investigate
The sinking of the Bayesian superyacht in reportedly only 16 minutes and the tragic loss of seven lives has sent a shudder through the sailing community and beyond.
THE ADVENT OF MARINE AI TECHNOLOGY
Fonathon Savill reports on the revolutionary impact artificial intelligence is about to have on all areas of life at sea
IMPROVING SINGLE-LINE REEFING
Martin Watts explains how to reduce the friction on the reefing lines of newer yachts
The secrets of skippering a successful cruise
Setting off on a cruise is easy, but planning a route that keeps your options open and ensures the enjoyment of all on board is more of an art
CRUISING THE KINGDOM OF THE ISLES
Joanna Martin and her husband Mark sail across the Irish Sea to the legendary sea kingdom and to draw the wonderful wildlife there
MOODY DS48
Can a boat built for long-term, long-distance cruising and offering one-level living still deliver an enjoyable sailing experience? Theo Stocker sets sail across the English Channel to find out
