Avrella

The wooden motor trawler Lilt was launched from the Buckie yard of George Thomson & Son (Yard No 29) in December 1949. She measured 65.7′ x 19.2′ x 8.5′ and her tonnage was 49 gross tons. She was powered by a diesel engine provided by Blackstone & Co Ltd, Stamford delivering 160 brake horse power. Built to the order of three partners George Coull, James Coull  and Philip Mustard of Buckie, she was registered and operated from that port with a fishing registry of BCK 43. Following re-build and engine works she passed to new Buckie owners in 1967 and was renamed as Avrella. In 1974 she was sold to Shetland owners and re-registered as LK 174 where she remained for the rest of her fishing career finally retiring in 1985 when her fishing registry was cancelled. 

We have not been able to establish what happened following decommissioning other than she was converted for use as a private yacht, and the pictures below, courtesy of Jim Hynd, show her anchored in Loch Sunart in 1991.  

We have been unable to establish the cause or date when the Avrella sank. It would appear she sank at her mooring perhaps due to water ingress, as there are no obvious visible signs of collision.  Her mooring rope is still attached to the wreck. The Avrella lies along a steeply sloping muddy seabed on the upper west side of Loch Goil in position 56° 09.050’N, 006° 54.180’W. The. wreck, which is fully intact, lies on its starboard bilge with bow pointing south, depths range from 28 metres at seabed at the stern to 22 metres on top of the wheelhouse. Located off a large house and grounds the wreck is often buoyed with a light line and pellet buoy. 

The wreck is very photogenic, and generally has reasonable visibility, although can be a bit dark if there has been a lot of recent rainfall.

We would like to thank Jim Hynd his permission to reproduce his photographs of the Avrella taken in 1991.