Orkney Image Library

A number of these boats are still in existence including K70 'Bee' now owned and used by George Costie in Westray, and my 22 foot Westray Skiff 'Earnest' - K444, which was built in Papa Westray in 1937 by James Rendall of Cuppin for Captain Robbie Gray of Westray, a former Captain on ss 'Earl Thorfinn'.

Quite a few of these boats are still in use. I think the "Wolverette" K33, was the yole in Stanley Cursiters famous painting "Linklater & Greig". The "Rosedale" lay at anchor below the Brims school for part of world war two. She was used in the coastal trade, mainly under sail, although she was fitted with an engine of sorts.

The lists of Kirkwall shipping contained in Peace's Orkney Almanacs would have provided a 'snap-shot' - most likely extracted on an annual basis from the registers maintained by Customs Officers in HM Customs & Excise 'Long Room' in the Custom House in Albert Street, Kirkwall. This was an 'agency' function provided by HM Customs & Excise on behalf of the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. This continued until the early 1990s when the 'registry' was computerised and centralised in Cardiff. At that time registry was categorised into 'Part 1' which was 'title registry' and which was the official record of who owned shares in British Ships and recorded details of mortgages registered against them. In Scotland, fishing vessel registry was categorised into (a) 'Part IV' which was a simple registry which provided a registration letter and number, and if title registry was necessary Scottish fishing vessels were also registered under (b) Part B of the Sea Fishing Boats Act.

Anyone wishing to obtain information about registered fishing vessels should contact 'Registry of Shipping & Seamen, Anchor House, Cheviot Close, Parc Ty Close, Llanishen, Cardiff CF4 5JA. - telephone 01222 747333.

I understand that the 'Wharrie Glen' was a 'packet boat' which carried cargoes into Orkney and between the islands. People in Westray remember her being used to discharge wheat from the 'Borkum' which went ashore on the Holm of Aikerness, between Westray and Papa Westray around 1939/40.

I have had a further look at the list of names and numbers and can identify the following boats which are still in existence and all but two of them are still seaworthy.

4.Zephyr 13.Maggie 34.Ena 65. Gwen Alice 70.Bee 208.Anitra 444 Earnest

Others may recognise more which are still around.

You may have seen my comments on picture #2325, regarding vessel K343, "Queen" of c.1903, Can anybody comment on the notes attached to that picture.
Regards, Gordon Sinclair.

I should make clear that my references to 'Part IV Registry' (MSA 1894) and to 'Part B of the Sea Fishing Boats (Scotland) Act 1886' were in relation to the 'old' fishing vessels listed. These Acts have since been repealed and replaced with new legislation.

A very interesting list, a lot of these boats are still around.
We had Anitra 11 and I see that Wm Ritch who built her is named as the owner of the Anitra. Fulmar is now owned and being restored by W Robertson of Flotta. Intresting to see that Ned Jeamison had a boat named Daisy, also there is a Daisy owned by a W Work- which one is the Daisy now in the tank at Lyness?.
Minerva is long gone but the Pansy is still alive and well. Another boat the Zepher owned by the late Jock Smith is still at the Hatston slip, and the Ivy owned by Gordon o Fara was mayby the yole that he used to come ower tae Lyness wae and after a day or two o merry making he fund only the twa ropes and a rummle o wood in the Creek!!. You could go on and on aboot boats bit thats a few that took back memories tae me.

A boat regestered to J Rosie named "Pensalvania" is I would think a ships lifeboat from the wrecked ship of that name. If so, then the "Aurora" now in Kirkwall would be the same ships lifeboat. (I should be with the flying squad at Scotland Yard!!.)
A boat owned by a J Groundwater "Cutty Sark" would that be James Groundwater fae the North Ness? Maybe Jimmy Hamilton will know.

Yes John, James Groundwater's boat was called the Cutty Sark, I mind him trying tae get the engine started once and the starting handle came off and hit him on the side of the head. It laid him out cold. It was a good while before he came round.

The 'Anitra II' is owned in Westray and is still used for creeling.

John, Would that be Wilson Nicholson's "Mary Ann"?

