The Invergordon Archive

I had the pleasure of sailing on the Prince Louis in 1959 whilst attending Burghead Outward Bound School. It was nicknamed the 'Speewy Louis' as most us who sailed on it were sea sick. I still have fond memories.

I had the pleasure of spending 4 weeks on the Prince Louis after she was sold to the Dulveton Trust and sailed out of Corpach in 1967 and she was still captained by Commander Victor Clark. I would like any info as to the whereabouts of the Prince Louis.

I sailed on Prince Louis in March 1959 whilst attending Burghead Outward Bound School.

I sailed from Loch Torridon to the Inner Hebrides on the speewey Louis straight after a 50 mile cycle ride though the Highlands and 20 mile walk whilst on an Outward bound course at Burghead from June 4th to July 4th 1964. I was one of the very few who were not sea sick and as result was on night watches! This stood me in good stead when in my late 50s I sailed across the English Channel in the tallship Stavros Niarcos.

To Alastair Maclean who contributed 22 April 2012:
The Prince Louis has been renamed and refitted as The Bel Espoir 11, still a training ship and was last photographed on April 26th 2012 at Toulon La Seyne France.

Thanks to all who replied to my email about the Prince Louis. I wonder if anyone who was on her when she sailed from Corpach would like to get in touch? I remember one of the crew was a Mr. Mortimer. We also tore the mainsail as we crossed from Tobermory to Stornoway in a force 10 gale and took shelter in a bay about 15 miles south of Stornoway for 2-3 days and had to send a shore party to Stornoway for supplies. I hope this can jog someone's memory.

I attended the month long course at Outward Bound Moray Sea School, Burghead in November 1965 and have very fond memories of Prince Louis. I was a member of Hawkins watch, under Mr Jeavons and we sailed spewey Louis to the Orkneys staying at Stromness and Scapa pier, Kirkwall. The return trip to the Moray Firth has everlasting memories, crossing the Pentland Firth at night and being Outer Jib Man - reefing in gale force conditions!! It would be great to hear from anyone that was on that Course as well. Could you please help also with the current location of Prince Louis/Bel Espoir 11, because having recently revisited the Orkneys after 46 years it would be great to see that fine ship one more time.

More detail of Prince Louis can be found here www.tallship-fan.de/index_e.htm,
Present location is sailing off the coast of Brittany, France.

Lovely to see the Prince Louis - it would be magic if we could see her in Burghead one more time; I'm sure many others think the same. Always wonder what happened to her; thank you for sharing all the news about her.

I too sailed on the Prince Louis in the summer of 1964. It was designed to create an experience that was supposed to prepare myself and others for our future as police officers. I often wonder of it was just designed to frighten us to death!!!!
My overriding memories were of a French youth whose father had sent him along to toughen him up. All of his clothing was not designed for the cold of the Cairngorm mountains, even in the Summer. I remember as well the snow ball fights whilst on the WALK.
He was so nervous most of the time that when in charge of the ship's bell he took a dunking over the side in the bosun's chair for ringing it like Westminster Chimes!!! Anybody out there remember him??

My brother sailed on the Prince Louis, it was the Moray Sea School. They left from Greenock and went up the west coast; this was July 1955. We have been trying to get a few photos of the trip as his was lost long time ago; we would like to surprise him with photos. He lives in Cape Town S/Africa so if anyone can help it would be great. I will give you my husbands email.

I was also on the Prince Louis when the force 10 caused us to take shelter. I still have my ship diary.

As a member of Drake watch I sailed on the "Louis" in April 1956, aged 14. Fantastic trip which started with being stormbound in the Dornoch Firth for 24hrs after which we were short of time and sailed to Wick. Fantastic wee voyage which kick started me into the Merchant Navy as a Deck Officer with Christian Salvesen.

When I was in Invergordon Academy, about 1958, probably on 4th year, some of our class were offered a sail on the Prince Louis. I was one of the lucky ones, and I remember it was the first time I had ever steered with a wheel instead of a tiller.

