Skipper's Update - Ireland to the Faroes

We have just completed 405 miles under sail with a soldier’s wind of varying strengths, necessitating a range of sail configurations from staysail only, to full main and genniker, at speeds between 5 and 10 knots, all accomplished in comfort, despite some large seas north of St Kilda.

We have been at sea for 60 hours from our Viking send off at Burtonport in NW Ireland to Vágur on Suöeroy at the southern tip of the Faeroes.

After 25 hours at sea: the St Kilda archipelago provided a welcome distraction, just shy of the half way point. We motored into and around Village Bay; but were not tempted to linger on account of fresh winds, a rolly anchorage and low cloud. Tim and I have both been there before. The waters of the bay were thick with a circus of puffins, a wheel of fulmars, a bazaar of guillemots, a racket of razorbills and we saw a skua. Then we sailed between Boreray and Stac Lee under a plunge of gannets; enjoying a fabulous vista of steep cliffs and high jagged rocks, terrifying to us: but clearly enjoyed by the birds.
Brisk sailing under reefed sails gave way to lighter airs and a full sail plan overnight.
We saw and heard a pod of pilot whales at dawn about 100 NM south of the Faeroes. I was below wondering what the bird song was.

The Outhwaite bros. provided outstanding nourishment throughout, with meals, some from bowls, taken at our upper dining table.

25 miles south of Suöeroy we saw a sail; our first since Baltimore. The final three hours towards landfall on the Faeroes saw the genniker filling well. It was lumpy off the southern tip of Suöuroy; before a fast reach in flat water up the SE of the island.
Unfortunately we couldn’t find a bar open on Pentecost Sunday in Vágur; but the Belle Collombe refreshments never fail. We dined at the lower table. Mr Gosselin’s wine and cheese are still with us. The latter has a fruiter nose than the former.

Sadly, we lose half the crew on Tuesday; but we look forward to the return of Kees and the arrival of Caroline.

We are looking forward to cruising the Faeroe Islands before the next leg to Iceland. The ice maps for Greenland look promising.

And here is Tim F's video summary of our Irish Leg (sound on)

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