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The St Kilda charity fundraisers have been forced to postpone their record-breaking bid to swim to the island archipelago because of a seasonally unusual spell of offshore gales whipping up rough seas.

 

The group of nine had planned to set off this week on the 60-mile swim from Harris to St Kilda.

 

But long range maritime weather forecasts predict high sea heights and gales until the middle of the month at least.

 

They initially thought the weather would have calmed down in May after a wild winter of storms.

St Kilda swim postponed   

7 May 2015

A support team of three kayakers to paddle alongside the swimmers plus a support boat, the MV Cuma, were all set for the first fortnight in May.

 

But windy conditions and heavy swells is affecting the north west coast of Scotland, forcing the swim challenge to be suspended.

Hopes of setting off last Monday were dashed by adverse sea conditions.

 

Another band of bad weather is moving in towards the Hebrides this weekend.

 

More high swells and strong winds are due to affect the area off St Kilda in the coming days, due to a low pressure system presently forming off in the Atlantic.

 

Calmer conditions are unlikely before the middle of this month by which time their safety boat is off charter.

 

Organiser Colin Macleod said: “We had a team meeting with the outcome being that due to the poor weather that we have just now, we've postponed the swim attempt until July 10th - 17th and August 10th - August 21st.

“Murdanie Macdonald - the support boat skipper - has given us these extra dates at no extra cost.”

 

Mr Macleod added: “It's annoying having to postpone but we have to go with the weather.

 

“Hopefully the extra dates Murdanie has kindly given us, we'll get a decent spell then.

 

“We'll get the swim done this year yet.”

 

The group will continue to train over the summer, swimming in Broadbay in Lewis two or three times a week.

 

They first attempted the feat last year but were forced to abandon the course after reaching about a third of the way when heavy swells were too hazardous for their support kayakers.

 

The group is fundraising at www.stkildaswim.co.uk for three good causes - Yorkhill Children’s Charity, the Leanne Fund, The Fishermen’s Mission and the Aberlour Child Care Trust.

 

In 2012, the group swam the Minch in relay formation between Ullapool and Stornoway, fending off whales and dolphins to average a speed of 1.5 knots. It took the Big Minch Swim Team 34 hours and they raised almost £23,500 for RNLI lifeboats.