Roger D. Taylor – Voyages of a Simple Sailor

 

Kindle version

 

On 3^rd February, 2013 I wrote an article about Roger Taylor’s, ‘Mingming’. I included three links to Amazon.co.uk giving details of three of his books. What I didn’t mention was that they are also available for Kindles. If you don’t have a Kindle, you can download a Kindle App free of charge from Amazon, suitable for your computer or your iPhone or an equivalent smartphone.

Last week I handled a paperback version of Roger’s ‘Voyages of a Simple Sailor’ and immediately I wanted my own. Being a cheapskate I looked at Amazon where I discovered I could get it for less in e-book format for my Kindle - not a lot less I grant you, but it was immediately available for my own gratification.

Now that I have read the Kindle version I wished I had paid the extra for the paperback! Handling a book is so much better than simply seeing words on a computer screen. If you buy your own copy you’ll be getting three books in one, because it is divided into three stories: Shipwreck, Capsize and Calms. I won’t spoil it by making a précis of each story, but if you are into sailing and cruising I thoroughly recommend you treat yourself to a good read.

Here’s a link to Amazon’s readers’ Reviews of the book:   http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/0955803500/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Most reviewers gave the book five out of five! Hence, you can be guaranteed you won’t be disappointed.

I was hooked from the moment I started reading the Preface. Having experienced sailing small junk-rigged boats I could readily understand Roger’s enthusiasm for ‘Mingming’.

The Book

ROGER D. TAYLOR VOYAGES OF A SIMPLE SAILOR

ISBN 978-0-9558035-0-5

The FitzRoy Press 2008,

5 Regent Gate Waltham Cross,

Herts.

EN8 7AF  

Links

The Simple Sailor

http://www.thesimplesailor.com/

Galleries for Voyages of a Simple Sailor

http://www.thesimplesailor.com/galleries.html  

*’Mingming’ – Roger Taylor’s Junk Rig Corribee

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/mingming-roger-taylors-junk-rig-corribee.html

My Cruising Logs

 

Here I’ve assembled a number of links that will take you to accounts of some of the cruises I’ve done with my own boats and with others.

To follow each log, first visit the starting page, and from there you can see links on the right hand side.

Before leaving this page make it one of your favourites, or bookmark it as the case may be. That will ensure you’ll be able to find it again.

Happy Reading,

Cheers,

Bill.

Cruising Trailer Sailers/Canoes/Day Boats

Cruise to Alderney

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/cruise-to-alderney.html

'Micro’s’ Cruises No 2 - Hullbridge/Roach Part 1

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/micros-cruises-no-2-hullbridgeroach.html

‘Micro’ at Holy Island, Part 1

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/micro-at-holy-island-part-1.html  

The Cruise Part 1 ‘Faith’ to the Scilly Isles

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2008/04/cruise_06.html

Day Sailing ‘Talitha’

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/sailing-talitha.html

Poole Harbour with ‘Sandpiper’ – Part 1

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/poole-harbour.html

Pottering – Part 1 (A South Coast Cruise with 'Sandpiper', my West Wight Potter.

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/pottering-part-1.html 

Cruising  Pocket Cruiser Sailboats

‘Zeta’ - Folksong

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2009/12/zeta-folksong.html

Cruise of the ‘Aziz’ a Pioneer 9 Part 1

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/cruise-of-aziz-pioneer-9-part-1.html  

Lady Ashquelon

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2009/12/lady-ashquelon.html

‘Apple Charlotte’, part 1

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/apple-charlotte.html

‘Bumper’s’ Cruise, First Day

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2005/05/first-day.html  

‘Ladybird’s’ Cruise to the Scilly Islands

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/thursday-3rd-june.html

 

Cruising with Others

‘Pinto’s’ Summer Cruise, 1975, part 1

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/pintos-summer-cruise-1975-part-1.html

Cruise of the ‘Ishani’, a 26’ Eventide – Part 1

 http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/cruise-of-ishani-26-eventide-part-1.html

A Memorable Cruise, Part 1

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/memorable-cruise-part-1.html

My Friend’s Alacrity

 

According to my dictionary, alacrity is a cheerful readiness, promptness or willingness, and that sums up the essential character of my friend’s boat which is a 19’ Alacrity. I met her for the first time last Monday when he proudly introduced her me. She was snugly settled in the mud by Walton Yacht Club, tethered to four mooring lines. As I looked at her she reminded me of a faithful cocker spaniel waiting for her owner to take her for an adventure.

