By the time Sea Stallion from Glendalough has crossed the North Sea on its way to Dublin in summer 2007 ship and crew will face the most difficult part of the voyage: the stretch around Scotland.
Among sailors the shipping channels north of Scotland are infamous. Strong tidal currents – at some spots up to 12 knots – and heavy swell from the Atlantic create steep waves, which can make up a significant danger for an open ship like Sea Stallion.
Help from the locals
Therefore the skipper Carsten Hvid and two mates – Vibeke Bischoff and Norwegian Kjetil Sildnes – travel to Northern Scotland in the end of November in order to investigate the conditions Sea Stallion and her 65 men-crew will find themselves in.
'We travel to the Orkneys and Northwest Scotland and will talk to the local fishermen and sailors. Together with them we will look at harbours, anchorages and last not least sail out ourselves and examine different entrance fairways,' says skipper Carsten Hvid.
Especially Pentland Firth – the strait between Scotland and the Orkneys – is a critical spot. There the tidal currents are at their strongest and maybe the conditions are as crucial that Sea Stallion has to use an alternative route.
The three will also pay a visit to the Scottish town Inverness in case Sea Stallion, because of wind and weather, is forced to sail through the Caledonian Canal instead of, as planned, going round Northern Scotland and to the south through the Irish Sea.
The Caledonian Canal cuts across Northern Scotland and for instance through the famous Loch Ness.
You will be able to read more about this research trip to Scotland in one of the forthcoming newsletters.