"Eala Bhan" storming home to Scotland.

This far north, the days are shorter still, and the temperatures far lower, than at Tréguier, where the passage started, especially this late in the year. So it was a well wrapped-up crew who set off from Dun Laoghaire at first light to make the passage up to our next planned overnight stop at Strangford Lough.

The wind had now settled into the west and we had obtained the very latest web-based weather updates, which gave us plenty to think about, to say the least!

As we still had a good way to go, we knew we had to time our run to perfection to reach our final goal of Ardfern, or we’d have to leave Eala Bhan somewhere safe for the voyage to be completed when the weather allowed. Big boat or not, she was still very new, and we were well aware that we didn’t want to take any serious chances with her until she was a far better-known quantity.