The " Elsie ", I think was my uncle Dod Johnston's yole (later Sodjer Bob's) who I believe got Walter Ross's father to install engine, shaft etc in her.

Jimmy, a while ago Mary Pringle (nee Omand) told the story that Jock Gray said of Jame Groundwater that he always went to bed very early and rase on the (haud o the night)
Jock said if Jame, had three farts in him for the day he would need tae lit go two afore the tap o the day!!.

Stewart yes that wid be the Mary Ann min!!.

Stewart, that would indeed be Wilsons' Mary Ann. I notice the Rose is on the list as well. Bob O' Brimsness, Billy Dass and Jocky Robertson creeled with her during the war.

I see a boat the EVA belonging to a Daniel Meil on the list, would that be the chap that bought our lapsters and wilks in the 1950s?

Correction to my comment added to picture #10471 on 10 April: I referred to K208 as the Anitra 'II' - this should have been 'Anitra 'I'. She has now been moved from Westray to Kirkwall. I understand that three 'Anitra's were built by Wm Ritch in Deerness : 'Anitra, Anitra I, and Anitra II.

"Elsie" was also I think the name of the yole that belonged to my grandfather in Flotta, and that was why my father and uncles called their boat "Elsa". What became of either boat I don't know.

The 'Elsa' was kept in Kirkwall basin as a creel boat until recently - probably still is. I remember her being kept at a summer moorings off St Marys when she was owned by Eric and Malcolm Sutherland. In those days she had a green canvas cuddy to provide shelter. A wheelhouse was added after she was sold.

Alan Windwick last owned the Elsa as far as I know.

Yes, I remember now that Alan Windwick acquired the Elsa not long after my father (Malcolm) and uncle (Eric) sold her. That must be at least 20 years ago, for my father died in 1988. I still remember what Dad said when he saw the wheelhouse, for he thought it spoilt the look of the boat completely. He compared it to another type of structure with "house" in its name, but not "wheel"...

The "Sumato" now belongs to Ken Sutherland of the Orkney Herring factory and is in first class order. She was completely refurbished by John Mowat in Brims and looks as though she was built yesterday. She is usually kept in the Stromness Marina in the summer time. I remember Billy Mowat and his father owning the "Lion" first in Rackwick and then in Brims when they moved in the early 50's. The Nicholson who owned her in 1938 would have been Billy's uncle.

Can I ask that you please re-look at the comments on picture #2325 and, hopefully, advise / enlighten me of any info. available.

George Esson's book "South Ronaldsay in Retrospect"has a receipt in it dated June 1942. It shows that the M.V. Wharrie Glen was owned by W & J Goodsir (Grimness) who operated her as General Carriers. Later she was operated by Bob Goodsir and the engineer was Peter Matches. She ended her days at the West End of the 'Hope where she gradually broke up.

John, Wid the "Elsie" be Catmahas yole that Paul's granfaithir hid an Pattick's in the process o "repairin" noo?
Thir wis a lot o the Flotta built yoles geed tae Waas.

Dont ken aboot the "Elsie" bit you will see Stewart says she was owned by his uncle Dod Johnston. The man who knew every boat in Sooth Isles is no longer wae us, and that wiz Walter Ross. I had a feeling that Jimmy Johnston changed that boats name tae "Elsie" I winder if she didna hiv anither name afore?. Dae yae mind Stewart?.

Aa aal hiv tae ax Pattick the nixt i see him. Thir wis anithir een that geed owir there is weel. The "Mohecan" an she wis ithir Moad fae Lingie or Barnet Fae Little Arp's yole Miby they both shared her. Kinda afore me time!!!!!!

Sodger Bob owned the " Elsie" when I was young.

Patty would know, but I ken she was called the Elsie when Bob was going to the sea with her.
Walter Ross told me that his father installed the 1st engine in her for Bob, she was called Elsie then.

The Elsie is in Patty's garage in Brims.

