Wyverns circumnavigate Scotland

by Barry Speakman

 

Barry describes how Biddy was delivered from the East coast to the West, via Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal, by a relay of Wyverns.

 

This summer, the good ship Biddy, owned by Wyverns David Nisbet, Jonathan Winterton and Barry Speakman, made the trip from Hull to Glasson Dock in Lancashire. This was due, in no small part, to the efforts of many Green Wyvern members.

For the weekend trips up to Berwick on Tweed, thanks must be given to Henry Irving, Dave Snutch, Will Moses and Tim Duff, not only for their help in sailing the boat, but also for sniffing out real ale pubs in the most unlikely places.
   

The cruise proper started with the arrival of Roger Hewitt and friends. On day one we re-discovered the ancient art of turning round and running for shelter when the head winds became too strong in the Firth of Forth. The week's cruise ended in Arbroath where we were trsapped by strong NE winds and the delights of the town.  These included the smoked fish of thearea and the malt whiskey.
   

Next to join were Henry Irving ands his chauffeur Trevor Potter. After several adventures, the highlight of the week came when we were towed to Fraserborough by an enormous trawler after being becalmed off Peterhead. The tow was discreetly organised by the thirsty vrew whilst Captain Speakman, blissfully unaware of the proceedings, was below deafly cutting up corned beef butties.
   

David Snutch decided to fly up for his week's cruise. As his Trident jet circled Inverness airport, the azure sky of the previous three weeks became flecked with cloud. As the giant airliner's tyres touched the tarmac, the rain started.  It stayed for two weeks. The trip through the Caledonian Canal was marred by bad weather.  we tacked the whole twenty-two miles of Loch Ness, giving Nessie every chance to say 'Hello', but she chose to remain on the bottom of the 1000 foot deep loch. 
   

The arrival of 'Niz', Henry and Rosie Winterton marked the start of the fair winds and some good sailing. This includes a trip through the Crinnan Canal. At one wayside hostelry, we discovered that some other Englishmen, by the name of Snutch, Farrar and Noblett, had passed that way before; travelling north.
   

During the last ten days, only Nisbet and Speakman were available to crew Biddy.  One record breaking sail was managed from the Isle of Arran, past Ailsa Craig and the Mull of Kintyre, to the Mull of Galloway; sixty-two miles in eleven hours.  Biddy was finally delivered to Glasson Dock at Midnight on Sunday August 30th, six weeks after leaving Berwick on Tweed.

BS
1981

 

Dave Snutch