1) There might be an opportunity to sail towards Kirkwall on the Orkneys Friday morning. Here it might be calm and we have to row for a longer distance to advance and take advantage of a southerly and easterly wind, which shifts towards west. It's uncertain how powerfull the low pressure will develop; we have the risk of meeting a strong wind which will make it difficult to advance by our own power.
2) There will be one more low pressure which might allow us to sail all the way to Kirkwall, but we will first get the forecasts for this low pressure in about two days. It's a possibility to wait for this low pressure, but we will risk to lose further 2-4 days and subsequently still have to be dragged.
3) We also have the possibility to wait for the next low pressure and then have a larger selection of ports on the Scottish and English east coast as possible destinations. And after that sail towards Kirkwall.
4) We can also sail up along the coast Friday and Saturday; Lista - Egersund - Stavanger. And be updated on the development of the weather forecasts during the journey and then cross the North Sea towards a port in Scotland or towards Kirkwall, which has first priority.
Our choice is to sail early tomorrow towards Lista on a south-westerly wind and from there further on in the direction of Egersund and Stavanger on a south-easterly wind, which is turning south.
It's a good decision because we will be travelling towards the destination, while we are waiting for a better wind for the journey across the North Sea. The crew is in general satisfied with the decision.
About being dragged in general: The higest priority is to sail ourselves. We will only be dragged of safety reasons or to be able to maintain our timetable. We are getting closer to the deadline July the 24th, which is the replacement day in Kirkwall for parts of the crew. This is the latest practicability of having a realistic chance of reaching Dublin August 14th by own power. It's a calculation that's worked out on an estimated distance on 25 sea miles per 24 hours.