Noo than Willie I can help yea wae the "Mohican". Shae wiz Grandad's Yole. He took her up fae Flotta in 1924 when they came tae the Burnhoose, he sold here for £14 and bought stabs and wire tae fence the Burnhoose hill ground. After that I don't know what became of here until a man called Gonnach, bought her and took her back tae Longhope. He in turn sold here tae Mr Merriman fae Stromness and he called her "Irene" after I think his wife- she is now in Hoy and is owned be William Lancaster from Rysa Lodge. As I have said afore boats are far more interesting than folk.

Now then hid seems the "Elsie" might well be the boat fae "Catmaha" a bit more detective work needed on that ane. Aam very sure nobody will be windaran aboot a fiberglass boat in a hunder years time!!. P S The "Mohican" was built for Dr Hay who had been among that tribe at some time in his early life.

My brother tells me he saw a two-masted yole called Elsie in a shed Robbie Sutherland of the navigation school had in Stromness in the early 70s.

Paul, The Elsie, owned by the Johnston family in Brims was loaned to Robbie at the sea-school at the time you refer to.

Aa weel hids a revilatin gittin inta aal this owld boats :-) Any een ken whar the "Fulmar" originated fae? I ken she wis registered tae H Seatter afor she did the roonds an endid up at Heckniss bit wis she built for him? Shes a Nicholson build as shes the sistir o the Ivy K317 the only een that niver wis oot o Flotta. Is yae say John folk come an go boats are a fixtir. Yae nivir hear o boats bein built in Waas. I ken thir wis eens built in Fera so why no Waas????

Cap'n Robbie's wife's name was Elsie. Plenty of scope for misunderstanding and double entendre there.

Just noticed the "Ocean Pearl" she was the peedie yole owned be John Cromarty, that is John who I have spoken about on this site before, she was fitted with a petrol "Water Mota" engine but no reverse gear only a clutch. I think I saw her in the basin at Kirkwall after he sold her, she was a dumpy peedie yolack,John aye painted her grey.
John took me wae him when I was a peedie boy tae be crew!! as a rescue boat at the Longhope Regatta, weel if I had been the Captain o a Cunard liner I could not hiv been more prood!!.

No Willie only Dinghys built here as far as I ken and I winder if that Yole you hiv might hiv been owned by a Nickolson family in Hoy. I think that was the name o the two men fae "Whaness" who drowned in a gale, a swap o wind of the hills took there smaa boat and drave her through the side o the yole and burst her as they were trying tae git her ashore fae the moorings aff Whaness. Dont ken the date bit think hid wid hiv been early 1900s? Miby someen might ken.
Bit Willie there were some fine fiddle makers in Waas" dont suppose Flotta widna hin such "finesse"!! .

Aaa bit thir wis eens that made ""finesse""fiddle's in the "Flat Isle" John is I hiv a owld tool kist aroond here somewiy wae a mowld an bits o a fiddle in it !!!!!!!!

The two men lost at Whaness were Johnston's John. Father and son. I think it happened in 1923.

I mind being told a tale by an elderly resident of Whaness that the loss of the men you mention Fred was seen in a premonition by the lady of I think it was Westend or Greenhill. Anyway a day or two before the tragedy she saw a vision of men running past her house with ropes. The day the men were lost the other Whaness folk fetched rope and tried to throw or get them grappled from the shore to no avail. The two who you say Fred were a father and son perished, in such a small community this must have been devastating to say the least.

Also as we know the wind comming off the hills often lifts the water and can take "Flaans" (Local name for the water being lifted as a mini tornado or water spout) as far as Gramsay!! one such "Flaan" lifted there smaa boat and drove her through the Yole and so the men stood no chance and were drowned.

This tale is turning into a book!! I spoke to a couple o elderly Hoy folk last night and they could not recall the premonition story, but I did learn a bit more. They thought the men were from "Greenhill" and the Stromness Lifeboat came, but not in time to save the men. But they said we will save their boat, it will be something for the family. Fred you will no doubt be able to look up the Lifeboat records on this as they thought it was earlier than 1923. I will be scouring the Hoy Kirkyard very soon for more evidence, watch this space!!. The ladies had no recall of what became o the yole.

