Rivals Feud Over Sky Sight-Seeing Trips

Feb 24 2008 Exclusive by Billy Paterson

SKIPPER Seumas Mackinnon's ancestor risked death to ferry Bonnie Prince Charlie from Elgol on the Isle of Skye.

Now, 262 years later Seumas, 58, faces his own battle - a threat to the sight-seeing trips he runs from the same village.

His Misty Isle Boat Trips are under attack from David Brown, who took over rival firm Bella Jane four years ago.

Brown, 49, reported his rival skipper to the Advertising Standards Authority claiming he wrongly promised tourists they would see whales, dolphins, basking sharks and golden eagles.

Mackinnon, who has run island boat tours since 1967 and last year sailed with MP Charles Kennedy as part of the ITV show Britain's Favourite Views, said: "I've had no problem refuting his complaints. They were all thrown out. I can't understand what this is about. At one time there were four of us running trips from Elgol and we all got on well."

Brown reported Mackinnon, to the ASA over a Misty Isle leaflet and poster he claimed were misleading.

He objected to the claim that Mackinnon's tour was "the only locally owned and run boat trip in Elgol".

But the ASA threw out the complaint after finding that Bella Jane's registered HQ was in York and its directors' address was in Inverness.

Brown also claimed Mackinnon's customers were misled about wildlife they would see on the trip. But the ASA ruled: "The ad made clear it was not certain that all, or any, of that wildlife would be seen."

Brown dismissed the ASA finding as "absurd" and vowed to appeal.

He said: "Some of the findings are highly erroneous. They seem to accept we are based in York or Inverness which couldn't be further from the truth. We are clearly based in Elgol."

Prince Charlie famously dressed as a woman to flee to Skye. Seumas's ancestor John Mackinnon then ferried the prince from Elgol to the mainland after hiding him in a cave.

MAILFILE

Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) was son of James, the exiled claimant to the British throne.

1745: Landed in Scotland to begin a campaign to restore the Stuart dynasty.

At first successful, the campaign faltered at Derby and his forces retreated.

1746: Decisively defeated at Culloden, near Inverness.

Charles' flight, including the ferry to Skye, became a Scottish legend