Well we are back in operation for another season after our winter lay-up in the Caledonian Canal, Corpach. During the winter we completed the second phase of a three year re-fit plan. So starting the season with Silurian looking very well turned out in a new set of Sails and covers made by Sanders Sails with sponsorship money from the World Wildlife Fund. We spent a lot of time this winter overhauling electrical systems to give cleaner sound for the Hydrophones. Also increasing the efficiency of the boats charging system as with all the science gear running, we consume a lot of battery power.
For volunteers who sailed with us last year, you will be pleased to hear that we have finally got the anchor windlass working electrically so no more winching the hook up by hand in the mornings! We also now have all new windows- sliding and double glazed in the saloon so hopefully things should stay dryer in the Scottish West Coast Summer! All this is complemented with a fresh coat of paint down below to make it fresh, clean and bright.

We slipped our lines form Corpach Basin last Thursday and headed from fresh, into salt water again. The night before we had a couple of inches of fresh snow on the deck so the Lochaber hills were looking stunning with a fresh veil of white as we motored through a bright, crisp morning, down Loch Linnhe.
On Board Rob Pickering Silurian’s recently recruited 1st Mate. Clare Embling and Marjolaine Callait. From SMRU here to Re-install three hydrophones and two PC’s - now we’ve returned Silurian from a workshop, back into a research vessel again.
After an over night stop at Oban to collect the serviced Outboard engine from Stoddart and stock up on provisions we headed up the Sound of Mull, under sail, in 25kts of breeze. Snow on the Mull and Ardgour hill was more reminiscent of the Arctic than Argyll. The new sails making a tremendous improvement to boat speed. Returning to our home mooring in Tobermory by the evening.

Author and skipper, Duncan Cameron