December 2015

‘Any fool can carry on, but a wise man knows how to shorten sail in time’  – Joseph Conrad

               

Sailor’s Evening – Diary Date

Make a note, 21st January 2016 at the Corner House again from 7pm. Come to listen to and exchange yarns from yesteryear. Subjects include ‘The Examiner’s Lot is not a Happy One’, ‘Batey’s Buy’, ‘Confessions of a Sailing Instructor. (censored version)’

2016 in the Orkneys & Shetlands

The Orkneys and Shetlands offer challenging sailing in a wonderful landscape. I have sailed there twice to the Orkneys, the most recent being in 2008, but never the Shetlands. In June and July I will be taking the Hallberg Rassy up there to explore the area but in my own boat which offers more comfort and security than a charter.

Extract from Ship’s Log 7^th August 2008 Left Stonehaven 1351 with jib up after failing to hoist mainsail. Northerly wind F6 all the way with maximum gust 31.2 knots. Proceeded under sail only arriving at Royal Quays on 8^th at 1117. 128.8 miles in 21 hours 26 minutes at an average speed of 6 knots. The engine was turned off outside Stonehaven and back on again just outside Tynemouth’s pier end. One of the best sails ever!

The aim will be to spend four weeks away from Royal Quays with skipper and crew changeovers weekly, starting from 19^th June. A quick delivery trip up there followed by cruising this exciting area and ending with a leisurely trip back home.

‘Lian’ is undergoing a re-fit during the 2015/6 off season, to include a new engine and will be ready and able to take on the 2016 season.

Weeks available are;

June 19 – 25^th (maximum) A delivery trip from Royal Quays to Kirkwall in the Orkneys providing mileage of 280+ in as short a time as possible, employing a skipper.

June 25 – July 2^nd & July 2^nd – 9th touring the area starting and finishing at Kirkwall. Targets will include the Shetlands and Fair Isle, with possible visits to Scapa Flow, Stromness and Hoy.

July 9 – 16^th A leisurely trip back to Royal Quays calling at various ports on the way. These could be from; Wick, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Arbroath and Eyemouth, giving us time to sample local delights and beers.

What to Expect. The northbound trip will start from Royal Quays, be as quick as diligently possible and will include overnight(s). Both north and southbound will be good for mileage and log book entries. The fee includes full board, except for any meals taken ashore. Only alcohol, when provided with a meal, will be allowed onboard.

Kirkwall is an excellent base with a good marina within a short walking distance of the town centre. Air and ferry services are available. In the event of weather delay Lerwick could be used, the Shetlands also served by air and ferry.

RYA Competent Crew will be available for the return trip to Royal Quays.

 

Why an Evening Class?

In my day there was a choice between an evening class or correspondence and I actually did my Day Skipper Theory twice. First by correspondence and later by evening class as I wasn’t convinced that I knew the subject as well as I wanted, even though I had passed.

The Local Authority Evening Class had a cost subsidy so was cheap, but a large class, perhaps 20+, and set in school. The large number prevented the instructor from giving personal attention and proceeded at a set pace and it was up to you to keep abreast, or fall away. Over two terms as well, the class seemed to go on forever and was a real struggle to go out on a November evening into a basic, school, setting.

The Local Authority classes seem to have expired leaving, realistically, class, private or online. The RYA is developing a part online Course as an option and some schools provide their own version.

You can now choose which suits you best and factors you may wish to consider are:

1. If you live so far away you will probably only have the online option or a residential Fastrack
2. There are some subjects which, in my opinion, are difficult to learn online. Chartwork principally, but also tides and time zones. I have seen many instances of the correct answer being produced with chartwork, but quite the wrong drawing.
3. Online multi choice, as one victim put it ‘I could see that by clicking an option I would be allowed through, but couldn’t understand why’.
4. Most of my victims haven’t done anything like this for many years and need time to assimilate together with explanation, not just given another paper to try.
5. Learning in company creates friendships and a bit of laughter
6. I have a warm and comfortable room in a modern building in Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne with unrestricted street car parking at hand

Update on Courses & Trips;

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 £450 or £725 on tailored tuition. It’s possible to come for the Celestial Navigation only.

