East End Fishing Competition 2000

When you can hear the waves on the North Shore from the head of Bousd Bay it is said, the weather will hold fair. And so it was to be as boats were dragged, levered and lifted down to a reluctant incoming tide on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the end of July. Fishing was as dour as the tide with nothing moving and only those who hit on sparsely scattered shoals of mackerel seeing any action. Many nautical miles were covered in a vain search for the fish that 'had been there all last week' and local knowledge was to no avail as a Westend boat in the form of Bata Geal came in the clear winner. Now in its fourth year this was the first time that the Johnnie McInnes trophy had gone to a boat outwith the Eastend. Congratulations are in order then to Alex Maclean-Bristol and crew and they'll have to be at their best next year to defend their hard won trophy!

Crews and spectators gathered in the evening for the traditional barbecue and ceilidh at the head of Bousd Bay. Entertainments were a trifle thin on the ground but all appeared to make the most of an excellent evening. Next year we are promised a five piece band courtesy of Neil Morrison from Craignure, so let's hope for audible waves on the North Shore again.

J.F