Essentially, she’s a day sailer, come small coastal cruiser for a crew of two. She actually has three berths, but I feel she would be crowded when cruising with a complement of three. Nice touches are her furling headsail, slab reefing main, twin backstays and mast tabernacle. She has two Tufnell winches mounted on the coamings for working the foresail. She has the security of a pulpit and sensible anchor stowage on the foredeck for easy deployment. Two cabin top ventilators provide fresh air for the crew when they are down below. A twin butane stove mounted almost amidships on the port side is handy for cooking and for making hot drinks.

I’ve been invited for a sail on the Alacrity, and no doubt when I get back from my forthcoming cruise with ‘Sandpiper’, my ‘C’ Type West Wight Potter, I’ll be able to sample the delights of my friend’s boat.

Links

Alacrity 19

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/alacrity-19.html

Alacrity
http://www.hurleyownersassociation.co.uk/pages/alacrity.htm 

Hurley Owners’ Association – Alacrity Gallery

http://www.hurleyownersassociation.co.uk/pages/alacritygallery.htm

Alacrity 19
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=102

Alacrity History
http://alacrity19.blogspot.com/2007/07/alacrity-history.html

Ped’s Outdoor Diary

http://pedsoutdoordiary.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/heron-is-back-in-water.html

‘James Stevens No 14’ Lifeboat – Part 2

 

You can find a very good summary of the history of the ‘James Stevens No 14’ lifeboat by clicking the second link below.

Additional websites under the Links heading add significant information to that given in my article* of 16^th August, 2010. (Part 1)

This historic lifeboat designed in 1807 started life as a pulling and sailing vessel, but in 1906 she was fitted with a 40 hp Blake petrol engine. She is the oldest surviving lifeboat in the world to have been powered by an engine. At 42.98’ LOA she would have been more than a handful to row.

Links

*’James Stevens No 14’ Lifeboat (Part 1)

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/james-stevens-no-14-lifeboat.html

Project Details – Restoration of ‘James Stevens No 14’

http://www.essexheritagetrust.co.uk/Details.asp?GrantID=121

‘James Stevens No 14’

http://www.maritimeheritageeast.org.uk/exhibitions/james-stevens-no14-lifeboat

Frinton and Walton Heritage Trust

http://www.frintonresidents.co.uk/frinton-on-sea/linked%20documents/FRAHeritage%20Report.htm

Frinton and Walton Heritage Trust

http://www.fwheritage.co.uk/jsl_history.aspx

National Historic Ships – ‘James Stevens No 14’

http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/1279/james-stevens-no-14

Nigel Pepper Photography – ‘James Stevens No 14’

http://www.nigelpepperphotography.co.uk/portfolio69644.html

‘Joshua’, a Spray Class Yawl

 

I have previously featured* this Spray Class Yawl. This time I have close-up detailed photographs. She appears to be a fairly accurate replica of Joshua Slocum’s original 36’ 9” wooden gaff yawl, except she is a Ferro cement boat. Her deckhouse structure is similar to the original, but she has a little less freeboard. Her solid construction and heavy displacement should give her crew an easy motion at sea. I would be interested to learn if she can do as Slocum’s ‘Spray’ did, that is to sail for hundreds of miles with her helm lashed.