RYA COASTAL YACHTMASTER The advanced Course, a must for those proceeding to Yachtmaster level. Cost £395 for class & £595 tailored tuition. You need a good knowledge of this Course before being tested by the RYA Examiner.  Next class, Fridays 0900 – 1400hrs January 15, 22, 29th, February 5, 12, 26th, March 4 & 11th

FASTRACK RYA COASTAL YACHTMASTER A new opportunity for those already experienced who wish to by-pass the Day Skipper Course. Basically, It’s the Coastal Yachtmaster Course with some Prep beforehand. More of an individual Course this will probably be one2one, although could be done in class form. Not the cheapest option and not for the beginner, it does have the advantage of flexibility in content and timings. For one2one it would be £575 plus the cost of the Prep. Next Course;Summer

PRACTICAL COURSES

All local courses take place on the school boat, a quality 36 foot Hallberg Rassy, well known for its comfort and steadiness afloat. Properly equipped with modern electronics, the preferred wheel steering and comfortable bunk cushions you will be well set up to handle whatever may come your way. Courses are fully inclusive, except for a kitty contribution to drinks onshore.

PRACTICAL CREWING My version of RYA Competent Crew. Three days, 0930-1700hrs onboard for three persons. 3:1 private tuition and you will be up to the Comp Crew standard. No experience necessary. Cost £275

DAY TRIPS. ‘Taster’ days run throughout the season with the aim of having a pleasant day out on the water. You can see whether yachting is for you at modest cost. Trips operate out of Royal Quays 0930 – 1700hrs. Cost £50 weekday & £70 weekend (maximum 5 customers onboard). From April 2016.

RYA COMPETENT CREW  A 5 day, live aboard, course where you will learn ‘the ropes’ and to become a useful crew member. A good start to, perhaps, a lifetime boating. Cost £575. May 3 – 8th, June & September in preparation  Course Review  

RYA DAY SKIPPER PRACTICAL  The key to bareboat charter, this course aims to get you to the ability ‘ to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in tidal waters with which the student is familiar’. Then you can be let loose to find your own adventures and provide endless anecdotes for you to enjoy telling. Cost £595. May 3 – 8th, June & September in preparation

INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE (ICC)  This can be done on the same course as Day Skipper/Competent Crew. Cost £525 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.

YACHTMASTER PREPARATION Following on from the successful session last June, where three new YM’s were delivered, there is to be a repeat format during Three days preparation followed by examination by an RYA Examiner for two days. Cost £595 excluding exam fees (2015 rate for YM Coastal £181).

Northumbria Sailing on YouTube

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

Have you been involved in a collision, big or small?

I am collecting material for a Collision Regulations talk and quiz for the Spring. If you have had personal experience of this misfortune I would like to hear from you

Pieces of Eight – Knotty Problems Analysed

Mean High Water Springs (MHWS or MLWS)

Mean of what? asked victim Mark Bagott right in my first ever course. Mean (average) over a year, month? and I could not answer this! I wasn’t experienced enough then to employ delaying tactics or obfuscation.

Looking this up I found it’s an ‘average throughout the year (when the average maximum declination of the moon is 23.5°) of two successive high waters during those periods of 24 hours when the range of the tide is at its greatest’. Low water is for the same period.

Values of MHWS and MLWS vary from year to year with a cycle of about 18.6 years, a full Precession (change in orientation of rotational axes) I hope this helps, Mark.

Sour Future for Arctic Shelf Seas

No 3 son, Phil, is involved as a research scientist in this important and current topic. He lives and works in Bergen, Norway but had better get on top of his research quickly as he is about to become a father for the first time at 36 and, despite warnings, will not appreciate the difficulty of diligently working after sleepless nights! He writes;

‘The Arctic shelf seas could be among the worst affected by CO₂ emissions from human activities. Not only is global warming causing the ice to melt and water temperatures to rise, but the absorption of  CO₂ from the atmosphere is also causing the pH of seawater to drop. This ‘acidification’ is not going to produce literally sour-tasting seas, but may nevertheless be large enough to have wide-ranging impacts on the health of marine organisms and the delicate competitive balance between species. In particular, calcifying organisms such as mussels and corals have difficulty building healthy shells and skeletons in acidified seawater.

