Editing Rockall (section)

==History==
{{Rquote |align=right |quote=There can be no place more desolate, despairing and awful. |author=[[Wayland Young, 2nd Baron Kennet|Lord Kennet]], 1971<ref name="The Independent ~ 12 June 1997"/>}}
The {{convert|17.15|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} rock has been noted in written records since the late 16th century.<ref name="The Rockall Club website's Facts page. Retrieved 12 October 2014."/><ref name="Stornoway Gazette. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014."/> In the 20th century, its location became relevant due to potential oil and fishing rights that might accrue to a nation recognised as having a legitimate claim to it.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

In 1955 the British landed on Rockall and claimed it for the United Kingdom.<ref name=BBC-News-OnThisDay-21Sep>{{cite news |title=21 September 1955: Britain claims Rockall |department=On This Day |website=[[BBC News]] |publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/21/newsid_4582000/4582327.stm}}</ref> The United Kingdom formally annexed the islet in 1972.<ref name=Rockall-act-1972-02-10>{{cite web |title=Island Of Rockall Act 1972 |website=[[legislation.gov.uk]] |date=10 February 1972 |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1972/2/pdfs/ukpga_19720002_en.pdf}}</ref> According to Ian Mitchell, Rockall was ''[[terra nullius]]'' (owned by no one) until the 1955 British claim was made.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}<!-- the source for this statement is Ian Mitchell, "Isles of the North", 2012, Birlinn, 978-0-85790-099-9, page 232, {{GBurl|id=QM-8BQAAQBAJ|pg=PT232}}; we don't have a copy at hand at the time of writing-->

Rockall gives its name to one of the sea areas named in the [[shipping forecast]] provided by the [[Met Office|British Meteorological Office]].

Rockall has been a point of interest for adventurers and [[amateur radio]] operators, who have variously landed on or briefly occupied the islet. Fewer than 20 individuals have ever been confirmed to have landed on Rockall,{{cn|date=April 2023}} and the longest known continuous occupation is 45 days (achieved in 2014 by a solo person).<ref name="guar8"/> In a House of Commons debate in 1971, [[Willie Ross, Baron Ross of Marnock|William Ross]], Labour MP for Kilmarnock, said: "More people have [[List of Apollo astronauts#Apollo astronauts who walked on the Moon|landed on the moon]] than have landed on Rockall"<ref name="The Independent ~ 12 June 1997"/>

===Recorded visits to Rockall===
{{Further|topic=HMS Endymion's landing on Rockall|HMS Endymion (1797)}}

[[File:Rockall Basil Hall landing from HMS Endymion 1811.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|An illustration depicting {{HMS|Endymion|1797|6}}'s landing party in their small boat at Rockall in 1810, with ''Endymion'' in the background]]
The earliest recorded date of landing on the island is often given as 8 July 1810, when a [[Royal Navy]] officer named [[Basil Hall]] led a small landing party from the [[frigate]] {{HMS|Endymion|1797|6}} to the summit. However, research by [[James Fisher (naturalist)|James Fisher]] (see below), in the log of ''Endymion'' and elsewhere, indicates that the actual date for this first landing was on Sunday 8 September 1811.<ref name="TCBC"/>

The landing party left ''Endymion'' for the rock by boat. Whilst there, ''Endymion'', which was taking depth measurements around Rockall, lost visual contact with the rock as a haze descended. The ship drifted away, leaving the landing party stranded. The expedition made a brief attempt to return to the ship, but could not find the frigate in the haze, and soon gave up and returned to Rockall. After the haze became a fog, the lookout sent to the top of Rockall spotted the ship again, but it turned away from Rockall before the expedition in their boats reached it. Finally, just before sunset, the frigate was again spotted from the top of Rockall, and the expedition was able to get back on board. The crew of ''Endymion'' reported that they had been searching for five or six hours, firing their cannon every ten minutes. Hall related this experience and other adventures in a book entitled ''Fragment of Voyages and Travels Including Anecdotes of a Naval Life''.

