‘In little vessels, there is joy. In large vessels there is travail and perplexity’ – Ernest K Gann
Emergency – ‘Where’s Your Ticket?’
The question Heather & Chris faced when, with less than a month to go, they were asked, for the first time, to produce an RYA Qualification for their sailing yacht charter in Teneriffe. They are experienced sailors and have chartered regularly, but never been asked to produce documentary evidence of their abilities.
It was a Saturday morning then last month, October, when I received a phone call. Can you help us? Methinks ‘Cripes, my RYA Day Skipper Practicals have finished for the season and I’m in the process of removing stuff from the boat. But I can’t fit in a 5 day Course and I have never done a split or, indeed, a private. It would be October/November and that’s too late in the season….On the other hand, I know them and they are very much in need of help’
I gave in and quoted them for an RYA Day Skipper Practical for the two of them, split across sessions of two and three days, one in October and the second in November. Oh, and another date was arranged in the diaries just in case the Course wasn’t completed on time. Then the night sail dawned. Four hours has to be given, though an early start would be a bonus. I don’t think I have sailed up here at night in November.
How would I instruct just the two of them, both expected to meet Day Skipper standards and deal with the night sail etc etc?
In the event, I decided to ensure they could properly sail together just the two of them, to include berthing and lock management i.e. short handed. It worked well, but the sea state wasn’t suitable for a night sail during the first two sessions so I would have to wait for the November 3 days. It did happen and the river Tyne entrance was very busy, because at 6pm it wasn’t late. It’s amazing how vessels can hide against a background of lights.
It being a private session there was time left over for a theory brush up, honing in on the ColRegs. Both Heather and Chris were successful and all of us rather smug as, the day after completion, there were gales and snow on the hills.
A nice email has resulted; ‘Many thanks once again for taking us on at such short notice and giving us a thoroughly good and engaging course on which we learnt so much under your skilful guidance. We are both extremely grateful to you for looking after us so well.’.
Now I look forward to hearing how they get on in Teneriffe. (I still can’t remove much stuff as I have a Day Trip on 19th and a ‘Last Sail of the Season’ to Hartlepool the following week)
2016 has seen a varied year of victims to whom English is not their first language. I congratulate them all on performing so well, whether they were Polish, German, Chinese, French, Irish or Yorkshire. Below you see a report in Polish, with a link to the English translation – if you need It!
Ahoj Żeglarze
Moja przygoda z żeglarstwem zaczęła się dawno temu w Polsce na Mazurach. Niestety z rożnych przyczyn życiowych nie było mi dane rozwijać tej pasji. Wiele lat temu los przytargał mnie do Anglii do Newcastle. Trochę zbieg okoliczności, troche przypadek. Tak czy inaczej nigdy bym nie podejrzewał że kolejne zbiegi okoliczności kilka lat później skrzyżują moje drogi z Northumbria Sailing i jego założycielem Melvinem.
Zaczęło się niewinnie podczas jednych z rodzinnych wakacji w Hiszpani. Pięknie położony hotel nad morzem a u jego podnóża marina z pięknymi jachtami. Codzienne spacery w takim sąsiedztwie wczesniej czy pozniej musiały skończyć sie natchnieniem do działania. Jeszcze będąc tam zacząłem szukac w internecie jak i gdzie po powrocie do Newcastle mógłbym uzyskać kwalifikacje żeglarskie.
Wtedy znalazłem Northubria Sailing. Po wymianie kilku maili umówiłem sie na spotkanie w celu wyjaśnienia szczegółów procedury szkolenia i uzyskania kwalifikacji. Tak też osobiście poznałem Melvina.
Wyzwanie podjąłem odważnie i zdecydowanie. Nie było łatwo, ale i nikt nie obiecywał że będzie łatwo.
Doświadczenie wymagające determinacji i pracy. Wiele godzin spędzonych na nauce nawigacji, meteorologii oraz wiedzy ogólno żeglarskiej. Wszystko to w języku ojczystym byłoby wyzwaniem ze względu na wyspecjalizowaną terminologię nie wspominając o tym, że musiałem to wszystko ogarnąć w j.angielskim.
Ostatecznie trzy miesiące teorii i tygodniowy rejs uwieńczone zostały sukcesem. Egzaminy zaliczone z wyróżnieniem zaowocowały uzyskaniem tytułu Day Skipper.
Wszystkim miłośnikom żeglarstwa i potencjalnym kandydatom do zdobywania kwalifikacji i doświadczenia polecam Northumbria Sailing i jej instruktora, kapitana żeglugi wielkiej Melvina Wallhead.
Pozdrawiam
Mario
“Ahoj” is more nautical term that I remember being used as a greeting between sailors on the sea.