Arctic shelf seas are especially vulnerable to acidification because of cold temperatures, shrinking ice cover and increasing inputs of fresh water from ice melt and river discharge.

As part of the EØS-funded project ‘POLNOR’, climate scientists Phil Wallhead and Richard Bellerby from the Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA) are analysing model projections for the Arctic ocean and Nordic seas, focusing on the sea floor where many important calcifiers reside. POLNOR will combine these model projections with new data from laboratory experiments and field sampling campaigns to assess the possible consequences of acidification for bottom-dwelling organisms in the Arctic shelf seas and the ecosystems and economic activities that they support’. To find out more: POLNOR

Victims (all) at Sea

Ian & Ellie Davies give an update on the travels of Software Mistress;
‘In 2014 we left Blyth and North up to the Caledonian canal via Peterhead and Whitehills.
Then having escaped the horrible North Sea we did the usual haunts Oban, Tobermory, Canna and ambled up as far as lovely Plockton. The season was coming to an end and due to engine problems we headed South later than planned; originally we were planning on Portugal, but erred on the side of safety and, as suggested by some French friends, decided to spend the winter in Quiberon.
Our route took in North and South Ireland then Milford Haven to Newlyn. It was here that we spotted kingfishers on the sea for the first but not last time. We then pushed off for Brest, interesting lesson learnt during the night was
that some trawler skippers cover their ground box fashion, this means that you may encounter the same boat coming out of the murk on several occasions!
From Brest we entered Concarneau at night, manoeuvring into the last space available to find out in the morning that the French did not know how I got in as it took four people with warps to get us out.

South Brittany, Belle Isle and finally our home for the winter, Port Haliguen, where we spent a mild but wet stay.
The engine finally had to go so we were towed by our French friend John Francoise to La Trinite where we hauled out to receive a lovely new engine and painted bottom and slipped her in ready to return to the UK.
2015 we retraced our steps but this time headed further North and stopped at Stornoway. Enough was enough so we leisurely sailed back to Ardrossan where she will stay for the winter.
Lessons learnt, never trust the Met Office but the French equivalent is good with regular updates with accurate wind speeds and swell heights over many different types of area and coastline.
If we can be of any assistance to your other Sigma 362 students, we would be pleased to help’.

Kevan Newbold has joined the Hallberg Rassy club with his purchase of an HR352. ‘Luckily it comes with a vast amount of spares including 2 heat exchangers and 3 lift pumps which I know are hard to get hold of plus most other bits including starter motor and alternator, injection pump etc. She is close to Athens at the moment but I will be taking her through the Corinth canal up to the Ionian for the first year (familiar waters) can’t wait for next spring to start sailing her now’.

Jonathan Colwell is now a Yachtmaster, having successfully completed a challenging examination. Congratulations!!

Malcolm Wright also a new Yachtmaster, but as yet in theory only, is looking for a Beneteau Swift 34. Any suggestions let me know.

Mark Batey, has sold his old boat to two Frenchmen and I saw it being prepared for a long trailing to Brittany. He’s looking for a new genoa for Amphora, his Holman 26, after suffering wind damage

Gary Michaels was last seen with his head in the bilges of his boat, Westerly racer General Konfusion trying to repair his water pump.

 

Defibrillator

Defibrillator points are settting up in several public places and you should have been on an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) Course to know how to use one safely. My First Aid Instructor can do this and it would last for half a day and include CPR. Cost £60. Apply for further details.

FREE

Unwanted, old, laptops with C-Map chart plotter loaded. 1 x Inspiron 9300, 2 x Toughbooks, XP installed were heading for the recycler and will be given away to anyone who can find a use for them.

For more information contact me via my web page

Sail Safely