The 2nd October saw club member Steve Blaney speak about cruising on the Forth. Steve is a keen sailor and has his own sailing boat ‘Sundance’ - a 23 foot Leisure class. This is a boat he has progressed to via a ‘Mirror’ dinghy and a 21 foot keel boat. 

Steve spoke of his long-time interest in sailing and his membership of Elie Sailing Club, including time spent as Commodore. He mentioned how he was also able to combine his sailing interest and publishing business, with the production of a Pilot Handbook covering all harbours on the East Coast of Scotland.

But the main part of Steve’s talk was an illustrated, even dizzying! journey around the harbours of the Firth of Forth, combining photography with this encyclopaedic knowledge of each place. It was of great interest to hear his description of each well-known and often visited, harbour - but from the sailor’s point of view.

We journeyed along the North shore of the Firth past  Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem, St Monans, Elie, Lower Largo, Methil, Dysart, Kirkcaldy, Kinghorn, Burnt Island, Aberdour, Dalgety Bay, Inverkeithing, North Queensferry and Charlestown. Then across the Forth to Blackness and its castle, on to  South Queensferry, Cramond, Granton, Musselburgh and finally to North Berwick. 

The attractions (and some dangers) of each harbour were described with a keen yachtsman’s eye - with hostelries and other places of interest added in for good measure. Steve paused at several points to emphasise his view of the importance of tourism to the Scottish economy and the opportunities he saw to expand this business as he journeyed around.

Altogether a most interesting talk and one delivered with great enthusiasm. Following questions a vote of thanks was proposed by Bill Henderson.