Iain Maciver writes …

An expedition to Rockall has set off from the Western Isles with an Irish businessman on board who claims to be planning to build a pub on the rock.

The 11 men are on the 67ft steel-built former BT Challenge yacht Elinca. The expedition is led by Yorkshire decorator Andy Strangeway who is already in the record books for sleeping on 162 significant Scottish islands in the last four years.

The expedition, for which participants have paid up to £1,800 for a berth, hopes to enter the record books by having more members on the rock and being the first to swim and kayak around the rock, which is 230 miles west of the Outer Hebrides.

Strangeway, 42, from Full Sutton, said: “Having slept on so many inshore islands, this is a big challenge for me. I want to sleep on Rockall. We are on the only Scottish yacht that is licensed by the Coastguard to go absolutely anywhere because of its comprehensive facilities and kit. The main challenge is usually the weather but it is looking good.”

Those on board include Charles Veley, 42, who flew in from San Francisco and holds the title of the world’s most travelled man.

Skipper Angus Smith, Andy Strangeway, Innes Smith, David Langan, Martin Simpson, Bob Dixon-Carter, Tony Smith, Mike McGirr and Charles Veley on the Elinca before sailing from Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris for Rockall. Mark Lumsden and Ian Stephen are not in this photo.

The tip of a dead volcano, Rockall is about 83ft wide at average sea level. It is 72ft in height and is sheer on one side. It is regularly washed over by large winter waves. About 13ft from the summit, there is a small ledge of 11ft by 4ft, which is known as Hall’s Ledge.

Before they set off, Dublin-based furniture stores boss David Langan, 47, claimed to be on a fact-finding mission before he opens an Irish-themed pub on the rock.

The managing director of a group with stores in Dublin, Sligo, Navan and Kilkenny, he said: “We all know who it really belongs to but I could not find it on my map. So I am going to check out exactly where Rockall is so I can build my pub on it. That will draw people. Before I finish, that island will be rocking and rolling.”

Radio amateur and emergency doctor Mike McGirr, 60, flew in from Chicago and hopes to set up a broadcast station and talk with other amateurs worldwide from the rock for several hours if they can land on Wednesday. He hopes to beat the two-hour record set by another ham on a previous landing.

Others on the yacht include Bob Dixon-Carter, 60, a retired tanker captain originally from South Africa, who was intrigued by the rock as he sailed past it, Peterhead oil industry worker Martin Simpson, 28, who was at the rock when he was a fisherman, Tony Smith, 68, from Somerset who worked on St Kilda in 1966, and Mark Lumsden, 38, a cameraman and surf holiday operator from Berwick-upon-Tweed who now lives in Stornoway.

Mark said: “If conditions are not good enough to land, they may be good enough to surf. So I am taking my surfboard with me, just in case.”

Also on the Elinca is former Stornoway coastguard, now sailor and writer, Ian Stephen, 52. In his previous job, Ian helped co-ordinate countless rescues in the Rockall area but had never before got to see it for himself.

Veley also tried to land there in 2005 with TV personality Ben Fogle but a severe swell meant they could only touch the rock so they left Post-it notes to say they had been there.

The voyage will include stop-offs at Village Bay on St Kilda which should bring back memories for Tony Smith, who was roofing the first renovated cottage on the island as he listened on radio to Geoff Hurst’s triumph for England in the July 30, 1966 World Cup final against West Germany.

Yacht skipper Angus Smith, from Aignish on Lewis, is the owner of the Elinca and his son Innes, 23, is a crewman. Angus said: “The forecast for Rockall could not be better for a landing on Wednesday. I am really very hopeful we will get that photo with everyone on the rock.”

However, successful landings are so rare due to that lethal swell even in good weather, only the same number of people officially recorded to have walked on the moon are recorded as having landed on Rockall since recording began in 1810. Twelve American astronauts set foot on the moon and 12, including soldiers dropped by helicopter who are often discounted by committed adventurers, are officially recorded as having landed on Rockall. The longest stay was by Scottish adventurer Tom McClean, from Morar, who stayed on for about 40 days in 1985.

Several ships have sunk by hitting Rockall or were lost close to it. These included, in June 1904, the steamer SS Norge while heading for New York. It is thought 635 of the 795 emigrants and crew were lost.

If the trip proves to be a success, Andy Strangeway is hoping to lead at least two further expeditions to the rock in the coming few months.