6.1–4

They sail away to the north (apparently), but after fifteen days get becalmed.  Exhausted from rowing, they entrust themselves to God.

[1] contrā sōlstitium aestīvāle: obscure, since the summer solstice is of course a time not a place. Traditionally understood to mean “westward,” but scholars have argued that it means “to the north,” which would make sense if they were going from the Dingle Peninsula in Kerry to the Donegal coast, repeating the journey they made with Barrind (ch. 1). According to Isidore, Etymologiae 20, at the summer solstice the sun has its zenith over Thule (traditionally the island farthest to the north); so heading for the summer solstice would mean heading for the place where the sun is to be found when the summer solstice occurs.

[2] nihil fuit eīs opus nāvigāre nisi tenēre vēla: the wind was so favorable that all they had to do was hold on to the sails.

coepērunt nāvigāre usque dum vīrēs eōrum dēfēcērunt: navigō in this text can mean “row,” perhaps reflecting the verb raïd in Irish (“to row, sail, go by boat generally”).

[4] tantum dīmittite vēla extēnsa: “just let the sails out to their fullest extent.”

faciat Deus sīcut vult: handing over guidance to God occurs in late antique Christian literature, esp. Muirchu’s Life of Patrick 1.23: “Put yourself into a boat made from a single skin without rudder or oar, and be prepared wherever wind and sea lead you.”