The next landing, in the summer of 1862, was by a Mr Johns of {{HMS|Porcupine|1844|6}} whilst the ship was making a survey of the sea bed prior to the laying of a [[transatlantic telegraph cable]]. Johns managed to gain foothold on the island, but failed to reach the summit.

==== British annexation ====
[[File:Rockall Union flag hoisted 1955.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.9|Lieutenant Commander Desmond Scott hoists the [[Union Flag]] in 1955.]]

On 18 September 1955, Rockall was [[Annexation|annexed]] by the British Crown when [[Lieutenant-Commander]] Desmond Scott [[Royal Navy|RN]], [[Sergeant]] Brian Peel [[Royal Marines|RM]], [[Corporal]] AA Fraser RM, and [[James Fisher (naturalist)|James Fisher]] (a civilian [[natural history|naturalist]] and former Royal Marine), were winched onto the island by a [[Royal Navy helicopter]] from {{HMS|Vidal}} (coincidentally named after the man who first charted the island). The annexation of Rockall was announced by the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] on 21 September 1955.<ref>{{cite news |title=On This Day: 1955 – Britain claims Rockall |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/21/newsid_4582000/4582327.stm |website=BBC News |date=21 September 1955 |access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref>

The expedition team cemented in a brass plaque on Hall's Ledge and hoisted the [[Union Flag]] to stake the UK's claim. The inscription on the plaque read:
{{quotation|BY AUTHORITY OF HER MAJESTY [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND]], BY THE GRACE OF GOD OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND OF HER OTHER [[Commonwealth realms|REALMS]] AND TERRITORIES, QUEEN, [[Head of the Commonwealth|HEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH]], [[Fidei defensor|DEFENDER OF THE FAITH]], ETC. ETC. ETC. AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH HER MAJESTY'S INSTRUCTIONS DATED 14. 9. 55. A LANDING WAS EFFECTED ON THIS DAY UPON THE ISLAND OF ROCKALL FROM H.M.S. VIDAL. THE UNION FLAG WAS HOISTED AND POSSESSION OF THE ISLAND WAS TAKEN IN THE NAME OF HER MAJESTY. [Signed] R H Connell, [[Captain (Royal Navy)|CAPTAIN]], H.M.S. VIDAL, 18 SEPTEMBER 1955}} It was the final territorial expansion of the British empire.<ref>{{cite web |title=On this day 18 September 1955 |url=https://www.fleetairarmoa.org/news/on-this-day-18-september-1955|publisher=Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association |access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref>

The initial incentive for the annexation was the test-firing of the UK's first guided [[nuclear weapon]], the American-made [[MGM-5 Corporal|Corporal missile]]. The missile was to be launched from [[South Uist]] and sent over the North Atlantic. The [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] was concerned that the unclaimed island would provide an opportunity for the [[Soviet Union]] to spy on the test. Consequently, in April 1955 an order was issued to the Admiralty to seize the island and declare UK sovereignty, lest it become an outpost for foreign observers.

On 7 November 1955, J. Abrach Mackay, an 84-year- old local councillor and member of the [[Clan Mackay]], made a protest about the annexation; he declared: "My old father, God rest his soul, claimed that island for the Clan of Mackay in 1846 and I now demand that the Admiralty hand it back. It's no' theirs." The British Government ignored the protest.<ref name="The Independent ~ 12 June 1997"/><ref name="dokuf"/>

In 1971,<ref name="gov001"/> Captain T. R. Kirkpatrick [[Royal Engineers|RE]] led the landing party on a government expedition named "Operation Top Hat" that was mounted from {{ship|RFA|Engadine|K08|6}} to establish that the rock was part of the United Kingdom and to prepare the islet for the installation of a light beacon. The landing party included Royal Engineers, Royal Marines and civilian members from the Institute of Geological Sciences in London. The party was landed by winch line from the Wessex 5 helicopters of the Royal Naval Air Services Commando Headquarters Squadron, commanded by Lt Cmdr Neil Foster RN. As well as collecting samples of the [[aegirine]] granite, "rockallite", for later analysis in London, the top of the rock was blown off using a newly developed blasting technique, precision pre-splitting. This created a level area that was drilled to take the anchorages for the light beacon that was installed the following year. Two [[phosphor bronze]] plates were chased into the wall above Hall's Ledge, each secured by four 80-tonne rock-anchor bolts; there was no evidence of the brass plate installed in 1955.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

