Changing Times

10.1C with squally showers, a few of which were sleety.

Apothecary7 had her day off today. We went into M&S near City Quay in Dundee for comestibles and a visit to their cafe. We like the open space and light it has.

Last Tuesday we decided that instead of going over to City Quay or the docks to look for blips we would go in the other direction. We did the same again today to go and see a small restored remnant of an old city Port (gate). I found that it has a plaque to commemorate the spot where George Wishart preached in time of plague. Very interesting.

Just round the corner and near to where I found last Tuesday's graffiti blip I noticed this faded anchor painted above the door of what had been the Royal Naval Association Club at some time in the past. I have chosen to post it today to reflect the theme of maritime life in the midst of change that struck me when I read the story below in the online edition of our local "Guide and Gazette". The boat concerned is the one I blipped last Thursday.

When we got home we took Maeve the Deerhound for a walk. Just enough to get a little exercise but not to get caught in one of the showers :-)


Arbroath's last deep sea trawler sold
Published on Monday 4 February 2013 13:54

THE LAST Arbroath registered deep sea white fish trawler has been sold and this week headed for Northern Ireland.

The 'Crystal Tide', AH 135, owned since 1982 by John Swankie, 14 Shore, has fallen victim to a combination of EU fisheries regulations and spiralling costs which have made her operation no longer viable.

At 18.45 metres in length with a beam of 6.1 metres and a draft of 2.7 metres, she is powered by a 320 hp Caterpillar diesel engine.

The skipper, Sam Swankie (44), and four-strong crew are now out of work.

John Swankie bought the vessel in 1982 and initially took her to sea himself until about 15 years ago. At that time he retired from fishing and took up a part time post crewing on research ships.

His son, Keith Swankie, was skipper for a while, then his brother, Ian Swankie, took her to sea, but Sam Swankie - no relation - took over the job some 10 years ago.

The 'Crystal Tide' left the harbour for the last time on her 450 mile journey to her new home. She was forced to route through the Pentland Firth and then through The Minch as the Caledonian Canal is closed.

Her former owner has not totally divorced himself from the sea but runs the angling charter vessel 'Heather Isle'.

He commented: "We tried to keep her going as long as we could but it just got to the stage when it was no longer viable with the present quota regulations, days at sea and the new cod conservation scheme."