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Board » General Discussion » Disappointment at Muckle Flugga

Just a thought, but I was somewhat disturbed to find that we were not actually required to round Muckle Flugga,(in the latest Tall ships leg) widely touted as the most northerly outpost of the territory of the current political entity known as Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
However it is not true that Muckle F is the most northerly outpost. The barren, windswept islet of "Out Stack", a mile or so to the nor',nor' east is actually the most northerly point.
I would hope that this information is taken on board so that all may be able to boast, at least one day, that they have sailed to the most northerly part of the United Kingdom, even if only virtually, which I always declare(very quietly, disguised by a cough or sneeze), to friends(whether they be interested or not)

Next, just a thought regarding tides. While a full blown simulation is out of the question,could not some limited simulation be applied to the most notorious tidal areas of the world,like the Pentland Firth(separating mainland Scotland from Orkney)? We were sailing that area with boatspeeds of 3-4 knots where tides can reach 6-7kts and sometimes even 8-9kts.Even the simplest of simulations would have produced amusing results.

Anyway I enjoyed the race immensely and picked up a lot of useful information, should I become interested in raiding Orkney and Shetland by sailboat....as my ancestors from the island of Lewis and Harris once did.

I am always amused at the accounts of historians with regard to ancient travel by sea. They consistently underestimate the capabilities of wind-driven sea craft and the knowledge, lore and navigational capabilities of those born to, and brought up in the profession.

--- Last Edited by Andrew Lees at 2011-07-18 01:33:15 ---

--- Last Edited by Andrew Lees at 2011-07-19 00:07:59 ---
See the Mark rounding thread.
If it breaks, it's not strong enough!
Thanks for pointing that out,NZL_PaulR, but the decision has been made, and the matter of mark-rounding is closed, as far as I am concerned.

--- Last Edited by Andrew Lees at 2011-07-18 15:37:05 ---

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