We now started the 8.2km open crossing from Hirta to Boreray. The Cuma soon left us behind...
...and we were left in the silence of the open Atlantic. To the south, the cliffs of Conachair rose above us for 430m, to the summit of the island of Hirta.
As we paddled steadily onwards....
...the cliffs of Hirta and...
...Soay gradually receded....
...to be replaced by the open expanse of the Atlantic.
After slack water in Soay Sound, the tide had now changed and was running right to left. We had THE most amazing pair of transits for the crossing...the top of Stac Lee and the summit of Boreray!
As we approached the Stacs and Boreray, the air filled with wheeling gannets. All our senses were being assailed by the wonder of this archipelago of superlatives.
A quick check with Murdani on the Cuma resulted in a change of plan. The wind was now picking up quickly from the SW so the plan to circumnavigate Boreray was abandoned. The Cuma would now pick us up off the east coast of Boreray after we explored the north coast of the island..
