Orkney Image Library

Tommy, I helped Benny Kirkpatrick tae cleen oot some bruck before he sold Hillhouse and in the sheds was the sails of the Cantick Head. The family had taken them home from Peterhead from the wreck of the boat. I think I might be able to find a few of the wooden roller things that ran up the mast(not sailor) and somewhere I have some photos of one or two of the spars etc. I know a farmer bought the barked sails, and as I suppose you will know the Kirkpatricks threw nothing away!!

The Cantick Head was the last last sailing cargo vessel in the north. She never had any engine power.
Geordie Kirkpatrick told me of once they were becalmed and the tide took them down onto the Pentland Skerries. They used the flit boat to hold her from going ashore- he said they pulled for everything they were fit to hold her off the land, and said the tide took them along the face of the big skerry and they never did touch but it was very frightening.
Great photo true local history, well done Tommy.

Looks like the Martello tower in the background- think its Longhope Bay, they are going nowhere fast!

Will that be the mounting for the side lights on the port side forard?

The smaa boat tied alongside will be the one Geordie said they used to hold her off the land.

Tommy, Its good to see pictures of the Cantick Head. Benny and Geordie Kirkpatrick were my Uncles. Mary Kirkpatrick (Molly) of Hillhouse was my mother. My grandfather and Uncles must have bought another boat - Rosedale? which was commandered at the outbreak of war. My grandfather was told to wear a uniform to which he refused and as a result lost command of his own vessel. The boat was broken up after the war due to neglect of maintenance. I can remember playing amongst its remains as a child.

The "Rosedale" lay at anchor below the Brims school, for a good part of the war. Apparently the engine was kaput.