Inner Hebrides Meet 2015

The story of the Meet in pictures (images by Pete Sterling):

Driving up to Mallaig on Saturday in beautiful warm sunshine spirits were high. Everything went to plan, the yacht was loaded, the sun shone, the sea was calm…

A storm was brewing, and the onging forecast was very poor! The SMC contingent, Cog and Cynthia, was diminished due to fears that they wouldn’t get back to the mainland! After a brief discussion we decided to stay put on the pontoons rather than sit on our anchor in the wind and rain. This turned out to be the best course as we didn’t move until the storm abated on Tuesday! Meanwhile, complaining of worms in the victuals, impending scurvy and Dogger Bank Itch, Neil jumped ship!

There was plenty to eat and drink and it was worth the wait…

After some planning

We sailed for Skye…

The crags of the Strathaird peninsula were closest and by mid-day we anchored in a sheltered bay right under the cliffs.

No time was lost getting ashore in the dinghy and onto the rock.

This is Clare and Sam on the typical juggy *** E1 territory that we found.

But all days have to end.

So it was off to the Black Cuillin and (according to the Pilot) the most spectacular anchorage in Europe.

A fine day dawned and the whole team set off for the Dubh Ridge ****, a 2.5km Mod., yes 2.5km, they make them big here!

Some of the party took a rope for the tricky abseil from the mini Dubh at elevation 750m. The plan was to make a circular walk back to the anchorage and this made for a 10+ hour day and two Munros.

Gars Bheinn, the last top, with Soay, Rum and Muck beyond.

 

All things finally end and, with another storm on our heels, it was back to Mallaig and south.

John Chiverton, Coel Hellier, Neil Foster, David Medcalf, Clare Reading, Sam Read, Steve Scott, Peter Sterling, Cathy Woodhead.

Steve Scott – President