I would highly recommend Rory as a pilot to any yacht Captain’s visiting Scotland.

He is a very nice guy with a large wealth of local knowledge and contacts. In terms of the itinerary and the planning of our Scotland trip, it was planned with everything considered, including weather.

Rory was able to give wonderful guidance and used his knowledge of the area and made some great decisions based on the weather as well as what was appropriate for all our guests. He was great with our whole fleet, not only amongst the guests but also the crew. He was able to use his local contacts, to make the trip so much better than what was initially planned.

A couple of things he was able to do for us were arrange local produce from little islands we cruised past as well as getting a local bagpipe player out on a rock in the water to play for us. Not to mention his Whisky nights, where he was able to share his knowledge with guests and crew.

With his passion for the ocean and enthusiasm for Scotland and Whisky, it was a delight to have him onboard.

I have known Rory and John for many years and employed both as trainee Pilots for the Clyde, both immediately showed a love of piloting and quickly progressed up in ship size to become Class 1 Pilots, capable of advising visiting master’s on some of the largest ships in the World.

In addition to the day job, both sail the West Coast of Scotland for pleasure and increasingly are now asked to assist with onboard passage planning, navigational advice, and local knowledge to assist visiting superyachts in making the most of what the West Coast of Scotland offers in a safe and pleasant manner so that visitors achieve the most from their time onboard.

As a Harbour Master and now a consultant offering Port Marine Safety Code advice to smaller Ports and Harbours in the West of Scotland I heartily recommend them to make your visit interesting, pleasant and safe

I highly recommend Rory Hamilton as a captain for any research vessel or super yacht. I worked with Rory with one of our research vessels in the Pacific at short notice in the middle of a dive expedition surveying WW2 wrecks. He immediately made a great impression, taking steps to improve the working relationship between ship's crew and the expedition team. He demonstrated professionalism and leadership from the outset and morale on board improved markedly.

Rory is a personable and engaging captain and sets the tone for an enthusiastic approach. He introduced many of the crew to some old seafaring traditions like a horse racing evening which was great fun. Despite only being on board for just over a month, he continued essential preparations for the vessel’s maintenance period and safely undertook an ocean passage across the equator to Fiji. It would be a pleasure to sail with Rory again in the future.

To the next vessel who is lucky enough to have Rory onboard, I am writing to express our utmost gratitude and satisfaction with the exceptional services provided by Mr. Rory Hamilton during our recent cruise through the Scottish Isles.

Rory served as our local Ship's Pilot for a period of time, and we can confidently say that our voyage was significantly enriched by his presence and expertise. His extensive knowledge of the region, its waters, and the intricacies of navigating through the Scottish Isles made our journey both safe and exhilarating. We were continually impressed by his keen understanding of passages and anchorages, as well as his ability to adapt to changing weather conditions, ensuring our utmost comfort and security throughout the trip.

One of the highlights of our voyage was Rory's passion for sharing the rich culture and heritage of Scotland. Every day, he treated us to an elite whisky tasting experience that was nothing short of remarkable. Rory's dedication to providing this daily whisky tasting not only delighted our senses but also deepened our appreciation for Scotland's finest traditions (including his kilt)! Rory's extensive local contacts proved to be an invaluable asset. His ability to connect us with local fishermen, Bag Pipe players, and other experts allowed us to immerse ourselves in the authentic Scottish experience.