Sunday, 13th June

My Crew and Keyhaven Pilot
Me at Keyhaven


The morning turned out to be brilliant with sunshine and a light wind from the SW. My friend who knows Keyhaven because he has sailed scows there for many years, joined me at Lymington. We cast off ’Ladybird’s’ lines at 0910 and kept to the channel leading to the Solent where hundreds of yachts were everywhere to be seen. A large fleet of Optimist dinghies were engaged in a racing championships.


My volunteer crew was at the helm trying to get the best out of the boat as we sailed towards Keyhaven. He took the yacht over the shallows to avoid the incoming tide. Unaccustomed to having a crew, it was a delight to have his company. A Hawk Day Boat overtook us and when she arrived to a point near the entrance to Keyhaven she ran back towards Lymington.


At the entrance of the harbour the narrow deep water channel is identified by starboard and port hand buoys: which are almost due north of Hurst Point. I had been fearful of entering Keyaven because of the narrow channel leading to the Old Quay by the Sailing Club, but my friend put me at ease. It was simply a matter of following the starboard hand buoys all the way.


Scows and other dinghies were out racing and the Club was alive with people. Youngsters were at the Quay fishing for crabs. At precisely 1200 ‘Ladybird’ was alongside the Quay and the dues were paid for one night. After having a cup of tea, my friend departed to do a good turn for a friend of his wife. Two good deeds on a Sunday, will not go un-noted. In fact, I expressed my gratitude to my crew for giving me the confidence to take ’Ladybird’ into Keyhaven. If the opportunity arises again to visit the place, I’ll certainly call in.

Saturday, 12 June

Autohelm at work


The wind was stronger than forecast at force 5 from the NW. Getting out of Cowes against the wind and the incoming tide was possible with the engine running at three-quarters throttle. I kept an eye open for the car ferries and the fast catamaran. When ‘Ladybird’ was clear of the number one starboard hand buoy I shaped a course towards the entrance of the Beaulieu River. Almost fully reefed, the boat was very comfortable. The easiest way of finding Lymington is to follow the six metre line which will bring you to the entrance where the ferries use the dredged channel. This I did without difficulty.


The eight mile trip was mostly on the wind to allow for the ebb. Two miles from the Lymington Fairway I took in sail, prepared the lines and tied fenders on either side. The engine needed fairly high revs to make over the ebb and against the wind. The ferry was leaving just as I arrived at Lymington Yacht Haven; therefore if steered a course through the moorings to keep clear of the vessel. I was given permission to berth at Oscar Nine, but finding it was not easy, because the sign for the Oscar pontoons was missing! An exchange of information via the VHF on Channel 80 eventually helped me to find the pontoon which was right at the end of a cul-de-sac. I was pleased that the wind eased as I manoeuvred ‘Ladybird’ into the slot.


When I had tidied the boat I phoned a friend who sails at Keyhaven. He generously offered to show me the way in to the harbour tomorrow, if all goes to plan. I’ve always avoided Keyhaven because the tides are not regular and the channel is narrow. Unless a boat is kept to the channel she will dry out. Therefore it is essential to know where the to let the boat settle.


This afternoon I took a stroll through the centre of Lymington and along the river front. A street market was taking place and there were many holiday makers. On the way to the town centre I noticed that Francis Chichester’s old yacht, ‘Gypsy Moth 1V’ was for sale at the Berthon Boat Company’s boat park.

Friday, 11th June

Frigate
Freighter


Well, we made it to Cowes, at the Isle of Wight. Getting out of Chichester was a bit slow because of the incoming tide were it accelerates through the narrows at Eastoke Beacon. With a light wind from astern and the engine running at over half throttle our speed was 1.4 knots. Once clear by the seaward mark of West Pole, the tide was in our favour for heading to the Horse Sand Fort which marks the southern point of the approach to Portsmouth. At the Fort a huge freighter came by at enormous speed, causing a horrendous wash that forced me to turn the yacht directly into it to avoid being swamped.


There was a lot of activity between Ryde and Portsmouth. In addition to a Frigate there were two car ferries, a hovercraft and a high speed catamaran, plus a fleet of racing yachts. On the approach to Cowes things quieted down and I was able to prepare 'Ladybird’ for entering the Marina. I normally make two bow lines ready and keep a stern line to hand; I also tie fenders on either side. The procedure is to come alongside the pontoon and take the bow and stern lines with me. If the wind is from astern I cleat the stern line first and visa versa.


There was bags of space at the Yacht Haven, but next Saturday the Around the Island Race will take place; then the pontoons will be full.


As I’m likely to be moving on tomorrow, I want to have a look at the town this evening, so I’ll sign off now.

