大象传媒

The biggest weekend in the Isle of Mull鈥檚 calendar is the much-loved Mull Rally. The annual motorsport event attracts thousands of spectators to watch over 150 competitors in their rally cars racing the island鈥檚 closed single-track roads. One of this year鈥檚 competitors is CalMac engineer Fergus Barlow. A regular at the rally on his home island, Fergus came fourth in last year鈥檚 challenge and has his sights set on the podium. Fergus鈥檚 brother Craig has travelled all the way from New Zealand to be his navigator, and the brothers and their specially adapted Subaru Impreza rally car make the journey to the island on the MV Loch Frisa.

The crossing between Wemyss Bay and Rothesay on the Isle of Bute is covered by the MV Argyle, where a close-knit crew of seafarers live half of their lives. They work the busy commuter route in the Firth of Clyde, where they are on first-name terms with many of their regular customers. Master Lee, chief officer Paul, steward Demzy and senior deckhand Martin reflect on work and life away from family and loved ones. It is the eve of a very special holiday for Demzy, who is returning home to the Philippines to see his mother for the first time in a number of years.

We join CalMac CEO Robbie Drummond as he drives from his home to Ardrossan to join the engineering team of the MV Caledonian Isles. The trip gives him the chance to set out some of the struggles CalMac are facing and why it鈥檚 so important he hears first-hand what it鈥檚 like for his teams to deal with an aging fleet. Meanwhile, on board, chief engineer Gerry couldn鈥檛 be having a worse day as a gauge to a critical piece of the engine drops, threatening a complete engine shutdown. With the chief exec looking on, the team try to identify the problem.