‘A single-handed passage in a small sailing boat is about the most expensive way of crossing the Atlantic known to man’ – JRL Anderson

 

Steve Lovett, Yachtmaster is the latest recruit to Northumbria Sailing team. Demand for sailing courses, and VHF radio, has taken off in the North East and more help is needed. Steve is an RYA Instructor and has a wealth of experience, last sailing with us up to the Shetlands in 2016. Steve lives in Durham and has some 50 years experience on the water ranging from dinghies to cruising yachts in the UK and abroad, including the UK to Rio leg of the Clipper Race in 2013.

 

 Crew Exercises

I would like to say this was an image of myself but, no, an aspiring Day Skipper was carrying out his daily exercises. Posting this on Facebook prompted the comment ‘is this mandatory?’ One of the great things about this business is the diversity of victims who bring their own education and insights into their lives. Humour as well and this is Will, an acrobat and juggler, who has his own business and can be contacted on Will Be Juggling. My memories of Will are seeing him juggling 5 satsumas in the saloon whilst explaining the learning process which goes into this remarkable skill. He’s off to the States soon to perform there.

                                

                                8 x VHF Sets

Never before have I had so many and thanks to Oceanic Yachts for the loan of two. Still a maximum of 8 persons as I don’t think it’s right to have to share on this important Course. Next availability all day 3rd June (one only) & evenings July 5+6th

Paper Round By Boat!

Shown here are Gerard, Don, John, Nigel & Gunnar all on the May RYA Day Skipper/Competent Crew Course. When quizzed about experience Gunnar, Norwegian, produced a real cracker – ‘I even did my paper round (in Norway) by boat!’

Next on display on ‘Lian’s’ foredeck are Ross, Will shown here the correct way up, and Heather from yet another May 5 day Course. An extra May Course was put on to cope with demand.

       

Meet the (rest of the) Team

Melvyn Wallhead, Yachtmaster & RYA Instructor. I started this business in 2010 partly to justify keeping our rather nice Hallberg Rassy yacht, never expecting the school would grow to the present level. The North East has a long maritime tradition but potential mariners have had to go outside the area or deal with local colleges offering an inflexible ‘service’. I have sailed all over; UK, Med, Europe, Caribbean, Thailand, four continents in all and hope I can encourage others to do the same, without the ‘incidents’.

 

 

 

 

 

Trevor Jefferson, Yachtmaster & RYA Instructor has a long pedigree in teaching with dinghy sailing going back some 40 years and is an RYA Race Trainer. Sail Cruising has been his recent activity with instruction time in Gibraltar and the West Coast of Scotland where he owned a watersports centre. As my Chief Instructor he  ‘raises the bar’ for Northumbria Sailing instruction standards.

 

 

Don Gunton, Yachtmaster & RYA Instructor has extensive sailing experience primarily on the west coast of Scotland. Other trips have included a scary one to Norway with me onboard. Note ‘scary’ due to the weather. He would probably list sailing to St Kilda as one of his great achievements. Don has been instructing with Northumbria Sailing for a few years and can also do a useful turn in nautical slang due to his previous experience in the Merchant navy.

 

 

 

Malcolm Young, Yachtmaster helps keep our average age down and has come through the ranks with Northumbria Sailing. Malcolm has sailed in the west coast of Scotland, the Caribbean, Med, Norway as well as the North East. Sailing ambitions have to dovetail with running a company but he has already shown his capability by sailing to the Shetlands. He does a good turn in weekend Day Trips too!

 

Northumbria Sailing Adventures

These adventures are when 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.

North Shields to Amsterdam in July 2017

Come with me for a trip to, or from, Amsterdam on my quality 11 metre yacht ‘Lian’, a Hallberg Rassy sailing yacht, well known for its luxury and steadiness afloat. 

There will be two legs, Royal Quays to Amsterdam, or near, and the return. To comply with the boat’s commercial coding certificate, requiring a maximum distance of 60 miles from a safe haven, the routes will follow the coastline, crossing about Lowestoft. I last sailed to Amsterdam in 2012, a great and vibrant city readily accessible by air from Newcastle upon Tyne. The outward leg will be from 1st – 8th July and the return 8 – 15th. 8th July will be the changeover date. The outward crew will meet onboard on the evening of 30th June.

