The trickiest part of a voyage or cruise may turn out to be the short leg between any harbor (sic) entrance and the dock, both on the way in and the way out’ – Carleton Mitchell, author of ‘Passage East’.
Russians Invading Europe!
Some 6 years ago Konstantin and friend did a 5 day course with Northumbria Sailing and now reports;
‘Hello, Melvyn! Glad to hear you! Yes, me and my family are fine. And, we are still sailing, of course Last year we had a sailing in Croatia (Pula – Pag – Simuni – Rab – Krk – Cres – Pula). Some photos in attached files. I recommend to visit the Rab island. Very beautiful old city. This year we plan to sailing around North Sardinia and Corsica.
We do not lose hope to plan training with Northumbria Sailing. We fondly remember our training in May, 2012 (Oh god, six years ago). :)’ Konstantin is shown back row right, a prime position next to Elena. He lives with his family some 1,000 miles east of Moscow, not that far from Chernobyl, the site of the nuclear accident.
RYA Diesel Engine Course
I am pleased to announced that this Course will be available from summer. A Volvo 2003 marine diesel engine will be used for demonstrations and you will get several chances to try your hand at changing filters etc.
The Course is for beginners and will show the simple maintenance tasks you are can do yourself to help maintain your engine in working order. The RNLI has complained that most of it’s call outs are often from engine failure where simple tasks have not been performed. Your rescuing lifeboat may make firm suggestions if this is found to be the case. RYA Diesel Engines
Day Skippers Galore
My latest class, the largest yet, have just graduated in the RYA Day Skipper Theory and most will be proceeding further with my courses in VHF and Practicals. Good company with a high attendance rate, despite wintry weather.
Well done John, Wayne, Ruth, Richard, Maarten, Lynn, Leah, Diane and David. 9 in all!
Theory classes will re-start in the autumn leaving the summer for time on the water.
A Record Number of Yachtmasters
The winter/spring class contained a record number of aspiring theory Yachtmasters. This demanding Course is the peak for most sailors and was completed just before Easter.
Jack’s the Lad
Jack Lowe’s aim in life is to visit all the RNLI stations and take a photograph of it’s crew. Not in a normal way for Jack though – he wants to take them using original methods and glass plates.
Jack took my VHF Course and this image belies his real character – larger than life and noisy! Have a look – Lifeboat Station Project
Northumbria Sailing Adventures
For these adventures we either charter a sailing yacht or take ‘Lian’ somewhere interesting and challenging. When weather and crew status permit we will do distances, often sailing through the night via the watch system. If this is not possible we will cruise looking for pleasant places to visit with good shoreside wining and dining facilities.
Trips in recent years have included the Orkneys, the Clyde, London Tower Bridge and a North Sea crossing.
We will endeavour to have you fully involved in the sailing of the boat and to consider your preferences. Alcohol will often be enjoyed when we are no longer underway. At the end of the trip you will have a log book filled and plenty of nautical adventures to tell.
2017 has seen a trip around Skye and one to Amsterdam.
A fantastic opportunity to sail a 15 metre traditional Dutch flat bottomed boat. Saeftinghe started life in 1930 as a mussel fisher, commandeered by the German army during the War and was converted for cruising in 1997.
Saeftinghe sails out of Makkum in North Holland and we will explore the Friesian Islands and canals. It is not expected to be a strenuous week, nor with high mileage, but the opportunity to sail a very different boat with a lot of space and luxury. Sleeping quarters are all in 5 cabins and bedding is included, as well as cleaning.
On the first morning we will have four hours of tuition on sailing and canal procedure on this beautiful, traditional, boat. Then we shall be free to explore the inland seas and canals. ‘I already did this once together with my wife. On a bigger boat and a larger group. It was brilliant…’ Dutchman Peter
Farnes in Nesting Season
A four day trip to share the delights of north Northumberland, almost on our doorstep.
We aim to set off from Royal Quays on the morning of 20th June onboard Lian and return later on during Saturday 23rd. Exploration, anchoring and berthing in interesting, and often tricky, places will be the priority as opposed to mileage. There will be an opportunity for a swim! whilst I stay onboard on boat watch…….
Nesting season is June and you can expect to see hundreds if not thousands of birds. Novices and experienced are welcome, and any novices will be provided with a safety talk before 20th in order that we can get an early start, if appropriate. Cost £250 or two in the forecabin for £400. 20 – 23rd One place left
Have a Drink in Ireland
Northern Ireland is only 22 miles from Scotland at the narrowest Irish Sea Crossing, and I thought it was time this sailing area was explored, as well as the ‘black stuff’.