Establishing that the rock is part of the United Kingdom and its development as a light beacon facilitated{{clarify|date=February 2024}} the incorporation of the island into the District of Harris in the County of Inverness under the [[Island of Rockall Act 1972]]. It would have{{clarify|date=February 2024}} reinforced the UK Government's claim with regard to seabed rights in the area at the time.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

In 1978,<ref name="RCT"/> eight members of the [[Dangerous Sports Club]], including [[David Kirke (sportsperson)|David Kirke]], one of its founders, held a cocktail party on the island,<ref name="Telegraph"/> allegedly leaving with the plaque.<ref name="Spectator"/>

Former [[Special Air Service|SAS]] member and [[Survivalism|survival]] expert [[Tom McClean]] decided to live on the island from 26 May 1985 to 4 July 1985 to affirm the UK's claim to the islet.<ref name="oire9"/>

==== Waveland ====
{{anchor|Waveland}}
[[File:Flag of Waveland.svg|thumb|Flag of the self-proclaimed "Global State of Waveland"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://media.greenpeace.org/archive/Greenpeace-putting-up-the-Waveland-flag-up-in-Rockall-Island-27MZIFCO23V.html |title=Greenpeace putting up the Waveland flag up in Rockall Island |author= |date=1 June 1997 |work=Greenpeace |access-date=1 August 2024}}</ref>]]
In 1997, three members of the environmentalist organisation [[Greenpeace]] occupied the islet for 42 days,<ref name="bbc2023may26">{{cite news |title=Army veteran aims to set new world record for longest stay on Rockall |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-65727510 |access-date=27 May 2023 |work=BBC News |date=26 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="schne"/> calling it [[Global State of Waveland|Waveland]], to protest against [[oil exploration]]. Greenpeace declared the island to be a "new Global State" (as a spoof [[micronation]]) and offered citizenship to anyone willing to take their pledge of allegiance. The British Government's response was to state that "Rockall is British territory. It is part of Scotland and anyone is free to go there and can stay as long as they please"<ref name="inde55"/> and otherwise ignore them. The 1955 plaque was unscrewed and refixed back to front, and subsequently it disappeared.<ref name="guar44"/>

==== Recent visits ====
In June 2005 the first [[amateur radio]] (ham radio) activation of Rockall took place when the club station MS0IRC/P was set up and operated for a few hours on HF frequencies before they had to close down due to approaching bad weather. The [[Islands on the Air]] number EU-189 was issued to Rockall as a result of this activation.

In 2010, it was revealed that the plaque had gone missing. [[Andy Strangeway]], a British adventurer, announced his intention to land on the island and affix a replacement plaque in June 2010.<ref name="lette"/> [[Comhairle nan Eilean Siar]], the local authority for Rockall, approved planning permission for the plaque.<ref name="bbc82"/> The 2010 expedition was cancelled, and Strangeway did not replace the plaque.<ref name="island"/>{{needs update|date=July 2020}}