Hi Donald. I think I was on the Prince Louis for the same trip. I believe it was the rector Mr. Milton and Bill Smith who arranged everything.

David Hughes, I would like to share info with you on this trip as i have lost my ship's log. I am also on Facebook, hope to hear from you.

I went to Moray Sea School April 1958. I've lost my photo of my watch but I still have my log book.

I was at Burghead in February 1962. We went to Lossiemouth to bring the ship back to Burghead but unfortunately we also got caught in a force10 and had to take shelter in the Dornoch firth. We were a mixed bunch as I was a school boy from Glasgow (nicknamed shorty) there was a wine taster a police officer (Lofty from Fife) and a spurs supporter who worked at whitbreads.

I sailed on the Prince Louis about 1961? Unfortunately, we also got caught in a force 10 and had to take shelter. All but one of the boys from Moray sea school all sick. Still alive Ausy Australia

Hi, I sailed on this beautiful ship as a 14 year oldin 1960 as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. I gained my silver badge, and I have always remembered our motto: To strive to Serve, but not to Yield.
I was wondering if there was a way to find a photo of the boys from when I was there.

I sailed on Prince Louis to Norway in 1965 with winners of the Warden badges. Fantastic although traumatic in force 8 gales it was an experience never to be forgotten.

I remember the Prince Louis as a regular visitor to Invergordon harbour. Looking at her now, she seems a lot smaller than my memories tell me. In terms of being a "training ship" I imagine this must have related to boys from public schools?

This time sixty years ago we motored down the East coast, the wind being contrary, to Edinburgh calling in at Dundee on the way. There was some anniversary celebration to attend in Edinburgh where the ship was opened to the public with an official visit by the Lord Provost. It was busy and yes!! I think almost everyone was rather seasick both on the voyage down and back! The voyage back was curtailed at Fraseburgh where another crew was motored in and we were motored back to the school. Although we were now getting used to sailing I don't think there were any objections to having to travel on dry land!!

My Grandfather, Commander Roland Boddy was the Master of the Prince Louis..I have the framed photograph he was given on his retirement, dated June 1962. Wondering if anyone remembers sailing with him?

I was an apprentice ship-fitter in Chatham Dockyard and was chosen to attend Outward Bound at Burghead in about 1957. After a weeks hike to get to and climb Ben Nevice we sailed the Prince Louis from Burghead to Rosyth Dockyard and moored her beside a brand new RN Frigate. I forget her name but we were able to collapse the sails in the traditional way as we came alongside to the cheers of the RN sailors. It really made us realise just how her size was compared to a warship. I remember she carried 4,500 sq ft of canvas and had a 145hp engine (I think). Happy memories.

I sailed on the Prince Louis in June 1964.We departed from Loch Ailort,sailed to Barra in the Outer Hebrides,thence up the West coast of Skye ,then into Loch Torridon.My best memories are from anchoring in Castlebay harbour. Two of us took our turn on watch on the Saturday night,well really a couple of hours early Sunday morning.One of our main tasks was to ensure we did not drag our anchors. Imagine our consternation when we discovered that the bearings we had been given for landmarks had changed and we could be drifting.I don't know how many times we checked the bearings to make sure we were correct.The main reason being that the first mate was ,in our youthful opinion , a terrifying fellow ,and we did not fancy waking him in the middle of the night.Fortunately we were drifting,so in our opinion at least we were the heros of the hour.On the Sunday morning, to much groans and moans we were told we would be going to church and were matched up to that beautiful church on the hill. Imagine the change of mood and pleasure when it became obvious that news had obviously got àround of all the good looking young men in town ! Most of the female teenage population seemed to be in church.Cue much preening and animation. Bear in mind Outward Bound was single sex in those days and we hadn't seen any girls since a mountain top in the Mamore mountains,eight days earlier when a similar reaction occurred. Happy days !

I was in Hawkins Watch at the Outward Bound Moray Sea school between 30th July to 24th August 1962.
I sailed on the Prince Louis off the West Coast. We visited Staffa Island and Fingal's Cave, Iona, Rhum and Muck. The lead Instructor on the course was A.F. Mongomery. For me this time was brilliant. I still have the handwritten diary we had to keep during our time.

