St Margaret’s Hope
September 1, 2020
1 Sep 2020. Our final HM to visit in Orkney was Billy Norquay. Norquay is a very Orcadian name, and Billy can trace his family back to the Vikings! Please watch the video on slide 10 to hear his very distinctive Orcadian accent - it is very different from Scottish.
Billy was so friendly, welcoming us into his harbour of St Margaret's Hope which was created by its own Act of Parliament in 1904, so uniquely, not controlled by Orkney Council. His farmhouse looks down over the harbour entrance and he spotted us sailing in at 7pm, politely suggesting we do not anchor in the way of the large red ferry "Alfred" which has a reputation for ignoring moored yachts! He has been HM since 2012 after a career as a trawlerman, but like most true Orcadians his roots are in farming.
The harbour is what I would describe as a wheeling-dealing harbour with a bit of everything. Apart from a busy ferry timetable, Billy oversees a boatyard where some of the early fish farm cages were constructed from old oil pipes (see photos 7 and 8). The harbour has been extended by the clever use of a floating barge from Holland and as in most Orkney harbours the fish farm boats were busy loading up with fish feed.
However.....probably the most unique thing about this harbour is the Assistant Harbour Master - Billy's father...also Billy! Old Billy still ties up the ferry on every sailing come rain or shine at the grand old age of 80. Rest assured this tradition will carry on for many years - young Billy (Billy the HM - keep up!), has a son.....called Billy, who no doubt one day will also be Harbour Master in this very special corner of Orkney. Thank you to all Billys for their wonderful hospitality.
Billy was so friendly, welcoming us into his harbour of St Margaret's Hope which was created by its own Act of Parliament in 1904, so uniquely, not controlled by Orkney Council. His farmhouse looks down over the harbour entrance and he spotted us sailing in at 7pm, politely suggesting we do not anchor in the way of the large red ferry "Alfred" which has a reputation for ignoring moored yachts! He has been HM since 2012 after a career as a trawlerman, but like most true Orcadians his roots are in farming.
The harbour is what I would describe as a wheeling-dealing harbour with a bit of everything. Apart from a busy ferry timetable, Billy oversees a boatyard where some of the early fish farm cages were constructed from old oil pipes (see photos 7 and 8). The harbour has been extended by the clever use of a floating barge from Holland and as in most Orkney harbours the fish farm boats were busy loading up with fish feed.
However.....probably the most unique thing about this harbour is the Assistant Harbour Master - Billy's father...also Billy! Old Billy still ties up the ferry on every sailing come rain or shine at the grand old age of 80. Rest assured this tradition will carry on for many years - young Billy (Billy the HM - keep up!), has a son.....called Billy, who no doubt one day will also be Harbour Master in this very special corner of Orkney. Thank you to all Billys for their wonderful hospitality.