13 Jul 2008 - Club Boat back out
Club Boat Day 13 July 2008
Club Boat running well-nice flag!
After nearly a year, we finally managed to pay the Boat Fees and get the Boat out of storage to service it. After a Saturday spent up to my elbows in grease i managed to free off the seized steering, charge the battery and fix all the little faults. For having sat idle for a year it wasnt bad, the new cover had done its job well protecting the boat from muck and bird 'doo-doo'.
With 3 willing volunteers we took her out for a run on Sunday to check some sites and make sure everything was working.
Ally, Jason, Jo Perrin met Linda and I on the Slip at Port Edgar and I was happy to let Ally and Jason demonstrate to me they were capable Boat Handlers, by preparing the RIB for Launch. After a bit of a problem starting the engine( which hadnt run in 12 months) we set off down river in glorious Sunshine and with flat calm seas.
First Stop was at Carlingnose Pier, North Queensferry, this is a 6metre deep rummage Dive Site around the Old Pier, after a look about we set off the short distance to Doig Rock in St Davids Bay to ping (echo sound) 3 small wrecks in 3-5m of water, we found them easily but it will need good conditions to Dive this site.
Inchcolm West Cardinal Marker Buoy
We then set off for Inchcolm Island where we anchored in the Bay for a Cup of Coffee with an shy inquisitive seal checking us out, we then planned a route to the next Waypoint.
Anchored in the Bay
Next site was HMS Campania, biggest Wreck in the Forth, The Campania was a Blue Riband ( given for the fastest Atlantic Crossing) Cunard Liner converted into the worlds first Aircraft Carrier and sunk in a Gale in 1918 after breaking her Mooring and colliding with two battleships.
We arrived on site and after much head scratching we concluded someone must have moved this wreck!, at 18,000 Tons and at over 200metres long we couldn't find it
, Panic and doubt were setting in when we couldnt see something this big on the sounder, but after a look at the charts we realised the Buoy it lies beside had been moved, and we quickly picked it up and marked it in 3 places on the GPS 
, ..onwards to HMS Saucy.
HMS Saucy was an armed Tug which was mined in 1940, we picked her up pretty quickly and managed to get 3 good positions on her, the next Mark was Blae Rock
which is pretty close by. Blae Rock is a large plateau 10m deep with a wall to over 45m and a slope to 40m plus, covered in life. We managed to get good marks for the SW Wall and the NW Slope.
Salvage Boat at Inckeith
We then headed to Inchkeith Island for a Lunch Break, but we were not alone, there was a Salvage Boat lifting scrap from the Harbour, they werent exactly happy to see us, and had some interesting bits lying on the deck, We tied up to the Harbour Wall had Lunch and a poke around bits of the Old Fort while being buzzed by Herring Gulls.
Abandoned Buildings
A very interesting place with a long History of Fortifications, and all kinds of Seabirds nesting. I would love to spend a day looking about the Island.
The water looked very clear even inside the Harbour and looking at the water around the Rocks it looked pretty clear, even after Saturdays North Winds and on an ebb tide. The fact that there were Lobster Pots everywhere is also a good sign and it certainly looks worth a dive sometime.
Jason' The Bairn' Paddling
Jo contemplates her KitKat
Ally contemplates the Harbour
After Lunch we navigated out of the Harbour and around the Rocks to visit the Switha, it was brought home to us just how dangerous this area is to Shipping when we nearly 'found' a rock which came up to within 2metres of the surface at least 2-300m from the Island, it was marked on the GPS for future reference.
Bow of the Switha with resident Cormorant, Inchkeith beyond
Switha was a Fisheries Protection Vessel which ran onto Rocks off Inchkeith in the 1980's, she is beginning to break up now, but it is a nice dive as there is an older wreck lying beside her. With the wind picking up we abandoned looking at two shallow wrecks at Long Craig Reef and headed back up river via Inchmickery Island and the rocks known as the Cow and Calves.
Once up at Hound Point Jo Perrin took over and took us under the Rail Bridge into Queensferry Bay, under the Road Bridge and back into Port Edgar.
She was very very good and I refuse to believe she hasnt done it before - a natural....
Jo at the Wheel
So The Boat was recovered, washed and refueled and put back into the Store ready for more use this year...I hope.
Well Done to Ally and Jason who are now Approved Boat Handlers and can take the Boat out on Dive Trips...Thanks to Jo for coming along and she needs to get on a Boat Handling Course soon!.
And Thanks to Linda for her photographs, and putting up with me all day.