Happy Man

This is a picture of a very happy man who's been let loose to play with a rather fine piece of kit, a Coastline 60 rib with a 115hp motor stuck on the back which goes like a rocket - 11 minutes flat across the Sound from Kilchoan Bay to Tobermory. Not that The Diary wanted to drive it at quite that speed, and admits to becoming a bit worried while 'in control' when, in true Ardnamurchan style, the wind rose from dead calm to about force 4 on the way back and the sea turned choppy.

The reason for a quick trip across to Tobermory was the sight of the Black Watch, a Fred Olsen cruise liner which has had its nose stuck into Tobermory Bay since first thing this morning. The Black Watch, 28,600grt, is 205m long and carries up to 800 passengers. Details of the ship are here. Two of the ship's boats were busy ferrying passengers to and from the shore.

Perhaps a reader can straighten us out on the flag that was flown on the Black Watch's foremast, a red ensign. Is she dressed correctly, or should this have been either a union flag or a saltire?

We motored gently twice round the ship, waving to crew and passengers, and then took a turn round Tobermory Bay to admire some of the boats which are currently moored there. The picture shows the picturesque High Street, with the Tobermory RNLI lifeboat and the Western Isles Hotel. Then back to Kilchoan and what was, for the Diary, the highlight of the trip.

Many thanks indeed to Chris Gane, the owner of Sea Griffin, for a truly super trip.