Thursday, 10th June

Looking NE up the Chichester Cannel


‘Ladybird’ and I arrived at East Head, Chichester Harbour on Tuesday, 8th June at 1440. We have been here ever since. This will be our second full day. I had hoped to sail today for another anchorage or marina in the Solent, but the wind is rather too strong for comfortable sailing. The Solent Coastguard on VHF channel 23 mentioned the NE wind of 3 to 4 was to increase to 5 or 7. When a forecast of 7 is mentioned, my policy is to remain where I am. Even if there is a forecast of Force 6 I prefer not to sail. Both the boat and I can manage under those conditions, but there is always a possibility that the forecasters could have underestimated the wind strength.


Where I am is probably not the best of places to be, as the Chichester Channel runs in a north-easterly direction and the boat is a little exposed. On the other hand the holding ground is good and there’s only a mile or so for the waves to build up. I have the full range of chain out and my bower anchor is ready for immediate deployment. I have fully reefed the mainsail, for action if need be. In fact, I feel quite comfortable, especially as the tide is ebbing, which has flattened the waves. (See photo.)


What do I do when confined to the cabin? Well, I have plenty of reading matter, the radio for local and national programmes, and of course, the laptop which has 24 hour access to the Internet, thanks to T-mobile. There are always those things to attend to in connection with the boat like checking the anchor, to make sure she is not dragging, doing the housework, cooking a meal, preparing a passage plan for the next day. I could do with some more sleep, as I was up twice in the night for routine matters.

Wednesday, 9th June

I’ve realised I’m on holiday, not on a marathon! ‘Ladybird’ is still at anchor off East Head, because I have set aside today for doing a few jobs and for trying the inflatable. I was expecting showers, but they did not materialize. Mostly it’s been sunny, and as I had no intention of putting to sea, I did not bother with applying sun cream, which was a mistake. Fortunately, my face and my nose did not get too badly burnt.


After breakfast I inflated the dinghy and found it could be done with ease on the cabin top. The plan had been to hoist her up the mast where she would be out of the way, but that was not necessary. In practice getting ashore went well. The WavEco is so small she can be carried without any great effort.


I took my time to observe all manner of things while walking around the perimeter of East Head. The sand dunes, which are covered with scrub grass, are an animal habitat. Most noticeable were the skylarks and the black-headed terns. I loved watching the latter dive into the clear water for fish, but I was not keen on their constant harsh warning calls. One tern in particular was most aggressive, defending his territory. I noted that the sandy beach is very popular with dog owners. A road leads to the seaward side of East Head; hence the dog walkers can gain access to the area for exercising their dogs.


As I arrived back at the yacht, six dinghies from the CYE Activities Centre anchored their Wayfarers nearby. The children were obviously enjoying their time on the water and later they had fun and games on the beach before having picnic lunches. The experiences these youngsters have while being involved in such outdoor pursuits will always be remembered by them, and the lessons learned will be useful in later life.

Tuesday, 8th June

Typical Dinner cooked in a pressure cooker.



Today I had the best sail of the cruise so far. ‘Ladybird’ left Brighton Marina at 0600. The wind was from the SE at about Force 1; therefore I kept the engine running until the wind increased to force 3 within the hour. The boat could hold a direct course of 225 for the E Borough Head buoy, just over 19 miles away. Dark clouds brought the first rain, and from there on intermittent showers persisted as the wind backed to the south, causing ‘Ladybird’ to be on the wind. The barometer continued to fall throughout the day and the wind increased to a Force 4 or 5.


Half way to the E Borough Head buoy I set about making a coffee. At that moment the selfsteering gear played up. It could not cope with the waves and wind. I reduced sail, but that made no difference. The event was insignificant, because I mostly steered the boat to spare the Autohelm which was working overtime. I turned the gear off and switched it back on again, to no effect. I then took the gear off its mount and pressed the auto button. This did the trick, so that it worked perfectly well. I only used the Autohelm when plotting the ship’s position and when preparing hot drinks.


As usual, ‘Ladybird’ was overhauled by bigger yachts, but this was advantageous to me, because they became pointers, showing me the way. Gradually the sea built up with breaking crests and I shortened sail to less than a working rig with the equivalent of one reef in the rolled mainsail. By the time we arrived at West Pole Beacon, marking the entrance to Chichester Harbour, the wind was a good Force 5 from the south and the last of the ebb was flowing out to sea, causing the waves to increase in height.


