Mary Craig

March 21st: Mary Craig (A263)

Was in the local book shop for a wee browse at lunchtime. It's good to stretch the legs. I was having a swatch at the history section for a book about pirates.

Not just any old pirates but one telling me about drunk Aberdonian pirates on a trawler called Mary Craig way back in 1970. That's her in the picture above. It was the last act of Piracy recorded in Scottish waters.

The crew got pretty drunk on diesel or something and overcame the skipper, locking him in his cabin. They then kicked him off the boat with the chief engineer and two others. They were last heard uttering that they were on their way to South America in search of God knows what. Probably aztec bars, chocolate or gold though, I wonder?

Ah the mind of the drunk, ye cannae beat it. My faither was the chief engineer on the Mary Craig many years ago but he wasn't a part of this renegade bunch or their story, it was a different crew. I don't know if that makes me happy or sad cause it would have left great stories to tell yet they all ended up in jail for a couple of years as a result and I'm glad he didnae have to go through that. It must have been some hooch. Is that what they call a Rum do?

It would be great to think of the rebel soul being a pirate. He did take a bucket right enough! Ahh ha me hearties!.