Orkney Image Library

Is that the Lyrawa Bay there? What became of her?

The John Gellatly Hyndman (ON 923) relieved in Stromness from June 1984 - October 1984 whilst the station was awaiting the arrival of the Arun class L/B "Joseph Rothwell Sykes and Hilda M".

And before you ask John - No, we were not responsible for the state of the bulwarks on the Day Dawn.

Lyrawa Bay renamed Seahorse is now a workboat on the Clyde.

The Seahorse is an ex norwegian ferry, I know her she lies in Ardrossan, definately not the Lyrawa Bay. I believe she is in this area tho'.

Having thoughts on my last comment regarding the Seahorse, the one I see in Ardrossan might be a replacement for the Lyrawa Bay and taken the name. She has only appeared here in the last year or so.

Look for Lyrawa Bay on www.trawlerphotos.co.uk and you'll see her in modified form in 2007 moored at Rothesay, having been a fishfarm tender up Skye way. Rothesay is the base of Argyll Workboats who operate Seahorse.
Coincidence ?

Jimmy, I have a photo of the Lyrawa Bay taken at Kyle of Lochalsh in July 2000. She was blue then though and no longer black. If my memory is right she would have been the first ro-ro we had (before The Geira\Hoy Head.) I seem to mind on she was originally called Sam ? She came to Longhope in the summer of 1976. I worked at Groat's shop that year and I have a memory of Anna, Eric Groat and I watching this strange looking boat come round the Crockness buoy and in the bay. She looked so totally different from the Hoy Head and Watchful we'd been used to seeing for years. It would be good to know whatever did happen to her.

I have checked the pic of Lyrawa Bay on trawlerphotos after conversion, and is definately not the one in Ardrossan, which actually belongs to Argyll Workboats
so I think I am right in reckoning they have replaced the Lyrawa Bay with an ex
Norwegian ferry now named Seahorse. Look up Argyll Workboats and see pics of her.

Hi my name is Davy Torbit and would like to find Eric Groat. I last saw him about 30 years ago when he was the skipper of fishing boat "Dandara" i would like to know where he is now and to say hello

hi Davy , As far as I know Eric is living in Oban, and has fished out of Oban for the last 30 years or so, I remember him having the Dandara in Oban way years back..

hi.thanks for the info.

Hello Davy, Eric is still fishing from Oban, he and his half brother John Burger have a lovely 50 foot trawler the Girl Allison

thanks, i will try to contact him there

The Eric Groat that was referred to in the earlier comment passed away some years ago, he was an employee of J.M.F. Groat & Sons Longhope.

Wrong Eric, Stewart, this is a younger een fae the north isles, used to do the seal culls years ago, and ended up in Oban when I lived there, nice bloke..

yes eric did the seals with owner of dandara tam young.aye nice guy big eric. we worked the mackrel down in penzance one season. boat was too slow and net spent most of time trawling the bottom. at least we got a fry.

lywara bay is now owned by offshore work boats and is based at river clyde boatyard, though mainly docks at james watt dock greenock.

Im sailing her up and down clyde to loch striven maersk raft.

Dave Torbit, Eric Groat here still alive living Oban . Not hundred % who you are but would be happy get in touch. ERIC GROAT

Hi Eric, I was shanghaied on to the Dandara by Eddie McLardy in 1977, also in the crew was Bobby Daz and Wilkie who I pulled out of Penzance dock when he fell in after a heavy gin session on the Gallic Rose, luckily I got back up for a pee that night and heard a big splash, looked over and saw the bubbles then after what seemed like ages up came what looked like the monster from the black lagoon coughing and spluttering and covered in fish slime and bilge. He stood in the galley shaking in shock and chain smoked 20 fags, next day we went to the Dock Inn to celebrate. The mackerel was a disaster and we came home and did one more trip up the western isles then left the Dandara in Ayr harbour and that's the last I saw of you Eric. I'm glad your still fishing, good luck.