East Head Anchorage, Chichester Harbour

A rather fine gaff ketch with tan sails was leaving the Harbour as we were entering. She was followed by a large white plastic yacht. Running northwards past Hayling Island Yacht Club to port, required my utmost attention to prevent the yacht from gybing. Before reaching East Head where I intended anchoring I turned on the engine and took in all sail. I also prepared the anchor and chain in readiness for anchoring. Three other yachts were anchored; one of them was a just a little bit bigger than mine. I therefore chose a spot in about the same depth of water at 2 metres a cable distance away from the smaller boat. The time was 1440, and having sailed a distance of 37 miles, ‘Ladybird’s’ average speed was a tad over 4 knots.


My intention is to remain here for the night, and if the wind continues from the South I should have a peaceful sleep.

Monday, 7th June

Ferry going into Newhaven


The time is1350 and ‘Ladybird’ remains at Brighton Marina. During my walk along the seafront this morning I only observed one yacht heading to the SW, and the reason for this was obvious, because the Force 2 to 3 wind was from that direction. Furthermore, rain was forecast for late afternoon. The distance to Chichester via the shortest distance is 35 nautical miles; that is at least a 12 hour trip, but more likely to be 15 hours, which is very similar to the time it takes to get from Dover to Brighton.


For the above reasons I’m pleased I did not put to sea at the usual time after the early Shipping Forecast, and as things worked out, I had a very enjoyable morning. I have walked the promenade many times before on previous visits, but this time I was determined to have a fresh look for the things I had missed. At the start of my walk, somehow I became ‘trapped’ in a maze of multi-storey car parks and emerged into the light of day to find myself wandering along a narrow walled path that led towards the Naturalist Beach. Some sort of high boarding on the left-hand side was covered with highly coloured graffiti done by skilled street artists. I’m sure I couldn’t do nearly as well with spray paint.


By the Volks Electric Railway which runs parallel with the beach, I noticed a fenced-off area where there was a man whose skin resembled the appearance of nutmeg. He was attending to a small fibreglass beach boat. This warranted a chat, so I asked him if he would like me to give him a hand to launch his boat. He replied that he was painting the vessel. A closer inspection revealed Egyptian style paintings all over the interior. He was about to add another figure. I mentioned that years ago this part of the pebbly beach was covered with similar netted enclosures where beach fishermen stored their boats and equipment. He had been fishing off the beach for 15 years and over that time all the other fisherman had given up or had taken their boats to the Marina.


The Pier is an amazing place. This morning a good number of people were enjoying the entertainments: I noticed the Horror Hotel, the Dodgems, the Flume, the Turbo Coaster and the Booster. The Turbo Coaster resembles a two-bladed aeroplane propeller, but at the tips there are seats equipped with restrainers to prevent the occupants from being flung into outer space! All sorts of snacks and confectionary can be bought from kiosks which are either side of two arcades, things like hotdogs, waffles, shellfish, candy floss, and ice creams. I noticed two shops selling Brighton rock. You wouldn’t expect to find a water flume at the end of the pier, but there’s one there with warning signs reminding people not to wear any kind of hat, presumably because they could be blown off a person’s head into the moving water.


Observing people is half the fun when visiting places like the Pier. There were several groups of young people, who were trying their luck at the slot machines. Not one of them won any money while I looked on. A girl risked walking on the wooden slatted floor with extraordinarily high heeled shoes. Somehow she managed not to get the heels caught between the slats. Variety Club Assistants were looking after disabled children who seemed unable to have any response to what was going on around them. Pushed in wheelchairs they were stationary beings like inanimate objects, but that was only the outward appearance. Inside, I expect their hearts were pounding, and they were joyful to be out in the fresh air and sunshine. Observations such as that make me realize how fortunate I have been with my health for the last seventy plus years.


I didn’t try the talking telescope, taste a waffle, down a hotdog or risk dipping my toes into the sea. On my way back to the Marina I kept clear of the skateboarders, the blade-skaters, the runners, and the cyclists. A lifeguard with his surfboard was trying to keep warm by repositioning his windbreak. The sound of pebbles as the breakers moved them, made rhythmic, almost soporific pulses, causing me to yawn and I realised I had on average had less than six hours sleep for the past five days. The temptation was to return to the yacht for an afternoon snooze. Instead I found the energy and inspiration to type this, but now I‘m going to lay down for a while.

Sunday 6th June

'Ladybird' at the start of the cruise
I’m taking a break in port today here at Brighton Marina, which is just as well, because this afternoon the wind is gusting up to Force 6. This morning there was a huge amount of activity, with boats of every kind in and out of the Marina. This a base for all sorts of aquatic activites including sailing and motorboat instruction, diving and sport fishing, yacht and dinghy racing, and of course fisherman who earn their living from the sea.


I arrived here at 2230 yesterday after a 16 ½ hour motoring stint in calm conditions. Many yachts made to the West while taking advantage of the favourable tide around Dungeness and later Beachy Head. There was very little excitement on the way down, except for several visits by bees. The plug on the Autohelm played up, but a bit of jigging got it back working again. I enjoyed looking at the chalk cliffs of Beachy Head which are quite stunning.

