This is how Brian Baxter remembers it:

“A new boat named the ‘Mackay Seagull’ in honour of Hugh was built in the Training Centre at Cammel Laird Shipyard and went into operation at Ratho in 1986. The new boat was based on the original Yarrow design but incorporated many refinements. In particular increased space at the bow to enable wheelchair passengers to enjoy the sunshine and the larger stern deck to help passengers to steer the vessel using the Yarrow design. It is worth recording the debt owed to British Shipbuilders for the generous contribution they made to the early work of the Trust. They have been responsible for the completion of three first class vessels for a total sum of £26,000. Generous indeed.”

Norman Simpson’s notes for 1986 give detail:

“Mr Murray Easton of Cammel Laird at Birkenhead, who was the son of Sir Robert Easton of Yarrows, contacted the Trust to ask if Cammel Laird could build a boat for us. He informed us that they had a group of expert shipbuilders who at the moment, were idle. In terms of their contract with the company, even although there was not work for them to do, they could not be sacked. The boat could be built for £12,000, the design being similar to the ‘Yarrow’ and ‘Govan Seagulls’, so, of course, this offer was gladly accepted.

On the 26^th of January 1986 the boat was delivered to us and on 7^th July she immediately came into service, named Mackay Seagull as a tribute to our Founder Hugh Mackay. In September the naming ceremony was performed when Mrs Hugh Mackay, under the watchful eye of the then Secretary of State for Scotland, Malcom Rifkind smashed the traditional bottle of bubbly on the boat’s bow.

Ronnie Rusack adds:

“There came a point when there was a desperate need for a new vessel to give the comfort and facilities required for a new age in cruising for the disabled. Launched at Ratho in 1986, she was christened by Jean Mackay, wife of the Rev. Hugh Mackay, in the presence of Malcolm Rifkind on 12 September 1986 and her maiden voyage was to Hermiston, east of Ratho. Being built especially with the disabled in mind, she was bigger than the Crusader, specially design for comfort, better lift and an uncluttered fore deck to get the passengers into the fresh air and big windows to allow vision from a wheelchair.”

The ‘Mackay Seagull’ was built by Cammel Laird’s yard in Birkenhead near Liverpool. She required many a site visit by Hugh Mackay, Stanley Ross-Smith and myself as chauffeur. Built of warship steel with an improved design from her sister vessels the Govan and Yarrow Seagulls, she will last forever.

The near completed Mackay Seagull at Camel Lairds along with the proud apprentices who built her.