June 6, 2024
Starting in the sunshine in Oban, with some returning crew for the St Kilda & the Hebridean Islands expedition, was a great start to onboard briefings and intros. No time was wasted getting everyone up to speed with gusty sailing to Tobermory through the sound of mull on the first day. All the crew quickly settled into the onboard routine, from navigation and hourly logs to sail handling and helming.
From here, we took on the strong wind with deeply reefed sails in the morning squalls, very much earning the afternoon beam reach to the scenic anchorage of loch slain on the isle of Skye. To which a returning Rubicon crew member, Julia, enquired about the island, saying, “What’s all the hype about?” With English, the onboard language, and multinational crew training, translations often lead to a laugh between the crew!
Undeterred by the Scottish weather, we spent the morning honing our skills in pob unconscious casualty drills, even in the midst of a hail storm. This unexpected turn of events added a touch of realism to our training! We then enjoyed hot drinks and a more sheltered sail to Kyle Harbour. Along the way, we found time for more navigation training and a mandatory onboard photo shoot in the stunning surroundings, with the sun making a welcome appearance. After a well-deserved rest, we set sail for the Shiant Islands, ready to explore its spectacular secluded scenery and, hopefully, explore ashore!