.Beachy Head



Today I’ve been doing a few maintenance jobs such as scrubbing the bottom of the boat from the pontoon with a long handled brush and fitting a new plug and socket to the Autohelm. I also shopped for food. I was mainly looking for snack type food, because this is what is needed for coastal hopping; things like cakes, biscuits, crisps, Mars etc.


One of the more interesting aspects of this sport is meeting fellow sailors, who usually have something to say about the things they have done, or are doing. At Dover I met Bart and his partner who are on their way from Holland to Greece. They have a very substantial Colin Archer style yacht. They are looking forward to the crossing of the Bay of Biscay from Falmouth to La Corunna. At Brighton Nick introduced himself. He and his crew are working up the Channel before crossing the North Sea, with the aim of cruising the Baltic.


As I type, the gusts are thrusting ‘Ladybird’ against the pontoon and I am wondering if the wind will die by nightfall; if not, getting to sleep will not be easy. What I do tomorrow will depend on the forecast.

Saturday, 5th June

Hi people, this is just a brief note to let you know that I arrived safely at Brighton Marina at 2230 today, after 16 ½ hours with Ladybird under power. There was just a short spell of downwind sailing off Beachy Head. I will try to fill you in with a few details tomorrow.

Friday 4th June

I woke up to another lovely morning and got underway at 0550. There was hardly a whisper of wind. By 0900 ‘Ladybird’ was abeam of the Hook Spit buoy at the entrance to the Gore Channel en route for Margate. Apart from looking into the sun, visibility was good which meant I could easily pick out the landmarks such as the water tower, south of SE Margate buoy. From there I counted 5 ships at anchor in Margate Road.


The tide was in my favour all day; first with the ebb along the north Kent coast, then the flood going south from North Foreland. I originally planned to put into Ramsgate, but as the flood was on the move towards Dover I took advantage of it by going close inshore along Kent east coast.


On the approach to the eastern entrance of Dover Harbour I observed two ferries going in and one coming out. Two yachts arrived before me; then I was slightly held up when a ferry had to enter the Harbour. By using the VHF I was able to arrange a berth in the Tidal Harbour, but it worked out at £20 for the night!


After having a marvellous shower in the Marina facilities, I felt like a new man. Then I took a short walk to the BP garage where I bought 10 litres of unleaded petrol which will give ‘Ladybird’ a range of 30 miles in calm conditions.


I’m not sure whether to press on tomorrow, because the tide is not great for an early start, which means the beginning would be slow going. That decision will be left until I wake on Saturday. Bye for now.

Thursday 3rd June

After a sleepless night at the Rice and Cole pontoon I made breakfast at 0510 and listened to the forecast at 0520 which was for E or NE 3 or 4, occasionally 5. I left the pontoon with the engine running at 0550. To make the best use of the ebb I motor-sailed to a point NE of the Whitaker Beacon, then ran before the wind as far as the SW Barrow cardinal buoy. From there I brought boat onto wind for the Shivering Sand Towers, then skirted around the wind farm at S Girdler Beacon. There a watch ship monitored my progress. By that time the tide was making. A course from there was downwind towards the Whitstable Street red can buoy. My chart was out of date, showing the Buoy as a N cardinal. This buoy is the waypoint for the River Swale, which at first runs in SW direction - fortunately downwind. My map GPS was very useful for following the deepwater channel, of which there’s a good 5 nautical miles to the first of the moorings at Harty Ferry, where I’m intending to spend the night. It’s a little bumpy with the ebb against wind, but hopefully at nightfall the wind will ease.


The forecast for tomorrow is E or NE, becoming variable 3 to 5, which means I could have a testing time to make it to Ramsgate. We’ll see.

Forecast

Grandchildren

Yesterday’s forecast for rain was accurate. For most of the afternoon and into the evening the drizzle came down. Somehow that fine misty rain gets into everything. I’m glad I did not go to the boat, because there would have been little to do, other than rest below, whereas at home I was put to good use by looking after my grandchildren.


The forecast for today, Thursday and Friday looks promising, with increasing sunshine as the week progresses. The Met Office surface pressure chart shows a 1020 millibar high pressure area slap over the UK at mid-day and it starts moving away to the northeast on Friday. The winds are likely to be light, being mainly generated by diurnal convection; in other words, sea breezes during daylight hours, and possibly the reverse at night.


After stowing the remaining gear and provisions, I’ll need to make a decision whether to set sail today. Bye for now.