Slocum's 'Spray'

Links

*Bruce Roberts Spray Class Yawl

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/bruce-roberts-spray-class-yawl.html

Spray for Sale

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

Spray

http://parsec-santa.com/sail/spray.html

Spray Illustrations

http://www.stexboat.com/slocum/spray1.htm

Solo Circumnavigation Record Attempts

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/solo-circumnavigation-record-attempts.html

Joshua Slocum

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

Sailing Alone Around the World

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

The Slocum Spray Society

http://www.slocumspraysociety.asn.au/ 

Bruce Roberts Yacht Designs

http://www.bruceroberts.com/

Bruce Roberts Spray Ketch for Sale

http://www.essexboatyards.com/boats/view.php/83/Bruce+Roberts+Spray+40+Ketch&

1993 Spray Cutter for Sale

 http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/advert.phtml?id=221161

Bruce Roberts Spray for Sale

http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=258947

Ferro-cement Boat

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/ferro-cement-boat.html

‘Gem’ a Ferro-cement Yacht

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/gem-ferro-cement-yacht.html

‘Skylark’ Obsession

 

I have already written two articles about ‘Skylark’. (See links below.)

For some reason I have an obsession with this very unusual one-off junk-rigged yacht. Two days ago I saw her again; this time she was out of the water so that I could see her underwater lines. They were very much as I had imagined when first seeing the boat afloat, i.e., she has a deep, long keel and firm bilges. Had she been beamier, she would have been less tippy, and had she had a wide transom, that also would have helped reduce her tendency to roll, particularly when on the run. You might say, “How do you know this without sailing her?” I’ve sailed boats since the age of 13, and I’m in my late seventies; therefore I have a pretty good idea as to how she will perform. She will be a beastly pig of a boat!

She has the unfortunate feature of very high, slab-sided topsides. These raise the centre of gravity, making her less stable than a boat with lower topsides. High topsides also increase windage. Hence, with no sail set, the sides of the yacht will act as if they were sails. Because of this she will range on her mooring or anchor warp.  Her heavy mast will contribute to a pendulum motion, particularly when she is at anchor, and undoubtedly this will be aided by her internal ballast which is mainly set at the waterline.

She doesn’t have an engine; therefore she relies on a yuloh for manoeuvring within a marina and for propulsion when there is no wind. Exactly where one attaches the yuloh to the stern of the yacht is a mystery. There is no provision for a rowlock or a universal joint mechanism for locating the shaft of her yuloh or sculling oar.

Her rudders are a pain. They are held in place by rope lashings which are inadequate for supporting them. If she had been a beamy light displacement yacht there would have been some merit in having twin rudders. The only possible advantage with the present setup is that if one is lost, there is another with which to steer the yacht.

I have said some pretty uncomplimentary things about this unique vessel, and yet she continues to lurk in my mind as a creature with which I have an obsession. If only I could dismiss thoughts about her, life would be more comfortable. She’s a bit like one of those black spots that float around in ones vision; wherever you look to avoid seeing the spot, you just cannot get rid of it!

“Please, ‘Skylark’, Depart from me and leave me alone. Torment and beguile another.”

Links

‘Skylark’ Again

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/skylark-again.html

‘Skylark’ – an unusual junk-rigged yacht

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/skylark-unusual-junk-rigged-yacht.html

WavEco Inflatable Dinghy for Sale

 

Now that I have a smaller boat I no longer have a use for my WavEco 7 foot inflatable dinghy. My ‘C’ Type West Wight Potter is no bigger than many sailing dinghies; therefore she can be treated as such, which means I can beach her if need be for getting ashore. On the other hand, there may be a few occasions when it may be better to leave her at anchor or on a mooring. To meet those situations I shall look around for a smaller alternative inflatable dinghy or canoe.

Meanwhile there is no point in keeping my WavEco in the house loft – far better to sell her and let her be useful to another person. To that end I have put her up for auction at Ebay.co.uk. Key in the following number into the Ebay search box: 160993298020.

For more information, also have a look at previous articles I’ve written about my WavEco by clicking the links below.

