Iceland did eventually prove to exist, and the coast guard even answered our VHF call giving us permission to enter territorial waters - just as well since we'd had to come well inside in order to raise them. We arrived in Vestmannaeyjar harbour on the island of Heimaey about 18:30 and were all ship-shape alongside a German yacht, a Gypsy 42 by 19:30. The crew of three young-ish men aboard handed us beers before we were even fully tied up and were very friendly and helpful.

The harbour authorities are very relaxed and told us to stay as long as we liked, and it's all free, complete with water and electricity laid on. They even phoned the customs man for us, who duly turned out after he'd finished his dinner and filled out a few forms in a professional yet friendly manner.

We did see the island of Surtsey through the mist just as we arrived, and hope to see more of it and Heimaey tomorrow when we will climb the volcano, but mean time here are some photos from our voyage.

On the shiny new mooring at Plockton just before leaving

The herb garden in the aft loo!

The men of Storr on Skye seen from just north of Rona

It wasn’t windy as we left Scotland astern!

Minch dolphins

Not poisonous after all

The lamprey

Close-up of it’s disgusting sucker

Heimaey

All snug in harbour