Oban - Mallaig - Oban

We ran some cruises between these two west coast boating hubs, and while the weather hasn't been the the best so far this summer, it does provide some dramatic light to complement the scenery.

Always hard to chose the best moment of a sunset but this view from Port Mor on Muck was special.

Evening view from Isle Ornsay towards Loch Hourn

Loch Hourn again, the anchorage at Arnisdale.

Loch Alsh, from Balmacara.

First trip for 2017

A birthday surprise for one member of the family, who was still in the dark as we walked along the pontoon.  After a few cracks about wetsuits and swimming trunks I think he was quite relieved to board Chico. The weather didn't look too promising early on but the sun came out as we turned up Loch Long on our way up to Loch Goil.

Cruising Scottish style, bobble hats and Champagne. Well, it is April, it could easily have been snowing.

Another piece in the Chico jigsaw

Tracing a boat's history relies on chance and a slice of good luck.  An entry in Lloyds Log or the Registry of Ownership can give some details of names and dates, but old photos and reminiscences fill in the background.

 Out of the blue last year I was emailed by a lady, Joan, who, as a little girl, had spent time on Chico in the 1950's, and was able to tell me something of the owners, Garry and Beth Tennison from Glasgow.  They had spent a lot of time on board in their six years of ownership, and travelled widely.

Joan had recently been in contact with a distant cousin in Tasmania, also related to Garry and Beth, who was able to dig among old family albums and find the following photos.

 Chico at Bowling Basin, near Dumbarton, circa 1954

Bowling Basin 1954 again, but now with the saloon painted white.

Lying at anchor at Crinan, July 1954

Beth and Garry sitting on the locker in front of the wheelhouse

Since then Chico has been in the Baltic, the Med, Bristol, back at Crinan, Aberdeen, the South coast of England, the Thames, France, and who knows where else before we brought her back to the West of Scotland.  

We've anchored at the same spot off Crinan, sat on the same locker, and enjoyed the same feeling as Garry and Beth 63 years ago.  Chico's an old boat now, but in 1954 she was still 22 years old with at least 4 previous owners and 6 years of war.  It just goes to show that with old boats you don't really own them, you just look after them for future owners. 

Thank you, Joan, for googling "Chico" and filling in another piece of that jigsaw.