Links

Rubber Duck

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/rubber-duck.html

Seedling Endeavours

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/seedling-endeavours.html

TESCO Fruit and Vegetables

 

Ecuador

Back in October* I had a rant about prices of foodstuff at TESCO. I noticed that prices appeared to be rounded up; Quote: ‘instead of an item being £1.43, allowing for a fair profit margin, it is labelled at £1.50.’

Chile

 

Brazil

Today I am ranting about TESCO’s sourcing of fruit and vegetables. Yes, from a health point of view it’s great to eat ‘five-a-day’, but at what cost to the environment? I love eating fruit, and I find it hard to resist what is on offer at my local TESCO. If fruit from faraway countries was not on their shelves I would not have a choice whether to buy it or not. One thing is sure, people in the UK are buying fruit and vegetables grown in countries such as Ecuador, Honduras, Jamaica, Chile, Brazil, South Africa, Morocco and a little closer to home, Spain. Mostly, these fruits and vegetables are transported by plane, the exception being bananas which are mainly shipped as frozen cargo aboard vessels designed for that purpose.

Honduras

 

Jamaica

Years ago we did not have this option of buying fruit out of season. If we wanted to eat apples during the winter or spring we had to harvest them in the autumn of the previous year, wrap them in newspaper and put them in the loft where they would remain cool and sometimes be frozen by the cold of winter. Generally lofts were not insulated as they are today, and freezers were unheard of in the home.  At Christmas there was the exception of being able to buy oranges that were shipped from Spain. Bananas were not readily available, especially in the mid 40s when Jamaican bananas were decimated by Panama disease.

Spain

Today, we have a choice: Do we buy and eat fruit that has been imported from far away countries, or do we accept that we can do without our ‘five-a-day’? We could, of course, take vitamin tablets instead, but they may not be as nutritious or health-giving as fresh fruit. A high proportion of the latter is composed of fibre, which we are told is good for digestion. However, in this respect, are we being duped into thinking ‘five-a-day’ is the ONLY health-promoting way of eating?

How about looking at Zoe Harcombe’s article in the Mail Online** which says there is a better diet for more healthy living?

Links

*TESCO Prices

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/tesco-prices.html

Jamaican Bananas and Plantains

http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm:1104/lectures/banana.html

Banana

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

Jaffa Oranages Made in Spain

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4012641,00.html

Dietary Fiber (Roughage)

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

TESCO 5 a Day

http://realfood.tesco.com/healthy-eating/5-a-day.html

5 a Day

http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/5aday/pages/5adayhome.aspx

**This cynical five-a-day myth: Nutrition expert claims we've all been duped

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1349960/5-day-fruit-vegetables-myth-claims-nutrition-expert.html

Pete Goss Kayaks Around Tasmania

On Saturday, 26th January I drew attention to Pete Goss’s kayaking adventure. He and his companion, veteran kayaker Any Warrender, were approximately at the halfway point during their anti-clockwise circumnavigation of Tasmania. Since then they went on to complete the 1,500 kilometre voyage. In all, it took them 50 days. Having started on 29th December, 2012 they arrived back at Devonport on 17th February, 2013.   They have made two excellent YouTube videos illustrating their adventure. (Click links* below.) Some of the clips show details of the sailing rigs they used when the wind was favourable.   What does Pete have in mind for his next adventure?

 

Links

Pete Goss

http://www.petegoss.com/ 

*Tasmania Circumnavigation - Half way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TothI72P0E

*Tasmania Circumnavigation 2nd half

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTC7IhmG8wA&feature=youtu.be

Topical Maritime Happenings

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/topical-maritime-happenings.html

Charlie Pitcher and the Risks He Took

 

We live in an age of regulations - regulations defined by the laws of the land, and regulations stipulated within work situations. Wherever we turn, we are governed by regulations or rules. When you think about it, all societies have their own laws or regulations, even within families and wherever two or more people engage in a common cause.

People are accountable in law to obey the law, and those who run organisations or events are responsible for the safety of people under their care. An important duty of organisers and managers is to consider and address the issue of ‘health and safety’. Those in charge must provide safe environments for employees and for all that have access to the domain of their responsibility, and to that end they must undertake ‘risk assessments’. Risk assessments are ongoing, because where people assemble or congregate, situations and circumstances change.

