Survival Island

With a forecast for a stiff south-westerly breeze during the afternoon and overnight, with much of the rest of the week looking calm, we took the opportunity to head out to ‘survival island’ a couple of days earlier than usual.

The result was near perfect, if a little overcast conditions as the teams were dropped off on the island by assault boat. The drizzle that had come and gone during the day as the kids rock climbed, abseiled and wilderness orienteered moved away and there was lots of excitement and noise drifting away from the island on the breeze.

Meagre rations, a few old sails and tarpaulins, some tatt rope and hazel spars is about all the kids have to work with, along with some warm clothes, a sleeping bag and a roll mat. Fires are lit as they have been taught with a striking flint and they can forage on the shore for winkles and limpets. 

It’s a very simple and free experience where the hard skills of making fire and building shelters are put into perspective by the more challenging soft skills of working together without the input or direction of a teacher, parent or instructor.

The four teams set about their own camps on high ground spread across the island.

We took them off the island this morning for a big cooked breakfast and a slightly slower paced day of raft building and racing, lobster creeling, and stopping at the crofts of Ardmore to see John Ridgway’s 1966 Atlantic rowing boat. 50 years ago today they had approximately ten days of the 92-day passage left. It is quite a sight, just a small wooden rowing boat never really designed for such a journey.

Looking at the weather we think it will be beach day tomorrow on the golden sands of Oldshoremore followed by a mountain ascent (Ben Stack) on Thursday to round the week off. The boys and girls are all on good form, preparing acts for the traditional concert on Thursday night.