A Trip to St. Kilda by rib

Brian · 25 June 2018, 16:11

Preamble:
I have been trying for several years to go to St. Kilda, in my own boat, but various “things” got in the way. Weather being a most important one but crew availability, hospital/doctors appointments, time and the shear logistics of taking what was a relatively small rib all the way from Peel on the Isle of Man to the Outer Hebrides with all its attendant small difficulties, fuel, accommodation, etc. have hitherto made this trip impossible.
So at the end of the 2017 season I decided (after selling my boat) to make the trip on someone elses!
My wife and I drove from Peel to Rodel (Leverburgh, Harris, Outer Hebrides). This took 4 days!! It would have only taken 3 but Storm Duncan (or Benjamin or something) meant we had to take the Douglas to Liverpool ferry one day early. Then via Carlisle to the Kyle of Lochalsh and on to Stornaway. Finally arriving in Leverburgh on the Saturday
My trip was scheduled for the next working day, Monday. This was cancelled due to weather, so was Tuesdays boat, and Wednesday, finally on Thursday I got the bad news. My trip to St. Kilda was cancelled, however a boat was going Saturday with a spare place if I wanted it. Unfortunately I was going home on that day and as two ferries and three sets of lodgings would need to be altered I said, no.
Later that day, they rang again to say there had been a cancellation on Fridays boat and would I like to take that seat. Yes! Result!

Brian · 25 June 2018, 16:14

Photos!
Arriving in St. Kilda
The "town" from the boat
And the gun, a relic of the war when a German sub blasted the RADAR station on the hills above the town. They decided that would not happen again!

Brian · 25 June 2018, 16:19

More photos:
A cleit, used for storage
A double decker cleit!
View down main street
View from the graveyard towards Soay

Brian · 25 June 2018, 16:23

Yet more:
Aaah! Soay sheep only found on the island
4 views of the stacs. Home to a fantastic number of seabirds.

Brian · 25 June 2018, 16:31

And for those mainly interested in the rib, it was (hold your breath, Willk), a 16.5 m state of the art, all singing all dancing and double your money, REDBAY!

And extremely beautiful and lovely it was too. Handled big seas -no problem.
Sat 12 pax and two crew. Going ashore was by tender only. Wouldnt have liked to do it with my broken arm in rough weather.

Note to the right of the nav. screen, the closed circuit tv of the aft of the boat so skip can keep an eye on you.
Fitted with all types of goodies, self-steering, twin VHFs, I could go on and on.