I sailed Prince Louis in the summer (probably August) of 1964 as part of my Outward Bound course. We were honoured by a visit (not on the ship) by Kurt Hahn the founder of Outward Bound. Joined the ship in Loch Linnhe and anchored one night in Tobermorey and one night in Kinloch, Rum. Poor weather and I was one of only two not seasick - so spent a lot of time at the wheel.Cannot remember the Captains name but he was RN.

my earlier voyage comments were 1961 - not 1962 as stated.

I was on the Prince Lewis Hood Watch during my Outward Bound course at Moray in August 1963. We sailed from Duart Bay to Loch Sunart. Commander Clark was captain. Others on board, David Newlands, Ian McCreadie, James Kirkland, Simon McCall, Denis Forman, James Lanfrank, Stan Burrows, Ian Shaw, Rob Sweeting, R Chilcott, Duncan Crombie.

I have a very good quality picture of the 'Prince Louis' when I was in Hawkins Watch from 30th July to 24th August 1962. I also have a picture of our watch.

Would be interesting to see, why don't you post your pictures on this site Alex.

I would most appreciate seeing a good picture of the Prince Louis it gave me a great sense of adventure and fond memory

A message to David McLaren who in the comment above posted about joining the ship in Lochailort. I live there and would be curious (if you read this) to know what took you to Lochailort and what / if any connections you had there?

Comment to Gary Burton I am sorry but my husband David McLaren died in January this year. All I know is how much he enjoyed the sea school experience and the effect it had on his life all for the good.

I had my 18th Birthday on The Prince Louis: November 1966. An unforgettable month round the Western isles - and I was awarded The Captains Award!!

Later Commander Victor Clarke gave me his Book "On the Wind of a Dream".

I was in Hawkins watch 1958 sailed on Prince Louis from Burghead to Invergordon where we disembarked and walked the 70 mile course from there across Scotland to Ullapool can still remember the month long experience at moray sea school loved it

I am the Duncan Crombie mentioned in John Swallow's log of our time on the Prince Louis in August 1963. I had just left school before embarking on a career as a ship's draughtsman on the River Clyde. The Prince Louis was an unforgettable experience and I also was one of the "few" not sea-sick on the voyage.

I am Jim Kennedy and I attended The Outward Bound at Burghead in 1959. It is with fond memories that I remember the Prince Louis. We sailed from Burghead to Montrose anchoring in Cruden Bay overnight. I was nineteen at the time and a member of Ardeer Athletic club so pretty fit. One night we had mince and dough balls for dinner, I ate one dough ball and some mince when I felt sick. I caught the first mouthful of sickness in my mouth got up from the bench seat and headed to the open backed steps to the deck. I only got on the second step when up came another bout of sickness, as my mouth was already full I had no option but to let fly with the sickness which flew between the stairtreads and landed on the table below. There was a pause of a few seconds then a mad rush by my fellow shipmates for the stairs, I burst out laughing at the scene. We also travelled from Burghhead to Ben Nevis by single speed bicycles alongside the Caledonian Canal, camping on route, climbed Ben Nevis then cycled back to Burghead a round trip of 202 miles. The whole experience of Outward Bound at Burghead was wonderful and full of happy memories especialy the 6.00am rise for a cold shower.

I remember the Louis well and even in my youth I was aware that this was an "adventure" boat for boys from a well off background. For the average Invergordon boy ..a voyage on the Louis was far beyond their wildest dreams.There was a vogue in the 50's and 60's for boys to be "toughened" through having a challenging experience. Gordonstoun School was another of those "toughening" establishments. Prince Charles was sent there by Prince Phil but I dont think he ever did the Prince Louis thing. Surprising as it was a de-riguer treat for young toffs....

I attended in the late 50s and far from just boys from a'well off background' I recall that there was a considerable proportion of average young Glaswegians some of whom had been directed there by the courts. I recall the accents as rather extreme in some instances!!

