It’ s not every day we see a new liveaboard launched on the UK scene, so Yo-Han Cha eagerly checks out out the Jayne Pearl
YO-HANCHA
Pearl of wisdom
It’ s not every day we see a new liveaboard launched on the UK scene, so Yo-Han Cha eagerly checks out out the Jayne Pearl
The smell of freshly baked bread awoke me from my sleep. It took a moment to remember that I was on the Jayne Pearl, the latest liveaboard to operate in the Sound of Mull, and not some boutique bed and breakfast. Chris Thompson and Liz Tallentire bought and converted a 19-metre ex-Danish fishing boat around eight years ago and I’ ve been keenly following their progress, usually from afar, although Chris has let me jump on a couple of occasions to see how it was shaping up.
This year they started taking diving charters and when I had the opportunity to jump on board for a long weekend in the Sound of Mull, I very happily did so. It was a motley group of five divers that set off from Lochaline in what looked to be a very interesting weekend’ s weather forecast. Any hopes of venturing outside of the Sound were definitely blown out, but Chris and Liz were confident that they’ d be able to find us safe diving within it.
Talking of safety, the boat briefing provided us with clear instructions on where everything was and what to do or don’ t, all with our safety and wellbeing in mind. The one that I remembered best was to stay out of their way and not try to help when they were doing boat stuff. They say that they work well together but when others try to assist – albeit with the best of intentions – it often hinders more than it helps. Chris and Liz can both skipper and they take it in turns, so this weekend Liz was driving the boat while Chris was cooking and acting as deckhand.
I’ ve known Chris for years and never had he once ever shown an interest in cooking. However, we were welcomed on board with a lovely chilli and over the course of the weekend he proved that there was more to his talents than being a grease monkey; in fact he was a dab hand in the galley.
The accommodation below decks was lovely and even had a second living room. The shower was the most spacious I’ ve ever seen on a British liveaboard. There were marine toilets on both levels. There was
“ Despite the Force 7 winds howling around us, Liz always found us safe sites to go diving”
also a well-built charging station where we could all safely charge our batteries.
The diver lift was only a few steps from the kitting area with plenty of hand holds and once Liz( an excellent skipper) gave the signal, we would giant stride into one of my favourite diving locations. Despite the Force 7 winds howling around us, Liz always found us safe sites to go diving and we still managed three of the Sound’ s wrecks, the Shuna, the Rondo and my personal favourite, the Hispania. There was also wall diving, some within the Sound and a dive in Loch Sunart, which made me, squidge lover that I am, very happy.
I had a fantastic weekend. All the charters operating in the Sound of Mull do so at a very high bar and the Jayne Pearl well and truly met expectations. Liz was a wonderful skipper and Chris an excellent chef. They both really went out of their way to ensure that we had a great time above and below the Sound of Mull. �
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