Strange how one feels touched by things like this isn't it? I remember my father's best friend was lost on the HMS HOOD. My dad often talked about him and named my eldest brother after him. The Royal Oak still touches a great number of Ocradians today, even children,and the ever present slither of oil is nearly always visible especially on fine days. I always look in the direction of the bouy and see it floating near the cliffs or illuminated at night.Visible from Hoxa and on the journey from the Hope and all the way round to Scapa and beyond, there it floats above the Royal Oak.The curator of the Lyness museum on Hoy is a wealth of information about the sinking and the other lost ships in this area.

I agree with Megan. This has been and continues to be a most interesting thread. I think it's about 3 minutes, if you survive the shock of the cold water of the Pentland Firth, before it becomes almost too late for recovery unless pulled out of the water and re-warmed. (Just copied the teaching DVD for the local first aid teacher for her)There is a desription by two survivors from the Oak about that night on "Coast" from BBC TV.