Fair Isle

Left Papa Westray 9am expected west wind and a simple sail to the north of Ronaldsay. As always the weather here changes fast and the wind was in the north. South of Ronaldsay it was, we were late on the tide to get through the sound. After an hour of sailing we added some engine to make sure we made it through before it built to the predicted 6 kts against. Fate was on our side as we pushed foul tide. 2 Orca cruised past with the tide on a hunting expedition. Tall Dorsal fins there first give away then a couple of dives and porpoising. They were a real treat. We broke out into the open see and good tide sent us north towards Fair Isle. 15nts old wind just off the beam and very little swell. The sun came out, Champagne sailing couldn’t be better. 5 hours later we had reached Fair isle, where we had been beaten by the dreaded cruise ship. Luckily they were on a short visit only to the south of the island.
The North harbour is small and already had a work boat and one sailing boat just arrived from Lerwick, Chris and Stephen who offered us a drm as we arrived. Great company and a good contact on our next visit to Lerwick.
The High pressure had arrrived and it was a day of bird spotting and wild walking for us after a good nights sleep. Friday not a breath of wind and not a cloud in the sky, we set out to circum navigate the island on foot with snacks a camera and some binoculars. I can only say what a stunning day it was. Birds Birds birds. And very few people all friendly.
Great Skua (bonsey)
Arctic Skua - just one!
Puffin
Razor bill
Guillemots
Curlew
Wheatear
And what appeared to be almost tame fulmars
The great skuas were very territorial and Claire was a great target. I’m pretty sure they would have done damage had we pushed our luck. Clings were full of coring birds and the isolated coves of the west of the island were isolated and stunning.
In the evening after tea we made a flask and went and sat in the Puffin roost area till dark surrounded by bunches of the cutest birds ever. They land and socialise before ducking into burrows, some their own work, others carefully constructed by a rabbit population, with which they appear to happily cohabit.Meer informatie