Immediately after the Easter Bank Holiday we plan to do just that, and have chartered a 2013 built yacht, Scimitar, a Jeanneau 379, sailing out of Largs, a marina with easy access and excellent facilities. The pricing structure is aimed to give a variety of berths costing from £595.
The adventure is likely to appeal to many ability ranges, qualified and unqualified. Sailing holidays, especially in an area of outstanding beauty, give a healthy source of maritime experiences and tales. Instruction will be provided as well as the opportunity to take a role of involvement in planning and execution.
It is not intended to have ‘long hops’, but to enjoy the boat, surroundings, company, food and wine.
Prices are inclusive of berths and fuel, but catering will be done via a ‘kitty’, which was found to be successful in 2017 by providing flexibility. Dates April 4 – 11th. Costings. £595 for a shared berth in an aft cabin, £675 for a v-berth in the forecabin and £695 for one person in the double saloon berth Only the double saloon berth now available
Under Examination
An unusual request came from Fiona Dando of North East Yacht Surveys to be her invigilator whilst she takes a Boat Surveyor’s examination for advanced qualifications.
Lots of interesting defects for her to identify, and myself to learn from, and I hope she will pass with colours flying from the mast.
Shown here is the room where I first started teaching, nearly 8 years ago! There was only room for four victims and now I can take about 10 in a larger room, well placed on the ground floor. Nice and cosy at this time of the year too. (and Fiona passed too!)
Update on Courses & Trips
‘Keeping your brain active protects against dementia, probably because it increases the quality of your cognitive reserve – the connections within the brain network’
THEORY COURSES
RYA OCEAN YACHTMASTER Explore the wonders of a sextant with Celestial Navigation and Ocean Passage Planning. This ‘top of the range’ RYA theory course can lead to the coveted ‘Ocean Yachtmaster’ ticket. I have four sextants, one new lightweight metal, one plastic & two old brass, for you to handle. A practical session is included. Cost £475 or £725 on tailored tuition. It’s possible to come for the Celestial Navigation only. The US Navy are teaching sailors celestial navigation again as a precaution against cyber attack. US Navy.
(ICC) This can be done on the same course as Day Skipper/Competent Crew. Cost £625 with dates as above. Alternatively I can test you on your own boat at much cheaper cost. Individual quotations are given for this which will be from £225 for one day, own boat
Northumbria Sailing on Video
The school yacht is an 11 metre Hallberg Rassy, a quality boat well fitted down below providing comfortable accommodation, stable at sea. Have a look at her entering the river Tyne under sail. Lian at Tynemouth
Have a look at my Theory Training Centre with this video. Training
Onboard the Hallberg Rassy training yacht, by courtesy of Mark Batey and the kind co-operation of victims Andrew and Clive. See me giving berthing advice in trying to avoid the electric supply post Mark Batey Day Training
RYA Competent Crew in the sun, by courtesy of Mark again Mark Batey Competent Crew
In a clip from 2013 you see the appreciation of Ladies on an RYA sponsored day at Royal Quays Ladies Day
Pieces of Eight – Knotty Problems Analysed
Short Handed Berthing
The key to successful berthing is the proper use of the midships cleat. If you haven’t one it’s often possible to rig a similar arrangement via a winch. I remember doing this with my first yacht, a 21 foot Corribee named Destiny. Little did I know then that my own destiny was to be a sailing instructor and to run a sailing school!
First rig a strong, shortish, warp to the cleat with an open end or loop, depending on whether you have crew able to step off onto the pontoon.
Then motor up enabling the crew to secure the warp to the pontoon cleat (encircled in red). Put into gear and steer away from the pontoon and leave in gear. The stern will come into the berth, you can leave the helm and put in place the stern warp and finally the bow. Practise!
Accident Alley
A section to draw attention to accidents and what we can learn from them
Clipped on yachtsman fell overboard and died
During the Clipper Round the World in November 2017 a crew was clipped onto the jackstay and yet this failed to hold him. As a consequence he fell overboard and could not be recovered in time.
A safety issue identified during the investigation was that the hook on the end of the crew’s tether had become caught under a deck cleat, resulting in a lateral loading that was sufficient to cause the hook to distort and eventually release. Failed Harness .
Cheeki Rafiki again. The re-trial of the owners of the yacht has just begun
Victims (all) at Sea
John Taylor is sailing around Greek Islands, in part a warm up for his Coastal Skipper Practical this month. He’s proposing to explore the Akti Peninsula, notable for it’s medieval monasteries. Also notable, in the sailing directions, is’ Females are not allowed to set foot in the monasteries and a yacht with women onboard is not allowed to approach closer than 500m from the shores of the peninsula’. Image by Thodoris Lakiotis
Oran Salehy has just bought a Hallberg Rassy 31, a Monsun, and is shown here proudly receiving delivery from the Netherlands into Royal Quays boatyard.