I well remember the Prince Louis during my school days 1960 - 1970, coming to Pan Bay, near Scapa Flow in Orkney. I also remember one day she grounded on a sand bank and the crew had to drop the sails and wait for flowing tide to get her off. No damage and she was off again.

My husband, Andrew McCall, did an Outward Bound course on the Prince Louis II at Burghead in 1961 from 27 August to 20th September.
He was 18.8 years old, as it says on the front of his log book. It makes interesting and amusing reading. He talks of Hawkins on Watch and Mackenzie as Warden. Some of his fellow participants were Angus Dunlop; Mike Gardiner; Graham Howells, Dick Gee and Tommy Orr. He also describes helming in a hurricane off the Kyle of Lochalsh and Loch Nevis and then trying to drop anchor outside Mallaig Harbour as they were unable to make their way in. He enjoyed the experience despite the tough conditions and talked of it often.
Sadly he now has Alzheimer's and no longer remembers any details.
I would love to have a photo of the participants on that course to pass to our grandsons so if anyone has one please get in touch.

I attended the Moray Sea School at Burghead in 1967 during which time I had the pleasure of sailing on the Prince Louis. Does anyone know what happened to the ship and where it is now ?

Prince Louis was renamed BEL ESPOIR II. If you search under that name there are a number of youtube videos available. All commentaries are in French, but it appears her hull was replaced so only a replica of the original lives on.

I did an Outward Bound Course at the Moray Sea School in July-Aug 1963 and turned 18 in the last week of it. I can remember being elected Watch Captain of my Watch but can't remember the Watch name. I do remember Major Steptoe as Head of the School who inspected our clean and prepped Watch room every day. We got better and better at preparing for inspection and one morning we were convinced that he would find no fault whatsoever. He came in as we stood by our beds, all of us looking supremely confident. He looked at nothing but took a chair, propped it under a ceiling light, took out his brilliant white hankerchief, stepped on the chair and ran the hankie around the top of the lampshade. He didn't look at it, just held it up so that we could all see that it was covered with dust then stepped down and walked out of the room. We just groaned!
The Prince Louis was also known to us as the Spewy Louis because it was said that it would roll on a wet lawn.
My Watch struggled with the Kayak Capsize Drill which had to be completed 3 times within a tight timeframe. We ended up, with the deadline for the Expedition fast approaching, having to do it on a summer's evening. By carefully selecting the capsized pair, we managed it. I remember, during our 3 days on The Spewy, visiting Iona and Fingal's Cave on Staffa.
We had rain on the last 3 days of our 6-day hike and I can remember so clearly having to always keep a dry set of clothing. You would sleep in that then have to pull the wet ones back on for the next days hike. Character building!
My wife and I left Scotland in 1971 for a new life in New Zealand but we have fond memories of the auld country. I re-discovered hiking in 2001 when I retired and hiked several thousand kms over some of the best country in the North and South Islands of NZ before hanging up my boots in 2015. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to complete that course and to the Instructors for pushing as hard as they did.

I have fond memories of sailing on the Prince Louis from Gourock to outer Hebrides even visiting St. Kilda. Our captain was commander Victor Clark. I think it would be August 1966, I was one of 2 from John Summers Steelworks sent on Outward Bound. Wonderful experience.

We used to spend our holidays in Burghead in the late 50s, the Prince Louis was a great fascination for me, probably that’s why I owned my own sailboat for many years, as a wee boy I also sailed on the fishing boat called the Dilagence out of Burghead, great memories, now live on Lake Erie, Canada

Sailed on the prince luis 1958 from burghead to Invergorden then 70 mile hike from there to ullapool
Gained my silver badge and enjoyed every moment . I was 17 years old at that time . The fittest I had ever been after that months course .

