1 EAGLETON NOTES: STS Morgenster

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Friday 3 June 2016

STS Morgenster

I looked out of the window and below the house in the bay was a sailing ship.  Whilst we have the Tall Ships and occasional sail training vessels visiting Stornoway and the Islands this is the first time I have seen one anchored in the bay. It was a calm evening. The ship anchored overnight and then in the morning gently slipped away without, unfortunately from the picture point of view, unfurling her sails (which given how calm it was would have been pointless).

She was the Nederlands registered Sail Training Ship Morgenster sailing between Kirkwall and Belfast.

Carrying the name 'Vrouwe Maria', this brig was put into use in 1919 for the catching of fish in the North Sea. A motor was fitted in 1928 and in 1947 it got extended and re-measured. In 1959 the name changed into Morgenster. Later on the ship served in sport fishing and as a radio ship for Radio Del Mare. In 1993 Harry Muter bought the vessel to rebuild it into a Sail Training Ship. In 2008 the ship can be found sailing the waters of Europe once again.

First view from the house
I couldn't resist a second shot emphasising the beautiful sea
...and another emphasising the sky
Settling in for the night
It's light almost 'till midnight here on a good day at this time of year

Handsome
Calm in the dawn light

25 comments:

  1. Lovely pictures. I am surprised that the skipper didn't raise the jolly roger and send a raiding party to the shore.

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    1. Who knows YP what merry japes went on that night.

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  2. Graham, I love these photos! I love sailing ships and I would have been very excited to view this beautiful sailing ship! I clicked on the link, makes me wish I could go aboard! (Why I love ships so much I don't know!)

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    1. Yes Kay it would have been nice to have had a guided tour.

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  3. A stunning visitor to your bay. What a treat. Great photos!!

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    1. It was a beautiful evening Lynda both for mooring in the bay and for taking pictures.

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  4. What a beautiful sight, Graham. Thanks for the link, good to see her in all her glory under full sail. Loved the colours on the water. Did you find out where she was going when she stopped by your place?

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  5. What a special visitor. It's interesting how you were able to get the whole history of this ship.

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  6. It is beautiful and the mirror lke sea and tide lines set it off perfectly.

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    1. Yes Adrian the photography gods were smiling that evening.

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  7. She's a beauty, and a nice size. How lucky you are to have such visitors.

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    1. It's the first time in 23 years of living in the house that I've seen anything like it moor in the bay Cro.

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  8. Great pictures! How did you know it was the "Morgenster"? Could you actually read the name on its side? (I can't.)
    By the way, in my mind I keep adding an "n" to the end of the name. Morgenstern means morning star in German.

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    1. Meike I have an app on the iPhone entitled Marine Traffic (there is also a website) which shows where all ships are with full details. When I Googled her it also suggested Morgenstern.

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  9. How wonderful....a stunning view...one that would be difficult to take your eyes off...and I guess you didn't. :) Thanks for sharing Graham.

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    1. Yes Lee I was out for dinner that evening with friends and it was hard not to keep looking at her.

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    2. I won't respond to that! lol

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  10. Fabulous shots Graham, just love that second one!

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    1. Thanks Serenata. I popped back up the post to see which that was and happened to notice that the horizon on the first one wasn't straight so adjusted it. I'm surprised Adrian didn't admonish me.

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  11. Great photos. They make me think of Outlander, and Jamie Fraser and Clare sailing back to Scotland from France, to return to Lallybroch. xoxox

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    1. I never saw that series DeeDee. Seems I might have missed something.

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