In October 2011 a group of amateur radio operators from Belgium travelled by ship to Rockall. Several of them climbed up the rocks and set up a radio station for some hours. They stayed overnight on top of the island. Radio contacts to all over the world were made using HF frequencies under the call sign "MM0RAI/P".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-10-01 |title=Belgian radio enthusiasts make rockfall on Rockall |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-15136783 |access-date=2023-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 Rockall DXpedition (DVD) – Swindon & District Amateur Radio Club |url=https://www.sdarc.net/2013/10/08/2011-rockall-dxpedition-dvd/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2013 an occupation of the island by explorer Nick Hancock to raise money for the charity [[Help for Heroes]] was planned. The challenge was to land on Rockall and survive solo for 60 days.<ref name="helpf"/> On 31 May 2013, Hancock, and a TV crew from BBC's ''[[The One Show]]'', sailed to the islet aboard ''Orca III'', and he unsuccessfully attempted to land and survive on the islet, having landed for the first time the previous year on a reconnaissance expedition which coincided with [[Queen Elizabeth II]]'s Diamond Jubilee.<ref name="guar79"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Rockall adventurer Nick Hancock bids to set survival record|date=28 May 2013|format=Video|website=YouTube video from The World News Channel 7|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE6wqdI41o0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/rE6wqdI41o0| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The weather conditions at the time "were not favourable" according to a [[Maritime and Coastguard Agency]] official. Subsequently, Hancock postponed his challenge until 2014.<ref name="guar32"/> On 5 June 2014 Hancock landed on Rockall to begin his 60-day survival attempt.<ref name="bbc67"/> Despite being forced to cut his 60-day goal short after losing supplies in a storm, Hancock did remain on the island for 45 days, beating McClean's occupancy record by five days.<ref name="scotland.gov.uk"/><ref name="grind"/>

In May 2023 Cam Cameron, a science teacher and former [[Gordon Highlanders|Gordon Highlander]], began an attempt to stay 60 days on Rockall to raise funds for military charities. He was accompanied to the rock by a radio operator, Adrian Styles, and Bulgarian mountaineer Emil Bergmann, both of whom planned to stay with him for a week and then leave.<ref name=bbc2023may26 /><ref name="carrell">{{cite news |last1=Carrell |first1=Severin |last2= |first2= |title=Sixty days on a ledge in the Atlantic: teacher aims to break Rockall record |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/21/teacher-aims-to-break-rockall-record-sixty-days-on-a-ledge-in-the-atlantic |access-date=27 May 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=21 May 2023}}</ref> The group landed on Rockall on 30 May, having sailed from [[Inverkip]] on the Firth of Clyde.<ref name="carrell2">{{cite news |last1=Carrell |first1=Severin |title=Adventurers reach Rockall in bid to live on north Atlantic islet for 60 days |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/31/adventurers-rockall-bid-live-north-atlantic-islet-60-days |access-date=31 May 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=31 May 2023}}</ref> The attempt ended after 30 days when deteriorating weather conditions meant Cameron had to be rescued by HM Coastguard.<ref>{{Cite news |last=BBC |date=28 June 2023 |title=Coastguard rescue for Army veteran in Rockall record attempt |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-66047408}}</ref>

=== Circumnavigations ===
The "Round Rockall" sailing race, sponsored by Galway Bay Sailing Club, runs from [[Galway]], Ireland, around Rockall and back. It was held in 2012 to coincide with the finish of the [[2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race]] around the world.<ref name="roun8"/>

The 2015–2016 [[Clipper Round the World Yacht Race]] race 12 from [[New York City|New York]] to [[Derry]] was extended around Rockall despite previous promises to crew from Sir [[Robin Knox-Johnston]] that this would not happen again after the race to Danang{{clarify|date=February 2024}}.<ref name="senti"/> In July, 2022, the 2019–2020 Clipper Round the world race (delayed for 2 years by COVID) was again extended on Leg 8 to go around Rockall before completing the leg at the mouth of the [[River Foyle]] in  Ireland. The fleet had crossed the Atlantic in record time, and the City docks in Derry had no room for the fleet of 11 boats to berth. The race organizers sent the fleet around Rockall in order to extend the leg by approximately one day's sailing time to clear the docks in Derry.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

In 2017, the Safehaven Marine team led by Frank Kowalski set a world record for the Long Way Round Circumnavigation of Ireland via Rockall island. The Barracuda-style naval patrol, search and rescue vessel, ''Thunder Child'', completed the route in 34 hours, 1 minute, and 47 seconds.<ref name="safet"/> Set in an anti-clockwise direction, the new record – the first of its kind – is now subject to ratification by [[Irish Sailing]] and the [[Union Internationale Motonautique]], the world governing board for all powerboat activity.

{{out of date|date=June 2024}}