Links

BBC Weather Forecast

http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/10209

Surface Pressure Chart

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/surface_pressure.html

Wind Observation Charts

http://www.xcweather.co.uk/

Delayed Start and Taking Care

Rain

Monday was a day of catching up on things that needed doing such as cutting the lawns and buying provisions for the cruise. The forecast for today, Tuesday, 1st June, looks lousy with buckets of rain. As I am sailing for pleasure, I’ll give it a miss. Maybe Wednesday will be better? There is no hurry. I’m not in a race; I can go at my pace! The tides are not brilliant for timing. High water at Burnham for Wednesday, 2nd June is at 0434 BST and 1646 BST which means low water will be approximately 1040. Therefore after that time the tide will be flooding. Unless there is a reasonably good wind from the west, southwest or northwest, ‘Ladybird’ will find it slow going.


I shall have to act according to circumstances, but that’s the fun of cruising. Situations change; locations differ, and the winds and tides vary. Each situation requires appropriate decisions and actions. I just hope I shall make the right decisions and stay out of trouble. Getting stuck in a swatchway on a falling tide can be an unpleasant business. They are seldom soft and sandy; more often they are composed of small boulders, stones and gravel which are not good for a boat such as ‘Ladybird’ with fibreglass bilge keels. Such keels are OK for taking the mud or sand, but gravel, stones and boulders can leave their mark. Playing it safe and taking care is the nature of the game. Fair winds and fair weather can make all the difference to a cruise being successful. We’ll see.

Being Prepared

'Ladybird' Ready for Adventure

Being prepared for possible eventualities is a practical means of dealing with future happenings as they unfold. The importance of preparedness cannot be emphasised enough. Are we prepared for tomorrow? Have we taken stock of our resources? Will they be adequate for days, months, and years to come? The application of preparedness to all aspects of our lives is prudent. I am about to spend two months aboard my 19’ Sloop, ‘Ladybird’. Is she equipped for the task in hand, which is to cruise along the South Coast of England? Do I have the right provisions, and am I up to it?


There will always be flaws and inadequacies in our preparations because we cannot foresee the future; we cannot know for sure what lies ahead. We can only surmise or guess what time will reveal, and this according to our knowledge or lack of it, plus our experiences from the past. If our preparations fall short, we shall need to be resourceful at overcoming the deficiencies. No explorer in his right mind sets off to the South Pole without the right equipment or without adequate training. Likewise, no climber will attempt reaching the summit of Everest without first thoroughly researching the subject and astutely examining himself to make an objective assessment of his own capabilities. On such a dangerous enterprise, falling short of the truth will inevitably bring disaster.


I believe I have tested myself and ‘Ladybird’. Neither she nor I are perfect, but I think we are up to the task. Avoidance of gales, strong winds and taking unnecessary risks should go a long way to keeping us safe and making the cruise a success. The first few days will confirm that systems are go, but if there are deficiencies with the boat or myself, there is no shame in calling the cruise off.


Finally by way of preparation, I shall stock the boat with a week’s provisions and acclimatise myself to being afloat, most probably by spending a night aboard the yacth before setting off – that’s if the weather is suitable.


If my onboard laptop can connect to the Internet, I shall as far as possible post my daily log to these pages. Please do not be concerned if I miss a day or two, because the chances are that reception for my wireless connection may not always be adequate.



Links


Scout Motto – Be prepared

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_Motto


US Interpretation of Baden-Powell’s Motto

http://www.usscouts.org/advance/boyscout/bsmotto.asp


An Old Article about Preparation Lists

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2005/03/boat-preparation-lists.html


Seaman’s Motto – Be Prepared

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2005/03/seamans-motto-be-prepared.html

Adventure

One more day, and the adventure begins; that’s if nothing intervenes to prevent or postpone it. My definition of an adventure is conventional, as per the Oxford Dictionary, i.e., an unusual, exciting, and daring experience. Don McIntyre who is skipper aboard the Talisker Bounty Boat re-enacting Bligh’s voyage has a different definition which goes as follows: “An adventure is when one embarks on an enterprise of which the outcome is unknown.” This may not be a verbatim definition, but the gist is there. For sure, Don and his crew are having a very testing adventure, but not without rewards, for although there have been times of danger, drama and tension, there have also been moments of blissful delight and of amazing beauty.


By comparison, my forthcoming adventure aboard ‘Ladybird’ will be less hazardous and less stressful; in fact the plan is to have a pleasurable experience as I once again explore the coastline, anchorages, ports, resorts and marinas of the South Coast of England. If gauged by past experiences, my time will be exciting and there will be an element of danger, but driving my car on the congested roads of Essex, must be far more dangerous. Careful risk assessment can minimize the dangers, and mostly any activity on the yacht can be thought through in advance before being carried out. The limiting factor these days is having less agility than I had in my youth because of my age. I am less fit and less strong than I was at my prime. Mishap, because of carelessness, tiredness or because of being overwhelmed by the sea and adverse weather is the thing most feared. Therefore, in terms of Don McIntyre’s definition, my forthcoming cruise will be adventurous, because the outcome is unknown.