Wherever there is the risk of danger to health, life or limb, there are degrees of risk. The manager of a football stadium, for example, may face greater risks than the manager of a small shop. However, both managers must be satisfied that there are sufficient exits and safe routes for the evacuation of people on their premises in the event of an emergency. In the case of the football stadium manager, if there happened to be a fire or terrorist attack, there must be exits for spectators to leave the stadium in an orderly manner. To that end the public address system must function efficiently so that instructions can be given for an evacuation of the stadium. There must be clear signage for people to follow, and there must be safe assembly points where emergency services can attend if need be.

We all make continuous risk assessments. If we wish to cross a road, we undertake a risk assessment before doing so. If we want to walk from A to B when there is ice on the pavement, we make a risk assessment before setting out, and having started we continue assessing situations as they arise: “Does the ice look too slippery for safe passage? Should I risk walking on the road where there is no ice, but a car may come along?” and so on.

Life is like that. When we are tiny and we acquire the ability to crawl from one place to another we enter the process of assessing risks. Theoretically, the older we become the better we become at making risk assessments.

What are the most dangerous risks we take in our lives? Do we risk drinking too much alcohol? Do we risk overindulging ourselves in food? Do we risk not exercising our bodies? If we persist in these things we know of the likely undesirable consequences to our physical health, and we accept the risks.

Our physical health has a direct bearing on our mental health, because if our bodies through indulgence or neglect fail to function properly, we cannot think or act rationally.

Before setting out on his record-breaking row across the Atlantic, Charlie Pitcher subjected himself to preliminary risk assessments, and throughout his epic voyage he monitored risks as they arose: the risk of dehydration, the risk of punishing his body too severely by physical effort without rest, and the risk of continuing to row when sea conditions worsened in preference to setting a sea anchor etc.

He took risks and lived to tell the tale. He says he has learnt a great deal.  Are there lessons for us to learn too?

Links

Atlantic solo row record: Charlie Pitcher 'knackered'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-21801706

Charlie Pitcher Again

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/charlie-pitcher-again.html

Five Steps to Risk Assessment

http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/fivesteps.htm

Risk Assessment

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

What is Risk Assessment and How do I Complete One?

http://www.hsdirect.co.uk/free-info/risk-assessment.html

Celebration

 

Just over two months ago I did an article* about presenting evidence before a court or before an employment tribunal. I drew attention to the inequality between poor or disadvantaged people and those who are rich, accomplished and well educated.

If you are poor and lacking resources your chances of winning a just case against those who have privilege by way of education and wealth are drastically reduced.

Well, that was the position I felt I was in two months ago - not that I was poor in the sense that I didn’t have enough money to buy a loaf of bread, but I was poor in my knowledge of the law pertaining to the particular case I was seeking evidence to defend. I also realised that the person I was helping was not in a position to make a strong defence because of being emotionally involved with those who had caused an injustice.  I therefore took on the role of advocate, much to the relief of the one who sought recompense.

A few days ago, our hard work paid off. A compromise was reached, resulting in a cash settlement. It had not been a David versus Goliath situation where there had to be a fight to the death, and it was never really a battle, more of a wrestling match. The one who could provide truthful evidence would be justified, and so it was for my friend. Truth prevailed and there was no need to go before a judge.

Yesterday, by way of reward for my advocacy, I was taken to the Plough and Sail at Paglesham for a celebratory meal. The pub was dressed overall with wonderful Easter decorations and there was a roaring open fire giving warmth to diners. There was a large selection from the menu, and the food I ate was delicious. The company was good, and the conversation was sweet.

Diffident and daunted at the outset when gathering evidence for our case and anxious regarding being before a judge, we were grateful that the latter had not been necessary and that an injustice had been put to rights.

Links

*Evidence before a Court

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/evidence-before-court.html

The Plough and Sail

http://www.theploughandsail.co.uk/