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| Autumn 2004 news A Committee meeting was held on Tuesday 14th September at the home of George Fairbairn. Those present included Duncan Wilson, Robin Love, George Fairbairn, Arthur McDonald and Ian Somerville. Apologies were received from Iain Quinn, Hamish Stewart and Gordon Law. The name of Mr. John D Whittle has been suggested for the position of Honorary President, a position that has remained vacant for a considerable amount of time. Mr Whittle has intimated that he is happy to accept the position. The opening meeting of the new winter session, which takes place on Friday October 29th, will start with an EGM at which time the position will be discussed further. Ferry services to the Western Isles faced considerable disruption from Saturday 18th to Wednesday 22nd of September due to strong westerly winds as this writer can testify. Passengers on the CLANSMAN on the 15.10 from Oban to Barra under the command of Captain Bulliemore faced fierce winds on leaving the shelter of the Sound of Mull. The ship took a northerly course sailing between Rum and Oigh-sgeir before turning and heading for Barra arriving at Castlebay 45 minutes late at 20.45. On Monday morning passengers waiting for the 09.20 sailing for Oban were watching, anxiously, for CLANSMAN to appear from behind the string of islands, which guard the west coast of Barra. Sighs of relief all around as she arrived and docked on time at Castlebay. Departure was a different matter, however, as the gales prevented the ship from leaving bow first as she usually does. Instead Captain Bulliemore swung the ship on the knuckle of the pier and reversed out into the bay. Although CLANSMAN left on time she did not clear the bay until 10.45. The writer waited for a few minutes to see if CLANSMAN would reappear. No such luck. She safely made it out to sea arriving back at Oban up to an hour late. On Tuesday 21st the Barra- Boisdale service was cancelled which meant that the 07.30 on Wednesday, the service on which the writer was returning, was also cancelled. This was a mystery to the islanders because the weather on Barra had calmed down. Tuesday turned out to be a lovely day. The next sailing was the scheduled service departing Barra at 18.40 on Wednesday, this time under the command of Captain Sinclair, making an additional call at Lochboisdale arriving back in Oban at 01.20. The owner of the Hostel in which the writer was staying said it was very unusual for ferries to be cancelled in September. This writer now understands why the islanders have such a love-hate relationship with Caledonian Macbrayne. The cruise ship HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS was lying off Castlebay on the evening of Saturday 18th September and departed on Sunday morning. She was tied up at the North Pier, Oban on the following Thursday.
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