Speaking to you earlier Fred on Hoy fishing I think you said there were herring boats in Waas and up in Hoy but none came fae Brims I wonder why that wold have been. I know there were several ships Masters born in the parish o Hoy I have heard of Capts Robb and Bremner and there were more for sure, and they were all fae a one teacher school, no bad eh!!.

The Elsie was built by John Sutherland and his fither Tom. She wis named after John's daughter Elsie who was born in 1901. John died when he wis only 50. George (Dod) Johnston bought her, but I think that it would have been George sen, as Dod would have only been aboot 17 when the boat came here. The Elsie was indeed on loan to the Nav school for a while, she is in me shed getting some long term TLC.

Aa weel Patty bouy thats solved that een;;;; So aal wae need noo is tae git her back in commish tae see if the Nicolson or Stanstane build rips the thowls throo the wattir fastest !!!!!!

Jist follow me rudder head Wullie !!

The Elsie wis built for Johns brithir Willie at Catmaha so I wis informed by Jock o the Castle Yestirday so thats that saga dun !!!!!!

Patty .John Sutherland died in 1900 aged 36 .Tom was his brother and hid wis his daughter Elsie the yowl wis named efter .The Elsie wis built for Wullie o Catmarrha who wis a brother o John and Tom ..

Well there yae go. l stand corrected. I got the story fae Jock as weel.

Thanks for the information on the Elsie. I remember my father telling me he had an uncle Jock of Brunthouse who was a boat builder and died after working for a long time up to his waist in water repairing a boat that had gone aground. I just looked up his death certificate online and see he died, after an illness of two months,of peritonitis and cardiac failure, which I suppose fits. Interestingly the doctor who certified it was Sutherland Simpson, the Flotta man who became a professor at Cornell University. Maybe he was home on holiday at the time.

Stewart,you could be right aboot Dod. Lookan at me bookie, Walter Ross reckoned she cam here aroond aboot 1928?. Me Fither put her to Duncan's and hid a heavier stern post fitted. Walters Fither fitted the engine.

For interest, K77 'Rose' was sailed from Eday in the middle to late sixties, to the Bay of Skaill by Peter Leask, when my father bought her about that time. Peter then sailed her across the Firth to Scrabster where I used her for a number of years. She was renamed 'Tronston' (a district in Sandwick) and returned to Orkney around 1974 (Ithink), where she was moored in the Bay of Skaill for a couple of summers. She ended her days in Quoyloo around 1990.

Aye Paul aam sittin on the site o the boat shed at Bruntas rite noo. Thats whar i built me hoose in 1984. Hid must hiv been a bit o a squeese tae build a yole in it as it wisna very big miby 20' x 8'. And thankyou for the info aboot THE FLOTTA PROFESSOR I hope the Waas eens tak note. It wisna just Yole's Flotta produced!!!!!!!!!

Ah "bue" min Wullie and Paul aam no surprised ataal, aboot Flotta breedan a "Profeeeser", Yae see aam bred aaf Flotta stock meesell diss thou ken !!!.

John,
The disaster in Hoy when the Johnston men, father and son were lost, happened on 15th. November 1920. Robert the father was 56 years old and John his son was 29. John's wife was alive in Hoy at least until the late 40's or early 50's I think.

Fred I think that will be your reply nice tae see you back in action.
I have had a look through the Hoy Kirkyerd but could not see a gravestone to this tragedy. Does anyone know where or if there is mark or headstone?.

John,
Sorry for the anonymous comment regarding the Johnston men. I will now put that right.

Just posted a picture of the Mohican at Kirk Noust, Flotta when it was owned by the Hay family of Bayview - #picture 25116

Very interesting to hear about the various boats, and also to read about Sutherland Simpson. I hadn't know much about his life until quite recently but this year is the 150th anniversary of his birth. He worked with his father at Saraquoy until he was 19, going out on his father's herring boat as well as helping on the farm. He then went down to Edinburgh to go deep sea, but needed a job in the short term and managed to get one in a university laboratory. He became so interested in the work that he started to study and as a student he funded himself by working on his father's boat in the holidays. That was the start of a brilliant career that took him to Cornell. He was someone for Orkney to be proud of and Patricia Long is giving a talk on him in this year's Science Festival.