My last trip

[vic mcclymont]

As I have sated previously, I sailed on the SA VAAl and the Clan Ranald.
In the summer of 1973, we were ordered to take a voyage off as we all had accumulated to much leave.
My younger brother announced that he was getting married in September, and that I was Best Man.
I had decided that I was coming ashore and wrote to the Company instructing them that I would be leaving and giving notice, they agreed.
They also requested that I did one costa trip on the CLAN MACGILLIVARY from Avonmouth to Glasgow via Belfast, I agreed.
The accommodation on the VAAL was spacious bit nothing in comparison with the Clan RANALD. the RANALD had a 3/4 width bunk a long desk and a daybunk and fitted wardrobe.
When I joined the MACGILLIVARY her accommodation beat the RANALD hands down, the cabin was very spacious, finished in wood rather than laminates. The cabin also had an ensuite, very nice, it was ex passenger accommodation.

When we sailed from Avonmouth I stood on the tops watching the valve gear in amazement, on the RANALD the valve gear rocked back on forth, on MAcG. it was like watching a bird flexing its wings. The second asked me what was wrong, nothing was the reply, just amazing to watch.
The diesels on the MacG. nice slow speed diesel Rustons 500 rpm, quiet in comparisons with 1800rpm R.R.
It was at that point I had wished I had sailed on an older Clannie.
After arriving in Glasgow, and her survey complete, I left the company.
Vic
The big difference between the both ships was the noise from the diesels, the RANALD was a constant whine, whereas the MacG. just purred.

[Les Woodard]

Vic I reckon I understand your feelings mate. Being only a deck hand myself I found that the Southland Star that I signed on was similar in the aspect that everything was clean and modern. All push button gear the one thing that it did not have was the atmosphere of the old tubs and personally I could not handle it hence jumping ship as soon as I got to Oz. I know there where plenty of the older ships that I could have signed on if I stuck it out but could see the writing on the wall as to the future of the MN. Looking back what this idiot should have done was to have tried to have changed ships in Oz with some sucker that could see the clean lines of the Southland and fallen for it. Such is life as Ned said.

[robpage]

the older Clan ships had wooden paneling in the salon and lounge / bar , they had exquisite marquetry pictures built into the panels , the pictures showed areas the Clan was based in , glens , mountains etc , the varnish was standard yacht varnish , some bright spark decided this was a fire risk and they were all painted over in the mid 1960's in pale green