Get Charter - The North Star (PUBLISHED IN DIVE MAGAZINE 14 / 09 / 05
see footnote for details of iains and jims new boat Silver Sky)
Salt water runs in the veins of this Eyemouth skipper, though fortunately not in his engine. Mike Clark reports
Skipper: Iain Easingwood and his boat North Star are fairly recent additions to the Eyemouth diving scene. Operating since February 2004, they provide a diver-friendly service and represent a good opportunity to explore this fascinating stretch of coast. St Abbs to the north always steals the limelight, but I believe the diving out of Eyemouth in sout
heast Scotland is just as good, and offers greater scope for exploration. Iain comes from a long line of mariners - four generations. His great-grandfather was a naval diver who wore the standard dress and lead boots. Before the war, he ran a salvage company in Dunbar, 20 miles north of Eyemouth. Iain - who learned the ropes on his father's trawler - has all the qualifications that you would expect from a charter boat skipper, including RYA advanced power boat, first aid, O2 administration, sea survival, fire fighting, VHF radio operator's certificate and a RYA diesel engine course. The North Star was built by Port Isaac Workboats of Wadebridge, Cornwall and is a standard offshore 105 with a few modifications. The Ford Sabre 280hp diesel engine is so clean and polished you could eat kippers off it! Cleanliness is a running theme with this boat - long after you are ashore and packing up your kit, Iain is rinsing off the deck to ensure it's spotless for the next party. This is especially important, as he sometimes takes parties of anglers out, and as we all know, there's a time and 'plaice' for everything! Above the engine cover, stainless-steel rails run along the centre line, making ideal anchoring points for heavy twin-sets. It's an easy and comfortable way to kit up - just sit on the engine cover and slip into your wing. Once the wing is on, the seats are high and deep enough to make it completely comfortable to sit as you wait to get in the water. It's a little tight to get 12 twin-set divers kitted up in this fashion, but I'd say it readily accommodates ten. The shelf at the stern of the boat has been removed and this affords extra deck space. This boat provides something of a novelty for local divers, as it has a side-mounted ladder that runs up the starboard hull of the boat - you have to twist yourself around when you reach the top. It made for easy access to the boat in the relatively calm weather, but I think it could be a little tricky in a swell. Iain or a crewmember is there for you, ready to grab a fin and help you aboard. Once you're back in, it's never long before the hot drinks are on offer along with some of Iain's mother's home-made shortbread. Bliss! I've dived from the North Star a few times now and I have been impressed by Iain's pro-active attitude to helping divers get the most from their time with him. He was only too keen to put us on the new wreck, East Neuk, and will happily travel distances to take you to your chosen site. His is the only charter boat in the area that will take you well north of the usual St Abb's Head sites, or further south down to Burnmouth. Last year, Iain even took a party of divers out to the extremely exposed Bell Rock, an exposed site right out in the North Sea. If you have a fancy for trying a new site, Iain is certainly willing and capable and has the electronics in the wheelhouse to give a decent chance of success.
Skipper: Iain Easingwood and his boat North Star are fairly recent additions to the Eyemouth diving scene. Operating since February 2004, they provide a diver-friendly service and represent a good opportunity to explore this fascinating stretch of coast. St Abbs to the north always steals the limelight, but I believe the diving out of Eyemouth in sout
heast Scotland is just as good, and offers greater scope for exploration. Iain comes from a long line of mariners - four generations. His great-grandfather was a naval diver who wore the standard dress and lead boots. Before the war, he ran a salvage company in Dunbar, 20 miles north of Eyemouth. Iain - who learned the ropes on his father's trawler - has all the qualifications that you would expect from a charter boat skipper, including RYA advanced power boat, first aid, O2 administration, sea survival, fire fighting, VHF radio operator's certificate and a RYA diesel engine course. The North Star was built by Port Isaac Workboats of Wadebridge, Cornwall and is a standard offshore 105 with a few modifications. The Ford Sabre 280hp diesel engine is so clean and polished you could eat kippers off it! Cleanliness is a running theme with this boat - long after you are ashore and packing up your kit, Iain is rinsing off the deck to ensure it's spotless for the next party. This is especially important, as he sometimes takes parties of anglers out, and as we all know, there's a time and 'plaice' for everything! Above the engine cover, stainless-steel rails run along the centre line, making ideal anchoring points for heavy twin-sets. It's an easy and comfortable way to kit up - just sit on the engine cover and slip into your wing. Once the wing is on, the seats are high and deep enough to make it completely comfortable to sit as you wait to get in the water. It's a little tight to get 12 twin-set divers kitted up in this fashion, but I'd say it readily accommodates ten. The shelf at the stern of the boat has been removed and this affords extra deck space. This boat provides something of a novelty for local divers, as it has a side-mounted ladder that runs up the starboard hull of the boat - you have to twist yourself around when you reach the top. It made for easy access to the boat in the relatively calm weather, but I think it could be a little tricky in a swell. Iain or a crewmember is there for you, ready to grab a fin and help you aboard. Once you're back in, it's never long before the hot drinks are on offer along with some of Iain's mother's home-made shortbread. Bliss! I've dived from the North Star a few times now and I have been impressed by Iain's pro-active attitude to helping divers get the most from their time with him. He was only too keen to put us on the new wreck, East Neuk, and will happily travel distances to take you to your chosen site. His is the only charter boat in the area that will take you well north of the usual St Abb's Head sites, or further south down to Burnmouth. Last year, Iain even took a party of divers out to the extremely exposed Bell Rock, an exposed site right out in the North Sea. If you have a fancy for trying a new site, Iain is certainly willing and capable and has the electronics in the wheelhouse to give a decent chance of success. What we liked Clean, fast boat with good seating and kitting-up areas, and a willing skipper. What we didn't like The ladder can be difficult in a swell, the head is cramped and there is no stowage at the seats. Boat: Offshore 105 Moored: Eyemouth Harbour, Berwickshire, Scotland Engine: Ford Sabre 280hp Cruising speed: 14 knots Head: one standard marine headMax passengers: 12, plus two crew Optimum passengers: ten, plus crewCharter rate: £25 per diver for two dives on weekends; £20 during the week, group discounts available (prices may have risen since 2005)
Range: Burnmouth to Fast Castle, Bell Rock and Forth wrecks
Contact: 07780 823884,
Email: marine.quest@btinternet.comWebsite: http://www.marine-quest.co.uk/
Iain and Jim have now added the new Boat Silver Sky to their fleet. I will be preparing a review shortly. Keep checking my blog for details
No comments:
Post a Comment