Depending on the route the mileage is estimated between 275 and 300 miles each way.This will be an opportunity to build sea miles.

What to Expect.

You will be sleeping onboard and take part in watches throughout the night. Expect highs and lows, for a sailing trip is never routine and you learn to ‘expect the unexpected’ and deal with it.

The boat is sturdy and comfortable and, whilst we do not aim to go out in bad weather, we will be ready if caught out at sea. The boat has a Chart Plotter, Radar and AIS. I will take one leg and employ a skipper for the other.

The cost includes catering, berthing, just about everything except meal and drinks onshore.

How to Prepare.

Detailed joining instructions will be given nearer the time, but you will be responsible for your travel costs and arrangements to the start. Sadly, I can give no guarantees to arrive at Amsterdam even, but will be making every effort.

If you book a flight early to take advantage of discounts this will be at your own risk. 

How to Book. There are a maximum of four places on board each way. £100 reserves, subject to the conditions on my webpage. The balance is payable two months before the start of the trip. You will be asked to sign a declaration of fitness.

Space is still available on the return leg, cost £495.

Hebridean Adventure in June 2017 – FULL

             

                                 

                                    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. Provisional autumn evenings/Saturday dates; September 27th, October 4, 11, 18th November 1, 8, 15, 22, 25, 29th December 6, 9, 13 & 20th  

RYA COASTAL YACHTMASTER The advanced Course, a must for those proceeding to Yachtmaster level. Cost £425 for class & £625 tailored tuition. You need a good knowledge of this Course before being tested by the RYA Examiner. Next classes start January 2018

RYA DAY SKIPPER  A popular starting point for many. Same Course for Sail or Power. Maximum 8 to a class and located in Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne. Included is a half day visit to the School boat. Cost £425. Daytime Course 0930 – 1430: October 10, 17, 31st, November 7, 14, 21, 28th & December 5th. Evenings/Saturdays: October 2, 9, 14, 16, 30th November 6, 13, 20, 27th, December 2, 4 & 11th.

I can’t do these times and am in a hurry!

Then a Tailored Timetable with one to one tuition could be for you. Costs £625 (£950 a couple) for Day Skipper, £625 for Coastal/Yachtmaster™ and £725 for the Ocean. Available when the diary permits.

Whilst I would not wish to encourage missing sessions, it’s a fact of life in todays world and time can be made up through private sessions or, sometimes, within the class timetable

TIDES In response to demand I’m offering this Course on tides, not RYA Tides, but real UK tides, especially on our North East Coast. Learn how to calculate tidal heights and streams. Join any of the four at £25 each or £90 for all four. Each session takes place 6 – 9pm at Heaton; October 5, 12, 19th & November 2nd. Session 1 will be Day Skipper level with tides at standard ports. Session 2 will be advanced with secondary ports, Session 3 Tidal streams. Session 4 will go through examples and homework set from previous sessions. Also to be explored are the less common e.g tidal coefficients

PRACTICAL COURSES

All local courses take place on the school boat, a quality 36 foot Hallbe 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. (£375 weekends) Next Course; June 13, 15 & 16th

 

 

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)   

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. 2017; September 17 – 22nd, September 24 – 29th    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. (The caption shows the June victims enjoying fish & chips on the final day) Cost £595 Next availability;  September 24 – 29th    ‘I was pleased with the way the course was organised, the instructions for preparation and attending, the fact that you were there waiting for me when I arrived, and your welcome both before and after we boarded.’ – Hassall. Course Review by Tim Edwards 

RYA START YACHTING  A two day course for beginners, which can be the ‘start’ of greater things. You live onboard for two days and visit another marina, away from Royal Quays. Cost £230.

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. This could be done on your boat, when a quotation would be given. The examination will take place over the weekend of  October 13 – 15th.

If you are contemplating your YM Examination you must see this in-depth report by Jonny Colwell on his experience in the autumn of 2015 YM Prep & Examination

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

Jordan Series Drogue

Roger Taylor of MingMing fame would never go to sea without one and so should we, he states. He omits to say that he never goes to sea with an engine, but we do! Simple Sailor 

Specialist Courses include

VHF Radio – A Lifesaver

VHF Courses are much in demand, from yachties, fishermen or River Tyne workers, a variety of custom all needing an Operator’s licence to be legally able to use their VHF set unsupervised. Remember unsupervised use is only allowed in emergency and for Channel M.

