PLAN 5: ST KILDA HERE WE COME [pictured right are the steep cliffs of St Kilda]

(The additional North Chart folio will be required for this trip)

This is only a very brief description of the possible passage, as, if you really want to go you will have been sitting with your own pilot books all winter. The whole thing depends greatly on the weather and the strength of the crew. All the boats in the fleet are eligible to do the trip as long as permission is sought in advance, but of course some will do it faster than others will.

Hope you have a good time if you do go - we have often planned the passage but have never yet made it!

DAY 1 Rum or Canna if time permits after the handover.

DAY 2 Loch Maddy, North Uist, Berneray or Rodel, Harris would provide the next step. If you are going to make it to St Kilda and back in a week you must at least cross the Minch on the second day. If you want to have a meal ashore then Loch Maddy provides some civilisation.

DAY 3 St Kilda - very early start, weather forecast suitable then go for it.

DAY 4 St Kilda - if the anchorage at Village Bay is tenable then you will probably want to spend the day exploring the island and having a cruise around the islands. If you plan a night passage back then it will probably be round Barra Head so you might follow Itinerary 4 for the rest of the week

DAY 5 If you decide to go through the Sound of Harris,either the Monarch Isles or Taransay (the Castaways are long gone now) are interesting places to visit.

DAY 6 Loch Harport make up for your escape from civilisation by eating ashore and then visiting the distillery in the morning.

DAY 7 Loch Nevis, Doune or Armadale as described in the previous pages for a celebratory last night. (Then back home to the Yacht Club Bar to tell everyone about your exploits)!

Pictured left - St Kilda Village Bay