The plan is to spend the month of June working the boat towards the West and Southwest, and to do the return trip during July to the River Crouch. If the winds are favourable, getting as far as Exmouth, Dartmouth or even Plymouth may be possible. I have friends and relatives I wish to visit. Hopefully, we shall enjoy each other’s company and share our news.


Links


Talisker Bounty Boat Website

http://www.taliskerbountyboat.com/


Bounty Boat Blog

http://www.bountyboat.blogspot.com/


My Blog on the Talisker Bounty Boat Expedition

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2010/04/taliskar-bounty-boat-expedition.html

Round Britain and Ireland Race

'Shyauk' crossing the start line
Official Brochure 1974
A very young me, and my brother

The older one becomes, memories and reflections increase in importance and they can be benchmarks that rank alongside the realities of everyday life. When I learnt that the 12th Round Britain Race will take place this year, starting on Sunday, 6th June, my emotions were stirred. I was taken back in time to the Race of 1974 when my brother Frederick and I crossed the start line aboard ‘Shyauk’, a Wessex One Design to the lines of Philip Goode. Boats of 24’ and over were permitted to enter, providing the two man crew had completed a qualifying cruise, and the inspection committee was satisfied with the quality of the yacht and the competence of the crew. ‘Shyauk’ was originally 2” short, which meant I had to laminate a false stem, making her 24’ 1”.


The first Round Britain Race was sailed in 1966, and the second in 1970, and thereafter every four years. There was no chance whatsoever that ‘Shyauk’ would take any honours, because the trimarans, catamarans and giant monohulls like Robin Knox-Johnston’s 71’ ‘Ocean Spirit’ would be streets ahead. Knox-Johnston and his companion Leslie Williams came first with ‘Ocean Spirit’ in the 1970 race and Derek Kesall’s trimaran ‘Toria’ handsomely won the 1966 race in a time of 19 days, 17 hours and 23 minutes. This time included the compulsory stops of 48 hours at the end of each of the four ports of call.


The Race has traditionally been organised by the Royal Western Yacht Club of Plymouth, and according to their website there have been eleven previous races, which means two of them must have been inserted into the otherwise four year periods between races. The early ones were sponsored by the Observer newspaper organization. This year’s race has the title, ‘Shetland Round Britain and Northern Ireland 2010, since it is being sponsored by the Shetland Islands Council.


The rules of the Race have changed somewhat since its inception, but the clockwise course remains the same: Plymouth to Crosshaven, thence to Castlebay, Lerwick, Lowestoft and back to Plymouth. Boats now have to be between 30’ and 50’ in length. Over 50 of them are set to start, including 8 multihulls and 10 Class 40 yachts.


A number of participants interest me such as Mary Falk, Katie Miller and Will Claxton. Sixty-three year old Mary is sailing with Jerry Freeman. She has already completed five Round Britain Races. A survivor of cancer, she is raising money for Cancer Research, and to date she has raised over £96,000. This time she is hoping to reach her goal of £100,000. Katie represents the younger generation and she will be the youngest female to have entered the Race, but she is well qualified with a solo trans-Atlantic Race to her name. She’ll be aboard her ‘bluQube’, a Beneteau Figaro II, and her co-skipper will be Matthew Lingley who has raced dinghies, skiffs and catamarans, plus his own Dragon. Will Claxton is of interest because of his efforts at restoring ‘Paradox’, a 33’ Dazcat 10 trimaran with the express purpose of entering the Race. He has Matt Gill as co-skipper.



Links


Shetland Round Britain and Northern Ireland 2010 Race

http://www.rwyc.org/oceanic/RBI10/rbi10viewev.asp?id=270


Mary Falk

http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/news/453210/cancer-survivor-to-round-britain-for-sixth-time


Just Giving – Mary Falk for Cancer Research

http://www.justgiving.com/maryfalk


Katie Miller

http://www.katiemillerracing.com/index.html


Will Claxton - ‘Paradox’ Dazcat 10 Trimaran

http://www.rwyc.org/oceanic/RBI10/rbi10viewev.asp?id=299#Paradox


The Competitors

http://www.rwyc.org/oceanic/RBI10/rbi10viewev.asp?id=297


Shetland Marinas

http://www.shetlandmarinas.com/


‘Shyauk’ Observer Round Britain Race 1974

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2010/02/small-fry-part-1.html

‘Moonraker’ - Dunkirk Little Ship

Yesterday, a flotilla of little ships that had taken part in the evacuation of allied troops from the Dunkirk beaches and Harbour in 1940 set out from Ramsgate to cross the Channel again. TV news footage of the flotilla caused me to recall a rather special little yacht that was once moored at Hullbridge; she was ‘Moonraker’, one of the little Dunkirk ships. When she was at Hullbridge in 1973 she belonged to a member of the Up River Yacht, of which I was also a member. ‘Moonraker’s’ owner was rightly proud of his yacht and kept her in a good state of repair. He would join club members on organised cruises and races. She did not point well, but when free she went like the clappers!



