Orkney Image Library

Later than 1965, I think it is early 1970's. Outside the Girnel is the late David Kemp's Ford Cortina 1600E which if I'm correct was "E" reg - 1967. Opposite the Ola is what looks like a Vauxhall Viva HC, think they came out about 1970. Across from the slip is Willick Schollay's Reliant.

But boats give biggest clue to dates. Top left is an Albacore 2039 which I think was Jim Shearer in Marion Olwen II. (Dan Grieve had Mizpah which was sail number 2006) Jim's previous boat the Bosun was purchased by the Kirkwall Sea Cadets about the time I joined which was early 1970's. Next to the slip looks like the Stromness Sea Cadet RNSA's with the SA sail numbers. They didn't come through to Kirkwall Regatta's that often.

Think I may even be in the picture as I skippered a Stromness RNSA in an early 1970's Kirkwall Regatta, a day when we had almost no wind.

It'll be 1972, the Misty Isle is lying at the steps in front of the Kirkwall Hotel having just been launched.

It looks like there are steel piles being fitted to the north side of the basin. You can see two lads sitting on an old wooden pile there.
If you can find out when that work was done then you should get an acurate fix on the date. I might even know a man who will know when that was done.

I'd say Tommy is about spot-on with 72 the "cross-berth was piled when I was on the "Orcadia" between 71 & early 74