Going down a storm on Coll
The protections and comforts of the modern world render most of us immune to the changeable ways of weather.
However, for those on the west coast islands, everyday life and work still often moves at the mercy of the elements.
At the beginning of this week I had a glimpse back into the pressures of having to plan round the unpredictable whim of wild autumn weather.
More than 18 months ago, we had taken on a gig on the Isle of Coll to perform a concert as part of the Coll Homecoming.
This week-long celebration was on the same theme as the two events that had previously taken place on Tiree, where those with connections to the
island would gather for a week and celebrate their shared heritage with a range of cultural events and meetings of kindred spirits.
The weather very nearly put a spanner in the works of the band making it to Coll and back and having to make decisions depending on weather forecasts that change constantly. This was a stark reminder of how much more difficult it is to plan life when weather is a factor. Those who live on the islands and especially those who work on the sea have to do this day in, day out.
When I lived on Tiree, and especially during the few years when I was fishing full-time, it used to irritate me when people would say such things as: ‘It must be so stressfree and idyllic staying on an island like Tiree.’
Yes, if you are on holiday, but if your life revolves around weather, tides, getting your catch off the island on time every week, getting on and off for gigs, making sure gear is safe when away and many other untethered factors all with the over-arching pressure to make a living, it is not quite such a tranquil existence.
Our gig was on Monday night and, because we absolutely had to be back on the mainland by Wednesday to get ready for the Barrowland gig in Glasgow this weekend, the decision on whether to go to Coll or not was a difficult one.
At one point, the forecast predicted that if we did not get off Coll by Tuesday morning, we might be marooned there until Saturday and would therefore have to cancel the Barrowland gig. The financial and reputational repercussions of that scenario would have been very serious.
Many times plans were made and then altered with a change in forecast. It is very difficult to convey to those unaccustomed to such situations that weather cannot be controlled and you act at its mercy.
One option would have been to cancel the Coll gig but, although for us that would have been much easier, it would have badly let down the people on Coll and their visitors. This was the most likely outcome at one stage but, with a weather window predicted for Tuesday morning, we decided to take the St Olave out as by the time the CalMac sailing was due on Tuesday evening there was a southerly gale forecast.
As it turned out, the weather gods were on our side and we made it out and had a flat calm sail back on Tuesday morning. This was the fabled calm before the storm, and I am writing this as we steam down a mirror-like Sound of Mull just having listened to the Coastguard forecast on the VHF predict severe gale nine to storm 10, becoming violent storm 11 later. I am very happy we will be tied up well before this comes upon us! The storm of 2,000 wild revellers in the Barrowland is now the only forecast we have to worry about.
Our reception from Colaich near and far made the whole exercise worthwhile. A great gig and a great welcome.