Princess saved by a cheap car fan belt as she hits choppy seas
PRINCESS Anne has revealed that it was not all plain sailing when the engine of her £500,000 yacht suddenly broke down on a jaunt to Scotland.
The Queen’s daughter has revealed she was saved by a £15 fan belt from a humble Vauxhall Astra.
The Princess and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence were enjoying a peaceful sail off the West Coast when the Ballochbuie developed engine trouble.
The intrepid couple, who are both experienced sailors, were forced to tack their way to shelter on the Isle of Eigg in the Inner Hebrides.
They sought help to fix the problem but no one on the small island – home to only 100 people – had the necessary parts.
The only vehicles allowed on Eigg are those belonging to the islanders.
A fan belt was finally sourced in a garage 80 miles away in Tobermory on Mull.
Amused
It was taken by road to Fishnish ferry terminal and put on a ferry crossing to the mainland at Lochaline. It was then driven 70 miles north to Mallaig, where another ferry crossed to Eigg.
The Princess Royal, who is president of the Royal Yachting Association, revealed her experience to fellow yachtswoman Celia Bull, who lives on Eigg, at the London Boat Show.
Miss Bull, who runs a yacht charter business, said: “A request was sent out and the good folk of Tobermory commandeered a Vauxhall Astra fan belt to set the royal engine to rights.
“She said it was a really good memory – she loves sailing around the Inner Hebrides.
“The Princess was quite amused the fan belt came off an Astra and was impressed by the resourcefulness of people here finding a way of getting something to work.
“When she came over to the Sail Scotland stand she was not expecting a yachtswoman from Eigg – her face lit up and she told the story.
“You cannot cool the engine without the pumps working. It doesn’t matter if it is a £500 boat or a £500,000 boat – you need a fan belt.”
Ms Bull said of Anne and Sir Tim’s mishap: “Tacking in as they did showed that they are good skilful sailors.”
The Princess and her husband keep Ballochbuie, a Rustler 44 yacht, at Ardfern, a tiny hamlet on Loch Craignish in Argyll.
Launched in 2012, it is named after an ancient forest on the Balmoral estate, believed to be one of the couple’s favourite walks. They spent their honeymoon on the estate in 1992.
The boat took more than eight months to build to Anne and Sir Tim’s specifications – including twin cabins, a large galley and lounge areas.
On their regular Scottish sailing trips they often visit lighthouses – a particular passion of the Princess, who is patron of the Northern Lighthouse Board.
She wants to “bag” every one of Scotland’s 205 main navigational beacons and is believed to be past the half-way mark.
The fan belt was sourced from Mackay’s Garage – the only one in Tobermory.
Owner John Mackay, 65, said: “We do get yachtsmen wanting fan belts for their engines. The Astra belt must match the pulley size on the boat’s engine.
“It’s great to think we helped Anne out.”