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Scoter in Norway, July 1962. Colin Grierson has his foot on the tiller. Audry Grierson is bending down amidships. The guard rail of Peter Baylis’ boat Phakoe is just visible in the foreground
Scoter in Norway again, July 1962. The boy standing behind Audry is not her son Douglas, but Peter doesn’t remember his name
Peter Baylis has kindly sent us a collection of photographs of Scoter and the Grierson family and friends during the 1950s and ’60s. A family friend himself, he says he was much saddened to see the state she has been reduced to, but pleased to learn she is to be restored. (See the original post on Scoter here.)
Here’s what he has to say about Scoter’s story during the time he knew her:
‘Colin Grierson was a neigbour of mine both in Wormit and Tayport Harbour where my mooring was alongside Scoter. After Colin died, Scoter was taken on by his son, Douglas for a few years until he sold her to I know not who.
‘Colin converted Scoter for offshore sailing and had many cruises with his family to Holland and Norway. It fell to my lot on many occasions, to help Colin load and unload the many tons of pig iron ballast Scoter had.’
Peter, who owned Phakoe and Ceildh of Fife in these photos, is particularly interested to learn about the whereabouts and history of Ceilidh of Fife – if anyone knows her story, please contact me at gmatkin:gmail.com and I will pass the information on to Peter.
(Left) Low tide in Tayport Harbour. The yachts float on very soft mud. The boat in the centre is Ceilidh of Fife, the boat Peter had after Phakoe. The stern of Scoter is lower left. (Centre) Scoter on her moorings at Tayport. The varnished boat is Phakoe. Lower left the stern of Seagrim is just visible; she’s the boat Hazel and Brian Kelly owned before they commissioned Idle Duck. (Right) Damaged slide of Tayport Harbour moorings. The varnished boat is Phakoe with Scoter next and then Seagrim. The photo was taken during the late 1950s; Peter says the harbour now is full of expensive looking yachts on pontoons
(Left) This picture shows Colin Grierson, owner of Scoter, watching the first launch of Peter’s Alan Buchanan-designed yacht Ceilidh of Fife in June 1966. (Centre) First launch of Ceilidh of Fife from Woodhaven pier near Wormit, Fife. Colin is holding the port fore guide rope. Scoter is in the centre of the picture dressed overall. June 1966. (Right) Ceilidh of Fife dressed overall on the occasion of the opening of the Tay Road Bridge by the Queen Mother, August 18 1966. The bridge can be seen in the background
(Left)Peter’s first yacht Phakoe, 1961. Picture taken in the River Tay after returning from Norway: note the yellow flag to request Customs clearance. (Right) His second yacht Ceilidh of Fife alongside in Mandal, Southern Norway. The green boat is Seagrim, the yacht owned by Hazel & Brian Kelly prior to owning the Maurice Griffths-designed yacht Idle Duck. Brian Kelly acquired Seagrim from the Kiel Yacht Club, Kiel, Germany at the end of World War II
PS Check out the comments below for more information on this photos, and about Scoter herself.
Could I have permission to put the Scoter photos on the Tayport website. I have lived in Tayport all my life and remember the Scoter well.
Marek Malecki.
The 2 photographs of "Scoter" is Norway and said to be taken in July 1962 were in fact taken in July 1968. The man in the reddish brown shirt in both photos is Dr Alexander ("Sandy") Andrew MacLeod who had just qualified in medicine at St Andrews University. The other person in the RN "action working dress" (blue) shirt is me.
The photographs of "Scoter" in Tayport harbour clearly cover an expanse of time as changes to the cabin are apparent with the addition of a doghouse and subsequently generous side coamings.
The last time I was aboard "Scoter" was in 1994 when I attended her centennial birthday party (and still possess the precis of her life and informationprovided for attendees); I next saw her quite by accident in Plymouth in 1999 looking a little the worse for wear. I thought I glimpsed her again in Plymouth in 2009 but, having seen the heartbreaking photographs of her wreckage, realise I must have been mistaken.
David,
This just gets better and better; if you have read the previous posts, you will know who I am – I own Idle Duck. I am also trying to put a document together covering the histories of the two boats and the characters and families involved.
Is there any chance that you could send me a scanned copy of that precis that you received at the centennial. I have Idle Duck's visitors book that the Grierson were kind enough to give me; this contains the signatures of those attendees, so I am glad that you have posted here.
Anything that you would care to write about your experiences would be gladly received. Where were you in Norway, what was she like sailing the North Sea; What route and how long did it take you – usual stuff that might be obtained from logs and anecdotes.
Cheers
Bob
I sailed to Norway on Ceilidth of Fife with my parents when they owned her in the 1980s. Lovely yacht.
Hi tom she’s currently in Arbroath looking as good as ever after summer in McKays boatyard.