The Black Isles

05/04/2005

The joys of an accurate weather forecast. I speak not of our illustrious Met Office who seem to be losing the plot a bit with their new “super computer”, despite their wonderful amazon presenters, Heather and the aptly named Gale. But to a new site I have been studying http://www.theyr.net, they appear to be Belgians specialising in marine forecasts, but by navigating to Oban, Scotland this site provides a surprising good forecast for Glen Trollaigh, and it is free, therefore a site after my own heart. I had to study the marine forecast in my capacity as First Mate on the Kerr’s “Mhairi Katharine”, today we set out to the Black Isles, north of Lunga for a PR photo shoot for Diana Drummond. “Artless Archie” posted a bit of a black mark by miscalculating the time of low water by a factor of 100%, thereby rendering the photography of seaweed a bit tricky. Although the Skipper seemed a little tight-lipped, I think I played the fool sufficiently to be forgiven. Plenty of photography took place, though obviously not of seaweed, as all 380 varieties were several fathoms below the surface. When bilge and heads cleaning duties were on offer I quickly volunteered, and I seemed to do a lot of dinghy rowing, despite a healthy looking outboard motor being stored on the vessel. I have been asked back on Monday for a harvesting trip, though I did have to bite my tongue when the Skipper slipped a pound coin into my hand and suggested that I nip into Nancy Black’s for a set of Oban tide tables on my way back to the Glen. I have a health sea tan and that strange feeling of going up and down, perhaps a second Ardbeg will steady me. Yours Aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.