MV Balmoral

The MV Balmoral arrived in Oban this morning, to yet more overcast skies. It was fine however, a distinct improvement. I spotted her passing the house where I stay and I rushed out in time to get this zoomed shot of her. As I have done absolutely nothing today, this has to be my blip.

The Balmoral was built in Southampton in 1949 as a ferry and excursion ship, and was part of the Red Funnel Fleet for a long time, before moving to the White Funnel Fleet in the Bristol Channel. They ceased operation in 1980 and she became a floating restaurant, sadly not very successfully.

Supporters of the Waverley Steamship, [the Waverley was already plying round the coast in Scotland], rescued her and gave her a refit in Glasgow in 1986 at a cost of £300,000. She now operates successfully as a coastal cruiser. Her summer season is mainly in the Bristol Channel with occasional forays into Scotland to share the duties of the Waverley. Both are very popular with sailings fully booked.
For those of you who like this stuff, the Balmoral is over 200ft in length and has a gross tonnage of 736.

She left Oban lunchtime for a cruise including 4 different lochs and the Corryvreckan whirlpool. Corryvreckan lies in the strait between the islands of Jura and Scarba. Lucky passengers.

There is an interesting little anecdote about the author George Orwell who had gone to Jura in 1947 to write his book 1984, away from the distractions of London. He and two friends, and his 3 year old son, took a boat trip in August 1947, when Orwell appears to have completely misread the tide tables, and their little boat ended up in the grip of the whirlpool. The engine sheared off its mount with the force of the water, and disappeared into the sea. The party was left to man the oars and try to row their way out of difficulties. Only because there was a lull in the whirlpool for a short while did they manage to get away. They succeeded in reaching a small rocky outcrop, still about a mile from Jura, and as they attempted to land, the boat capsized. They got safely to shore.The outcrop was uninhabited and they had no supplies, 3 men and a 3 year old boy. However, they did manage to light a fire, which was spotted by a local lobster fisherman who rescued them. Orwell completed his manuscript the following year.

In the background as always, the isle of Kerrera and the faintest glimmer of Mull. You can click on Large to get a slightly better view of her.

This is for Gordon with my bestest wishes for his new book in which I hope I appear fully clothed. I seemed to have lost them in the first book of the series. Or maybe they lost me .....