She was designed and built in 1911 by A, Burgoine of Kingston on Thames as a racing and pleasure yacht.



Curiosity led me to Google for ‘Moonraker’, and I came up with the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships with a section that has statistics and photos of her. The article mentions that repairs were expected to take two years, and it was hoped she would participate in this year’s 70th celebration of remembrance of Operation Dynamo.



A good many years after being at Hullbridge during the early 1970s I saw ‘Moonraker’ in a state of disrepair at a Heybridge boatyard. I noticed slight hogging had taken place where her shrouds had exerted pressure on her splined planking. (Splines are thin pieces of wood inserted between the planks instead of caulking to make a boat watertight.) I owned a similar vessel which caused me no end of trouble, because the wood for the splines was different to the wood for the planking, which meant that the expansion and contraction of the woods caused the splines to move, particularly after being subjected to frost during a winter lay-up. Needless to say, she leaked badly, especially in a seaway.



The Independent’s website states that ‘Moonraker’s’ latest owner, Gerald Barlow, has been preparing for 10 years to take part in the 70th anniversary of the Dunkirk evacuation. His little yacht has a gallant heart, and memories of her valiant service. She can rightly feel proud of her achievements and be grateful for the tender care that has been lavished upon her. Ninety-nine years young, she lives on.



Links


Association of Dunkirk Little Ships Moonraker Association

http://www.adls.org.uk/t1/content/moonraker


Independent Article about Operation Dynamo

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/dunkirk-little-ships-finally-set-sail-on-nostalgic-mission-715281.html


Yachting Monthly

http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/news/469922/little-ships-celebrate-70th-dunkirk-anniversary


Motor Boat

http://www.mby.com/news/470882/fleet-of-dunkirk-little-ships-crosses-channel


Yachting Monthly

http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/news/470930/flotilla-recreates-dunkirk-journey

Solway Dory Shearwaters

All photos are from the Solway Dory Website - Link below.

An Internet friend of mine who is more fanatical about small boats than I am has just bought a second-hand Solway Dory Shearwater, which has focussed my mind on this class of sailing canoe.



To my eye, these decked canoes are very attractive, and with their easy-flowing lines they present little resistance to forward motion; hence they sail well. Their firm bilges amidships provide initial stability and their sharp bow with a slightly curved stem, cleaves the water effortlessly. They have an attractive varnished wooden leeboard fitted on their starboard side, and their single 5 square metre Bermudan sail can be furled around a metallic freestanding mast. For more stability they can be equipped with side floats attached to a cross-member. Their side decks are perfect for hiking when conditions warrant it. An experienced helmsman will play the gusts, rather than reef his sail. Steering is by a tiller extension attached to a transverse arm fitted to a kick-up wooden rudder. The general standard of finish is very good, and they have quality mouldings with substantial fittings for securing the deck hatches, the leeboard and the rudder.



Shearwaters are advertised as decked, expedition sailing canoes suitable for one or two people. Their length is 16’ and they have a beam of 3‘4”, which in my experience is rather too wide for efficient double-bladed paddling. The paddler has to be seated several inches above the waterline to use his double-bladed paddles, which increases windage. At 120 lbs rigged, without gear, a Shearwater is quite heavy for portaging. In this respect, handles at the bow and stern are useful. Carrying the boat overland may not be too difficult with a crew of two, and her folding two wheel trolley would make the job easier. Shearwaters have been proven suitable for expedition sailing. They can be car topped, and they will just fit into an average UK household garage. At £3,000 each, they represents good value for money, but a new owner must be prepared to pay another £300 if he wants the floats, and for a trolley he will have to fork out an additional £90. On top of that there will be a delivery charge, or arrangements will have to be made for collecting the package from Grange over Sands, which is between the Lake District Fells and Morecambe Bay.