RYA VHF Still available in class or private tuition. Don’t be caught without a proper licence as you could be fined up to £5,000, plus 6 months inside, plus equipment confiscation – yes it’s very severe! At Northumbria Sailing  you will receive tuition one per training set. As you will be assessed for practical skills as well as theoretical I think it’s advisable that you have every opportunity to familiarise yourself with the equipment. All Day Saturday 3rd June. Evenings; July 5 & 6th. Cost £110 plus £60 to RYA Also available One to One at £175 and online at £85 to include manual. Assessment £60 extra.  Try these links. RYA Online VHF Radio  and RYA Online VHF video

                

 

RYA BASIC SEA SURVIVAL. A must for all sailors and a very proactive time in the, warm, swimming pool. You will learn about general safety onboard as well as survival in the water. Last April we had a very enjoyable session at a school in Heaton and this will be repeated at some time in the future, according to demand Cost £125 or £110 if in a group or family.  RYA Basic Sea Survival and a video Wet in the Pool

RYA RADAR Are you safe using your set? Can you properly identify a collision situation? If you have radar you are required to know how to use it properly and could be held responsible if an incident was to occur.  Day or two evening courses. Cost £120, plus £9.75 to RYA.

CEVNI test for the Inland waterways endorsement to your ICC. Done online, cost £25

RYA Essential Navigation Online. Do this starter course on your own laptop. A good introduction to the theory part of sailing, with yacht or power boat. Cost £95 plus £28 (includes instruments) to the RYA

RYA FIRST AID. All day for the RYA certificate, valid three years. Be prepared for a full day’s activity with lots of practical demonstrations and active participation – no going to sleep here with Simon!. Cost £75, £95 with Cat C drug endorsement, + £7 RYA Pack. Next session 11th October

Accident Alley

A new section to draw attention to accidents and what we can learn from them. Below is the Government Report;

CV12 ‘During the Clipper Round the World Race of 2015/16 while 122 miles west of Porto, Portugal on 4 September 2015, a crew member sustained a fatal injury during an uncontrolled gybe.

Later in the same race on 1 April 2016, an untethered crew member was washed overboard from the yacht. The crew member was recovered after 1 hour and 20 minutes in the water, but never regained consciousness.

Safety issues

  • Effective supervision would have provided opportunities to prevent both accidents
  • Danger zones need to be clearly marked on deck
  • Given the uncertainty of successful man overboard search and recovery, particularly in atrocious weather, the need to clip on is paramount
  • Skippers need to be effectively supported and, where appropriate, challenged to ensure safe working practices are maintained’ CV12 YachtVictims (all) at SeaViktoras Kubaitis is a remarkable guy who made a superb entrance to the VHF class. He was late, but we started and had just got to ‘V for Victor’ when he rang the bell! He’s not afraid to post his exploits on the internet too via his own web page. Hartlepool Grounding Ross and Peter Hobson have this flying machine, shown here at Royal Quays. Father and son, they are very much into racing and this boat will go fast. We are privileged to have here, in the North East, a World Record Holder Bermuda – Plymouth (43ft Trimaran – Mollymawk) and, earlier, another from Plymouth to La Rochelle. You can look him up on his web page – what a pedigree! Ross Hobson Ocean Racing Paul has just upgraded and now has his RYA Day Skipper Practical and is looking to broaden his horizons. Inland lake sailing is not to be sniffed at though as winds can vary a lot according to the hills around whereas on the sea at least it’s pretty constant in direction.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.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.For more information contact me via my web page
  • Sail Safely the RYA Way 
  • Try me on Facebook for lots more images Facebook
  • Yacht Skippering
  • Boat Delivery
  • Paul Bainbridge keeps his Etap 21 on Lake Windermere. It’s a trailer sailor and he pays about £900 for this years mooring, plus his own mooring gear.
  • Here is shown the consequences of his departure from Hartlepool marina in the fog. I hasten to add that I am not responsible for his practical tuition. Viktor is a Trauma & Orthopaedic surgeon at South Shields.
  • Cheeki Rafiki Already mentioned, in previous issues, where 4 sailors died. Legal action has now been taken against the organisers Cheeki Rafiki