I sailed on the prince louis in august 1965. We sailed from Burghead to stromness and back to Inverness. It was part of the outward bound course which at that time was 4 weeks. The tides and winds on the first day were such that the ship called the spewey Louis came to the fore. I was on kitchen duties and the first meal of the day was kippers and peas. Because of the sea sickness by most of the ‘crew’ no one needless to say wanted kippers. People wanted something to eat and I was dishing up sandwiches in jam. Going up onto deck I was quite chuffed to have my sea legs and not be sea sick except after a little burp it was head for the correct side to heave up.
The cook said in all the years he had been at sea he had never suffered sea sickness and then it happened to him as well.
57 years ago jeezy peeps!! But it was a supe experience sailing on the Prince Louiss

I am Irish, & joined the Prince Louis in Summer 1966. We sailed to Jura, and then hit a major gale en route to St Kilda in the Outer Hebrides. We returned via Fingals Cave and Iona. It was a fascinating journey. Luckily I was not sea sick! The company was great, and I was impressed by Victor Clarke and his staff.

My name is Ron Gemmell and at the age of 16 in the 1960s, both myself and a school pal, Thomas Bickle, were selected to attend the Moray Sea School at Burghead. With numerous activities during our month long stay, was a seamanship adventure on the schooner Prince Louis. On our first visit aboard, we were all allocated on board duties. On the notice board my name had the serious sounding title of Captain of the Heads. Excited about the adventure ahead, I soon found out the the Heads aboard ship are the toilets. So my duties were mainly to hose out the Heads and stop others from using it for a fly smoke. A wonderful time was had at Burghead, and I still have lovely memories of my time there.

I was part of a group of friends who raised the Prince Louis in around 1975 in Marina Del Rey in Southern California. The person that was living on the schooner left it and didn’t return in time to run the bilge pump and it sunk in about 25 ft of water. We attached a heavy chain around hull and bolted 50 gallon drums to the chain and blew the water out of drums with compressed air until it surfaced. The 3 cylinder diesel engine started and we motored it to San Pedro. Later I heard it sunk again. It was quite an adventure

I sailed on her as part of my OB course in I think 1963. initial training out of Burghead and remember the skipper at the time hated using the engine so some fancy sail handling to get in and around the harbour entrance. Later on the course as navigator's yeoman steering her aged 15 around Skye in a force 8. Life changing experience. Went on to spend next 53 years at sea. And no the courses were not for 'toffs' most of us on my course were ordinary lads from all over, my course paid for by Lanarkshire County Council.. Such a pity these opportunities and the teaching of what you are capable of is not really available today. Lessons learned have stood me in good stead all my life and I salute the instructors at Burghead and the true sailors of the permanent crew. Believe the Louis (ex Peder Most) and now Bel Espoir II is still around, fair winds...

Trained and sailed on the Prince Louis in February 1965 we Spent a day training in the Harbour up the mast etc. Then Sailed over to Invergordon in the Cromerty Firth. Finally under sail we went up to Tsrnot Ness then back at night to Burghead. A great adventure at 15 years

Attended the OB course in January 1962, and remember sailing on the Prince Louis - and being sick along with most others. Good memories of those activities.

I was at Burghead Sea School in January 1960 and when 2 watches had our 4 days on the "Speewy Louis", there were 25 trainees on board, but only 24 bunks. I was the youngest so instead of a bunk I had a hammock dangling from the deckhead. It was only when we were anchored overnight in the Morray Firth with a North Easterly gale that they all realised that I was the lucky one.
That 4 week course changed my attitude towards life infinitely for the better.

i was on the prince louis on the outward bound course was 14 at the time i was called a tiger and had to be ready for any job going, i also was only person with a hammock to be turned out at a moments notice, it was the best time of my life, we also done many route marches across north scotland camping at a rendevue point as a small team of 4 so long ago i won my silver outer bound badge which i treasure.

I was given the job of “tiger” in course 151 1963 . We sailed across scraps floe under full sail Commander Clark organised a photographer to come and catch the moment and we were ordered to smarten up !! The pictures that had been taken I would like to access, if anybody has any clues ????

Please add your comments about this picture using the form below.

Comments


Your Name


Your email address - this will be shown on the page and will allow the system to notify you of further comments added to this picture.