A team of charity fundraisers has been forced to postpone the first attempt to swim to St Kilda because of un-seasonally wild seas.
The group of nine hoped to set off this week on the 60-mile swim from Harris tto the remote island archipelago out in the Atlantic Ocean.
But long range maritime weather forecasts predict high waves and gales until the middle of the month at least.
The nine adventurers initially thought the weather would have calmed down in May after a wild winter of storms.
A support team of three kayakers to paddle alongside the swimmers plus a cabin cruiser the MV Cuma acting as a safety boat and sleeping accommodation, were booked for the first fortnight in May.
But freak windy conditions are affecting the north west coast of Scotland, forcing the swim challenge to be postponed.
Hopes of setting off last Monday were dashed by adverse sea conditions, and another band of bad weather is moving in towards the Hebrides this weekend.
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 10 – 17 or August 10 – 21.
“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 give up about a third of the way when heavy swells were too hazardous for the support kayakers.
Swimmers plan to set off from Huisinish on Harris, taking 45-minute turns in relay formation.
They are fundraising for 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.