Berneray Boat Club : Seòlamaidh

Boat trips out of Berneray harbour

Throughout the year we do trips around Berneray and to nearby islands.

If you would like to have a trip on the Sealladh, be it a short trip of a couple of hours or a day trip to an island, then contact Donald. Donald can also advise on other opportunities for boat trips out of Berneray harbour.

Phone: 01876 540289 or 07786 306745
Email: domhnallbeag at hotmail.com

If the tides and weather are fine (and there's enough daylight), then pretty much any of the islands on this photo can be visited on a day trip. Trips to other islands, such as Pabbay or Boreray, have also been done.

History

The Boat Club started with the Grimsay-built boat Sealladh (Gaelic for 'vision'). She was built in 1952 and had been lying for 17 years out of the water when we put her into a local shed for repairs.

Over the course of two winters, we replaced 7 planks, put in new gunnels, replaced part of the stem and stern posts, fitted a new engine, stern tube, shaft, propeller and mast step, and made a new mast out of a telegraph pole! We bought a roll of cloth out of which we made the sail.

In the summer of 2003 we started sailing with her.

Trips over the past few years

In 2005, we went to Grimsay for the boat day, sailing there the day before due to bad weather forecasts. However, the boat day turned out to be cancelled anyway due to the bad weather - but we were awarded a trophy for the furthest travelled boat!

In 2006, we sailed to the Monach Islands with eight people on board. A weekend was spent on the islands, where the boat had spent many years previously involved in lobster fishing. The boat was also left in the water over the winter, which meant we could take advantage of good breaks in the weather.

In 2007, the Mor Chaluim was taken down to Grimsay boat day. Built in 1946 and just relaunched after restoration. She was built for Fred MacLeod's grandfather, mainly for transporting peat from neighbouring islands.

The Mor Chaluim was one of the boats in the official parade, winning two prizes. During the parade, the boat was skippered by Fred, and carried ten residents of Berneray. A slideshow of the boat at the day is available online.

Trips done in 2008 included a weekend trip to the Monach islands with the Uist Childrens Parliament, the Grimsay Boat Day, a weekend in Lochmaddy doing short trips around Lochmaddy bay, a day trip to Taransay off Harris (the island used in the Castaway TV series), and various short trips out of Berneray. As part of Berneray week, along with the North Uist sailing club, we had the Sealladh and Mor Chaluim out sailing, doing short trips out of Otternish.

Membership

Membership is available to anyone (a third of members are not residents of Berneray). Membership is £20 per year and fees go towards insurance, harbour fees and boat maintenance. Non-members can buy day membership, on the spot, at a reduced rate.