Links


Solway Dory Shearwater

http://www.solwaydory.co.uk/?page_id=35


Steve Robinson’s Blog

http://www.solwaydory.co.uk/articles/steves-blog/


Solway Dory Home Page

http://www.solwaydory.co.uk/


Shearwater Fast Reaching

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIQCOqHpwt0&NR=1


Shearwaters and Others at Windermere

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRGo9drb-iI&feature=related


Shearwaters on an Expedition around Jura

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdKvBG_viLE


Grange over Sands

http://www.grange-over-sands.com/

Boat Electronics

The electrical apparatus on ‘Ladybird’ is not at all sophisticated. When I became her owner I tried her lights, none of which worked. The VHF was a load of coroded rubbish and her depth sounder did not work; in fact, the only bit of the electrical equipment that was any good was the battery. The combined fuse box and switch panel was sound, but the wiring linking it to the lights etc was useless. At least I knew I would have to set up my own system of internal wiring, which I did, but not to a professional standard, because I am no electrician. However, everything works, including the wiring for the newly installed solar panel, depth sounder and the Autohelm. It’s nice to know that if I have to do night sailing, the navigation lights are OK.


By comparison with my early boats back in the sixties, ‘Ladybird’ has lots of wires for various pieces of equipment including two GPS units, one laptop computer, two mobile phones, a battery charger for AA and AAA batteries, an inverter for changing 12 volts into 220 volts, a charger for a my Sony digital camera and earphones for my Sony Walkman. I also have an extension cable for a 12 volt cigar lighter fitting, an electric cable for plugging into the mains at marinas and a cable for the mains charger for the ship’s battery. I feel sure I haven’t mentioned them all. Oh, yes, the charger for the VHF radio.


The photo shows just some of the wires through which current will flow during my voyaging aboard ‘Ladybird’. It’s just as well that the ship’s battery is good and that I have deionised water for topping it up when the acid gets low. The Spectra Solar-Panel has been able supply all the current needed to date, but cruising will be different because of the constant need for electricity to power the GPS units and the Autohelm. In between, I shall require electricity to power my EEE PC laptop for blogging and emailing. If there’s enough juice to spare, I may even run my Sony Walkman, which will only need a little input from the laptop, because it is charged via a USB cable.


How did I manage in the early days without all of these electrical gadgets? My first cruiser had an oil lamp to illuminate her cabin and the ship’s battery was only used for the navigation lights. The auxiliary engine was cranked by hand, and the alternator generated electricity. Life was simple, because there was little to go wrong and little to maintain.


Link


TCS Chandlery – Spectra Solar-Panel

http://www.tcschandlery.co.uk/8525/Spectra-10W-Solar-Panel.html

Boat Cruising Paraphernalia

Paraphernalia

The original meaning of the word ‘paraphernalia’ comes from the Latin ‘parapherna’, which is property apart from a dowry retained by a woman after her marriage; nowadays the word is used to describe miscellaneous articles, especially equipment needed for a particular activity.


Well, as the excitement builds because of my forthcoming departure aboard ‘Ladybird’ for her summer cruise, I’m sorting out paraphernalia that I shall or may need to help make my cruise safe and pleasurable. I’m always surprised each year when it comes to this time, how much ‘clobber’ I accumulate, a fair amount of which I seldom or never use. The photo above shows the sort of things I take, bit by bit to the yacht before the cruise begins.



The only essential items shown in the photo are my tools, in the black plastic box and a set of screwdrivers in the blue container. I could get away with not taking the unleaded petrol can, the 12 volt battery charger and the extension mains light, but why forfeit taking them if they could be useful? When the boat is at a marina, the ship’s battery can be topped-up by the charger and I can use the mains light at night. I am not convinced of the efficacy of the cylindrical radar reflector, but if I were to be caught out in fog, hoisting it up the mast may do something to make ‘Ladybird’ more visible on the radar screens of vessels in the vicinity. The very old, sun-bleached baseball cap could be useful; that’s if I happen to lose the other ones I already have aboard the boat. I’ve lost count of the number of caps that were once owned by me, which were taken by the wind or were knocked off my head by the boom into the sea. At least two of them I managed to retrieve, only for them to be consigned at a later date to Davy Jones’s locker, by courtesy of the wind.



I have a standard checklist for all essential gear and items required for cruising, but I won’t bore you with it. Every time I return after a cruise I look at the crumpled clothing I never used, but I like to play safe by having more than I think I shall need, just in case I take a ducking, or in some other situation my clothing becomes wet. Wearing wet clothes does nothing for morale. Keeping warm and dry, being well fed and having sufficient sleep, are factors that contribute towards a successful cruise; therefore it is essential to have effective clothing, nutritious food and a dry, comfortable bunk. Unlike ocean cruising, the coastal yachtsman can replenish his stores and get hold of things he may need.


Link



Dave Bolduc’s Inventory List for ‘Little Cruiser’

http://www.microcruising.com/inv1.htm