Cruise Report 28th April 1966

Cruise Report
F.R.S. "Explorer"
28th April to 15th May 1966.

"Explorer" sailed from Aberdeen at 1930 hrs B.S.T. on 28th April in fine weather but with gales forecast. By the time Cape Wrath was reached it was clearly too rough for work and shelter was sought off Tolsta. It was not until morning of 2nd May that work was begun off the Butt of Lewis, the hydrographic line to Faroe Bank was completed about mid-day on the 4th and trawling commenced. After four trawls on the Bank strong winds and gales intervened and continued with only brief quiet periods until the end of the trip. Only twenty trawls in all were achieved despite efforts under severe conditiions. By the 13th it was too rough for trawling and as winds SE 6-8, possibly 9 or 10 were forecast work at Faroe on the 14th seemed unlikely. The Nolso-flugga line was begun but south-easterly winds 7-9 soon made hydrographic work impossible in shelf waters. There wsa no improvement further east over the deep water so work was abandoned and after a slow passage into gale-force headwinds the Orkneys were reached on the 14th. "Explorer" docked at Aberdeeen at 1000 hrs B.S.T. on Sunday 15th.

R. Johnston
19th May, 1966