musical mingulay
Mingulay – Island of Ghosts and Songs
“Heel y’ho boys, let her go, boys
Bring her head round now all together
Heel y’ho boys, let her go boys
Sailing homeward to Mingulay!”
Stormdancer is the only yacht in the bay.
Singing the Mingulay Boat Song at the tops of
our voices, we land on a picture-perfect beach
facing the village abandoned a century ago and
now given over to sea birds and wind-blown
sand. The weather is perfect with a NW4,
bright sunshine and little swell. Mingulay, almost
the most southerly of the Outer Hebrides,
is profiled like a wedge of cheese with huge
Atlantic-facing cliffs to the west but sloping
down gently eastwards towards our beach.
That morning we had enjoyed relaxed sailing south from Vatersay and nesting there. Continuing south, we rounded the imposing lighthouse
cautiously manoeuvred close-to under the 200m western cliffs almost on Barra Head and tacked northwards to anchor on the east coast.
touching the thousands of Kittiwakes, Razor-Bills and Guillemots The puffin colony entertains, but we are drawn to explore the village.
Finally abandoned in 1912, the settlement is now in ruins - simple
houses clustered around the heaped-up wreck of the burial ground.
Only the restored school house and the old chapel remind us of how
it was.
What a day! Great sailing, scenery, birdlife and even a hint of whispering
spirits.
Richard Leigh
New Horizon Sailing
www.newhorizonsailing.com
rona revisited
As the owner of a yacht charter company, it was a rare treat
for me to go off sailing for three days with my friends Susan
and Ian who provided excellent company and provisioning for
the trip! The boat allocated was “Sleat Lady” our Beneteau
Oceanis 393 which was very comfortable for three of us.
After enjoying an excellent dinner at the Duisdale Hotel at
Isle Ornsay on the first night, we got up at 07.00 to catch
the tide through Kylerhea. Motoring through the narrows
we were delighted to go under the Skye Bridge and find
ourselves enjoying a brisk sail in a Southerly F4 . We set
course for Caol Rona. To starboard we could see Applecross
and spent some time working out exactly where Monty Halls
had his Croft during his recently televised “Great Escape”.
A selection of seabirds, porpoises and seals passed us but The lunch developed into a siesta and it was late afternoon by the time
whales and dolphins which can often be seen in that area we launched the dinghy and went ashore for a walk and to call at the
remained elusive. main house to pay for the mooring. We enjoyed a stroll up the hill but
did not venture as far as the summit of the island for the spectacular
As we reached Caol Rona and made our way through the views or to the historic Church Cave. We called in to pay the mooring
North Channel some of the forecast stronger wind arrived. fee and Bill Cowie, the islands Manager regaled us with his hospitality
We quickly made our way round the last corner and reached and stories about the developments he has in mind for sailors visiting
Arcarseid Mhor, “Big Harbour” Rona at 13.30. Arriving the island:- www.isleofrona.com
for the first time for many years it was comforting to be
reminded just how deep and sheltered the anchorage is After a pleasant chat we repaired aboard for a delicious dinner (not
once you have navigated through the entrance which is fairly entirely home grown) and a peaceful evening. Leaving Rona at 09.00
straightforward at low tide. In the decade or so since my the following morning in bright sunshine we hoisted sails to head South
last visit a pontoon for the Island’s workboats and a single again. Rona is an idyllic place to visit and I certainly hope to be back
mooring had appeared. As the forecast was for the strong there again before too long.
winds to continue for the rest of the day we quickly picked
up the mooring and made fast and then went below for a Charmian Entwistle, Isle of Skye Yachts
late lunch. www.isleofskyeyachts.co.uk
www.sailscotland.co.uk
Skye & North West.indd 10 11/12/09 12:59:05
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