BLUEMOMENT

There's some kind of poem in the forward of one of the Scottish pilot books.

It talks of dramatic entrances to rocky and rough harbours with the skipper saying "go in, go in".

It's called the "Log of the Blue something" or the Rhyme of the Red Eel - clearly not either of those but something like that.

The Log of the Blue Dragon, maybe???

Can someone scratch the itch of curiosity, and put me out of my misery.

It's from The Log of the Blue Dragon (1903)

'This narrow strait' (the Sailing Directions said),
'Is full of rocks, and difficult to enter;
Whirlpools are common here at every tide;
There are uncharted reefs on every side
And currents (twenty knots) along the centre.'
'Come,' said the Skipper, 'we will go in there.'
(We went in there.)
'There is no sand' (the Sailing Directions said),
'The anchorage is thoroughly unsafe.
There is no shelter from the frequent squalls,
Save on the west, among the overfalls.
Boats should go on to Loch MacInchmaquaif.'
'Come,' said the Skipper, 'we will anchor here.'
(We anchored here.)

Silkie wrote:It's from The Log of the Blue Dragon (1903)

'This narrow strait' (the Sailing Directions said),
'Is full of rocks, and difficult to enter;
Whirlpools are common here at every tide;
There are uncharted reefs on every side
And currents (twenty knots) along the centre.'
'Come,' said the Skipper, 'we will go in there.'
(We went in there.)
'There is no sand' (the Sailing Directions said),
'The anchorage is thoroughly unsafe.
There is no shelter from the frequent squalls,
Save on the west, among the overfalls.
Boats should go on to Loch MacInchmaquaif.'
'Come,' said the Skipper, 'we will anchor here.'
(We anchored here.)

That's it, superb, thanks a lot. What's the Pilot book? Martin Lawrence? CCC?

Lawrence - The Isle of Mull and adjacent coasts.

Silkie wrote:Lawrence - The Isle of Mull and adjacent coasts.

Cheers.

Next question. Anyone read it? Is it any good? Should it go on my list for Santa?

It doesn't look as if anyone has read it but it must be at least mildly entertaining if it includes such fine poetry. I can't help thinking that by including it Lawrence was poking fun at the dire warnings he issues in his books for almost everywhere on the west coast.

Silkie wrote:It doesn't look as if anyone has read it but it must be at least mildly entertaining if it includes such fine poetry. I can't help thinking that by including it Lawrence was poking fun at the dire warnings he issues in his books for almost everywhere on the west coast.

You should read what he says about the Wash and North Norfolk Coast.