The local princess

[jimcee]

In the hope that some of the readers of this page may be a bit more savvy than I am, here is a question which nags away at me.
This afternoon (Sunday 1st May) the Hebridean Princess has appeared in Seil Sound and anchored briefly at the mouth of Ardmaddy Bay. There has been a minor bit of pinnace activity, and then it's up anchors and away across the horizon.
What's it all about? Is this the first cruise of the season (this scenario has happened before) or is it a shakedown to test out the anchoring/pinnacing capabilities before genuine fee paying passengers appear, or is it a trial run for shore establishments to play host to an increasing number of cruise ships which might visit our waters?.
I am all agog and await enlightenment with bated breath.

[Peter Connelly]

They were probably dumping Osama bin Laden's body.

[jimcee]

That would really put our Star attraction Atlantic - not Clachan Bridge, in the back seat. we get a good smattering of the westernised tourist as it is, but if all these eastern jihad johnnies got wind of this, the place would be like Mecca on a bank holiday.
So if you have any inside information - mum's the word.

[jimcee]

Monday (PM) There it is back again - Is this the first batch of pilgrims here to visit the holy site, or did they happen on a large shoal of mackerel on the last visit, and want to fill the freezer for the coming season. Or again, maybe the captain is carrying on an illicit affair with someone local. Can someone out there please put an end to all these conjectures, and really tell us what is going on?

[Herby Dice]

She was back today, but stayed down towards Loch Melfort - perhaps the skipper had heard he was spotted last time and is trying to be more discreet?

[MonaLott]

This is a fuss about nothing - she's been coming this way for years. And the
hilarity about Bin Laden is ill judged and tasteless. (

[NickB]

. . . the
hilarity about Bin Laden is ill judged and tasteless. (

That is your opinion.

[MonaLott]

So? Isn't this site partly for exchange of opinions? Daft thing to say, Mr Admin, no?

[jimcee]

You cannot win on this forum.
If you suggest that a slanging match between posters is doing nothing for the thread (trying to be serious) then you told to "lighten up" - it's all good reading.

On the other hand, after the inspired rejoinder by Peter C. to my original posting on this subjectsubject (which actually had me laughing out loud - and that is not something we Scots indulge in easily in the privacy of our own homes), I did tend to continue the jocular vein, only to be told that it was frivolous - and even suggesting it might be in bad taste.

If your correspondant who maintains that the Hebridean Princess' visits to these shores has been going on for years, maybe she? knows more of these movements than the rest of us and is possibly trying to divert attention away from the subject.

[NickB]

If your correspondant who maintains that the Hebridean Princess' visits to these shores has been going on for years, maybe she? knows more of these movements than the rest of us and is possibly trying to divert attention away from the subject.

Sshhhh . . . loose lips sink ships . . .

[DonnieC]

Jim, To return to your original post, the Princess seemingly was disembarking passengers to visit the gardens at Ardmaddy.

The same occurred at Arduaine.

Also, according to a naval type I know, the Princess's cruises are determined very much by the weather conditions as, seemingly, allegedly, there is a lack of stabilisers on her and the ship does roll badly.

I have also seen her anchored off Ardencaple, south west of Eilean Duin, and off the north west of Kerrera under similar conditions

Perhaps, she was keeping close inshore in the lee of the easterly winds.

Hope this is useful-shame it couldn't come right up Seil Sound to Clachan Bridge and anchor off Tighantruish

[jimcee]

Thanks for that - someone with their ear close to the ground comes up with the answers.
What a pity that there wasn't any more intrigue to the visits.
Just a bunch of well heeled, green fingered tourists filling in their day before the gourmet evening meal aboard.
Probably all those big bonus bankers, and politicians researching on expenses.