Now he is entering the expensive phase of a refit before it will be ready to launch and he hopes to be sailing in the North East. Emre and I from pontoon F have generously agreed that he can join us here (our boats are 36 foot)!
Malcolm Young now has his 62 foot Oyster berthed in Royal Quays, close to my own boat and opposite Ron Fraser of Gianna, hitherto about the smartest boat in the marina. Ron is so pleased…..Malcolm has a great and luxurious yacht which he sailed up from Lymington on the south coast last month. Not the best time of the year to do a UK delivery trip but the boat did 11+ knots under sail and it was only a three day trip. Malcolm is a notable victim having come ‘through the ranks’ from Day Skipper to Ocean Yachtmaster theory and Yachtmaster practical with a commercial ticket. He has done excellent day trips and adventure sailing weeks for me with good feedback from victims. Although I can say ‘follow Malcolm’, doing all these Northumbria Sailing courses does not guarantee an Oyster at the end!
Paul Kröner ‘SInce I did the SRC course with you in January 2016 we sailed14 days in Croatia (Trogir, Solta, Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Vis), crossed the Northsea (IJmuiden-Lowestoft/Harwich), sailed 14 days in the Waddenzee/Noordzee (Texel, Vlieland, Ameland Borkum and the tall mast route in Friesland from Lauwersoog to Lemmer) We both were succesful in passing our exam for Coastal Navigation and obtained our ICC.This year we’ve planned a 2 week trip from Athens (Kalamaki) to the Cyclades archipelago in the Aegean Sea. All together we’ve done about 1500 NM so far.’
Emre Yilmaz, now with his recently acquired RYA Day Skipper Practical ticket, has his own 36 foot Bavaria and is shown here just before Christmas on his single handed sail from Royal Quays to Amble and back. Being Turkish is apparently no handicap when it comes to sailing in our cold, North East England, waters. I did give him an unofficial lesson beforehand, which he appreciated ‘Thanks again for showing me the tips the other day.’ Well
done Emre (but rather you than me in December)
Emre sailed back to Amble last month. Single handed again he arrived in the dark and, quite rightly, could enjoy his hot wine. Great Stuff, Emre! PS Emre is currently doing his Yachtmaster theory with me and has plans to sail to and around the West Coast of Scotland this summer. He’s a man in a hurry.
Ian Ainsworth continues his sailing on the inland waterways of America Great Loop
Nigel Bowers is a lively Yorkshireman and has successfully trained with me, obtaining his Day Skipper Practical Ticket.
He’s seen here on a Greek flotilla holiday;
‘We had a fantastic week sailing in Greece on a flotilla holiday last October – and have just booked a 2 week flotilla holiday in Greece again this October. All thanks to passing the Day Skipper – so thanks!’
Nigel wishes to have his daughter trained as well, I expect her to be quieter than her Dad!.
Phil Butler, recently successful with his RYA Yachtmaster Theory, thought he was on a holiday away from boats; ‘We recently had a week’s break with the children in Costa Adeje in Tenerife. Our apartment was on the 4th floor of hotel complex overlooking the sea near Puerto Colon which was about a mile away. I was used to watching the leisure boats whizzing around the buoys each day but on one occasion when I returned to the balcony from the pool I saw a small trail of black smoke near the coastline. It was coming from a small leisure vessel less than 7m and I could also see a pin prick of flame. The vessel was facing my direction bow on and all of a sudden with 3 – 6 seconds a huge fireball erupted. I was too far away to see the reaction of the occupants but I can only imagine that they leaped for their lives. I then saw a small yacht less than 12m come to the scene together with a RIB. I later learn’t the occupants were rescued. I then watched as the vessel continued to burn intensely until it sank in the bay. I have to say I was extremely surprised by the velocity of the eruption and the intensity of the fire. It showed to me that importance of wearing a lifejacket as all you could do in that situation would be to leap over the side immediately. You wouldn’t have time to look for fire extinguishers, the explosion was that sudden.’ Boat Explosion
Where Next, Day Skippers?
I am often asked by newly qualified Day Skippers – where can I get sailing experience? Perhaps you might wish to try something different and broaden your experience. Adventures Offshore is one such organisation and Liz is very much part of it:
Liz King is an aspiring Ocean Yachtmaster and took my Theory course last autumn. I had to deal with a sailor with far more ocean passage experience than I, someone who has crossed the Pacific as well as many of the rest. Needless to say, she was successful and a pleasure to have onboard.
