CLYDE SITES

Out in the blogsphere, well actually he's on the opposite side of the Firth of Clyde from Helensburgh, I discovered this site called ClydeSights here or see side column on the right.

Movement on the water is just one of the things that are part of life if you sail or live on the coastline. Certainly, one can live on the coast and never look out to sea, but given that things that chug up and down, ply from one ferry terminus to another, or sail by on a sunny day are - at least to me - bound to catch the eye.

As the weather has been completely gun-metal grey with rain coming down in stair-rods I decided to dig out a few photos of my own which I have taken over the last couple of years.

Two yachts coming the safe and easy - expensive? - way to the Clyde. (See midship deck.)

I read from ClydeSights that The Waverly, the Clyde paddle steamer, is now back on the water for the new season.

A lot of cleaning up is still needed on the Clyde and this is one operation that was certainly helping the appearance of the outer lock gates at the west end of the Forth and Clyde Canal. That bit of wood being raised is the keel of a very large oak hulled boat, one of the many wrecks lying in the entrance to Bowling Basin.

Another boat which is permanently on the Clyde is the Sugar Boat off Helensburgh. She is a wreck* lying on her side and, here, appears to be used as a marker buoy for the elegant Fife boats who were like white butterflies on the Clyde two weeks ago.

And last but not least is our old friend the submarine. These vessels silently come and go on the Clyde; one minute you see them, the next there is nothing but empty sea around you. Very spooky!

* On the night of January 24, 1974 the tanker Captayannis was blown from her anchor while waiting to deliver a cargo of sugar to the dock at Greenock. The anchor chains were responsible for holing her and the captain, seeing he had a problem, tried to head for the safer waters of the Gareloch but didn't make it in time. She filled with water and rolled over. All crew got out safely with the help of local rescue boats.

And there she still is - a rusting wreck which has been the subject of confusion over who should do something about this.

Time to start of National Campaign under the heading of Removal of Litter: category 1 - the nation's coastline.