‘Ahoy there! I did most of my early sailing on the Solent at the Joint Services Sailing Centre (nowadays they have stuck the words “Adventurous” and “Sail Training” in there, just in case Joe Public got the wrong idea about sailing being all gin and tonics). In the good old days JSASTC had a battle hardened fleet of Halcyon 27s and Contessa 32s which, once you acquired your Day Skipper ticket, you could “sign out” and go and play and learn on. A fabulous introduction to the world of sailing. We also had a fleet of graceful Nicholson 55s, greyhounds of the sailing scene in their day; many of them are still active, as indeed are many of the Halcyons and Contessas.
Moving on a few years and about 40,000NM later, many people in the north east know me from some of my photography and PR work for the RYA NE Region, a role I have recently relinquished, so I now have time to enjoy sailing again.
I am currently skippering an Oyster 50, part time for the charity “Adventures Offshore” which is part of the Scout network and in 2017 we took part in the Baltic Tall Ships Race, my first venture into the Baltic. I skippered the delivery leg, 800NM from the Thames estuary to Sweden against relentless 25knot NE winds! Groan!
This year we are again taking part in the Tall Ships and the Oyster 50 “Ocean Scout” will be at Sunderland for the celebrations. My leg as skipper is from Denmark to Norway, I have put in my order to a higher command for some gentle South Westerlies. We’ll see if it works. (studying in the Church Life Centre might help – Ed)
I’m currently working towards my Ocean YM ticket and in preparation for that I have recently completed a couple of shorebased revision courses with Melvyn and I can honestly say that his teaching has been excellent. It’s 25 years since I last looked at astronavigation and Melvyn patiently brought it all back into focus. Great fun! At the moment, I’m sharpening my pencils and polishing the sextant, ready for a summer of sights. How does it go again? “All I need is a tall ship and a star to steer her by…” Well, I can do that now, I’m ready!
Poor Sunderland
To compound their latest troubles, on the football pitch, has come damage to their harbour wall, close to the Yacht Club. This image was taken during the annual ‘shakedown’ (getting boaty bits working) cruise last month.
Very Rough Tyne
28th February and the Inshore Waters forecast was ‘Very Rough’ sea state. I heard Tyne VTS (Traffic Control) say to a vessel requesting entry that the swell was 6m and first they would need to be assured of their ability to enter! I must say conditions were as bad as I have ever seen, but Port of Tyne proudly state that they were still able to provide a service. Port of Tyne Battles Beast from the East. The day before I heard Seaham Harbour refuse entry to two vessels saying ‘stay safe at sea’. The danger is to come in what seems a very short journey, but has resulted in many deaths.
In the notorious Fastnet Disaster in 1979, where 15 yachtsmen lost their lives, the wave height was estimated at some 12m (40-44 feet) Fastnet Report
Why was I listening? I was on the School yacht preparing for the first practical on 5th March. Very early this year.
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New Security for City Marina
The marina now consists of x5 cameras and one of which is a thermal imaging camera which detects any heat signature.
If any person enters over the Quayside barrier, an alarm will trigger to our CCTV operator (Protector Group) to which the tannoy system is activated.
We also have a trip system connected to our footbridge and gate so If any person was to jump over and trigger the alarm, an operator will activate the tannoy system also.
My Practical Sailing Season was underway with the training of the NE1 staff, a lovely day in early March after some dreadful weather
Boat Delivery
Just bought a boat and wondering whether to have it delivered or trucked? You can contact us for a feasibility assessment and quotation for cost.
Yacht Skippering
There are times when you might feel that your ‘ticket’ and/or experience will not be adequate for a safe holiday. Last summer I had such a commission enabling a larger yacht to be chartered and to sail to more adventurous places. It worked and we all had a great time and look forward to repeating the experience exploring a more challenging area in 2017.
New Development by Royal Quays
Cussins is building right next to Royal Quays, overlooking the River Tyne and the disused lock. Prices start from £174,950 for a 2 bedroomed apartment to £319,950 for a 4 bed Townhouse. Call them on 01665 600800 or email; sales@cussins.com
Reader’s Links
A new section featuring links of a maritime interest sent to me.
Peter Chater has found a remarkable way of plugging a failed seacock – with a carrot! Sea Cock Repair
Leah Pattison sent this pic of Scarborough during rough conditions. A great view from the top of the Big Wheel!
Peter Chater sent this one about a fisherman suing as a result of a collision Fisherman Sues
Nigel Hierons saw this news item about a flare Flare in recycling explodes
Franek Richardson sent this Time Lapse
Phil Butler mentions the two women rescued after 5 months at sea in the Pacific.
Stuart Porter took and posted this great dolphin display, quite the best I have seen North Sea Dolphins
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