“Żeglarze” – sailors
Mario’s Adventure – English Version
As you can see, Mario is sailing mad, keen to do courses inside, and outside, his price bracket. He’s determined to take his wife and family on the water in Poland next year. With adventures already he crewed for a tricky delivery from Seahouses in lumpy conditions. He forgot his anti-seasickness tablets of all things! He wasn’t seasick though, despite a couple of very close shaves.
Cheeki Rafiki Charges
Remember the yacht which capsized mid Atlantic with the loss of four lives? Charges of gross negligence manslaughter are being brought against Douglas Innes and Stormforce Coaching Limited. For the latest news Cheeki Rafiki
ICC in Action
Half term was time to go off into the sun, Porto Pollensa in Majorca to be exact. A family trip where wife and son are more interested in speed and hence this view of me approaching Formentor at speed (by my standards)
The Hirer asked for a ‘licence’ (actually he spelt ‘license’) and I produced my ICC (International Certificate of Competence) remembering that this covers me for power up to 10 metres as well as sail. Bit hard on the pocket but, I have to admit, enjoyable. (the following day was windless and no dinghy sailing possible)
Boom Push Day Skippers
Brendan, Glen, Emma and Pauline (who couldn’t reach) all try to move the boom over when the preventer was attached – unsuccessful, as was the intention, of course.
Late September saw the best weather I have ever had during this month. We all had a great time and are even being followed, as I write, by another 5 day Course, this time skippered by Don Gunton. They are having a very windy time but, as the wind is offshore, the sea state could hardly be bettered.
Sailor’s Evening
Last month we had the Sailor’s Evening with three very good speakers where we learnt about the Orkneys & Shetlands, the Drake passage & Antarctic, together with the ‘Four Lads’ who rowed around Britain and were still on speaking terms at the end. In all we raised £150 for the RNLI.
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. Outward FULL
Cost £550 for the 7 days.
Hebridean Adventure in June 2017
Come for a Hebridean adventure on an elegant, 43 foot, Sun Odyssey deck saloon yacht (library image of similar shown).
We will assemble at Dunstaffnage marina, 3 miles north of Oban on June 17th, returning one week later on 24th.
I am chartering Eloise, built 2004, from Alba Sailing which can be viewed in detail Eloise.
The boat is a deck saloon, which provides a light saloon with panoramic views and generous space. The layout provides four cabins, two toilets and a double saloon berth. Although accommodating a stated 10 persons there will be a maximum of 8 onboard.
The aim will be to tour the Hebrides, with Mull as a fall back. The area does provide a staging post to the World Heritage site of St Kilda, islands I last visited in 1994. Whereas I would love to go there again, St Kilda is notoriously difficult to see and there is no secure anchorage once there. Weather conditions can change quickly and the islands are often fogbound.
If all conditions are favourable it would be possible to make a visit, but involving long sails since the boat must be returned on time.
What to Expect.
You will be sleeping onboard and take part in watches throughout the night. Visiting a marina during the week is unlikely and opportunities for eating out onshore limited.
Alcohol can be served onboard when we are no longer underway. In the case of evening dinners, three out of the seven will be taken onshore, two will be freezer meals from Dunstaffnage and three reserve onboard meals will be purchased. Meal preparation will be by turn and a kitty will operate for all catering. Initial victualling will be undertaken on your behalf and individual dietary requirements will be taken into account in so far as possible.
Berthing fees and fuel are included & you will need to provide your own personal injury insurance.
Detailed joining instructions will be given nearer the time, but you will be responsible for your travel costs and arrangements to the start. Cost £695 for each berth & £650 for the bunks. Only 1/2 places available
Why not Online?
One victim was very impressed saying ‘even at 2am I was getting a reply to my exercises’. This made me suspicious and further investigation revealed that questions were ‘marked’ by ‘refer to para xx in the notes’ which struck me as an automated response and not an actual identification of where the error lay.
For some though there is no class alternative, a pity nevertheless. A lady from north Northumberland had to be advised not to be driving home after my evening class! Could she have done a weekend crammer? Possibly, but Courses should be a minimum of 40 hours in duration and, in my experience, students should be ‘at running speed’ i.e. young and in learning mode. As an RYA Examiner put it ‘the brain is fried after 3 days’.
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 £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 £425 for class & £625 tailored tuition. You need a good knowledge of this Course before being tested by the RYA Examiner. New for 2017 is a revised tidal section exploring tidal influences. Evenings & Saturdays; January 11, 14, 18 & 25th, February 1, 8 & 15th, March 1, 8, 11, 15, & 22nd
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 £395. Evenings & Saturdays Course; January 9, 16, 21, 23, 30th, February 6, 11, 13th, March 6, 13, 20 & 27th (FULL) Subject to demand another may be arranged, more likely to be daytime.
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 £595 (£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
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. (£375 weekends) May 3, 4 & 5th (Only 1 place left)
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). Next Trip; Saturday 19th November 0830 start. Cost £50 (off season price)
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; April 23 – 28th (FULL – a duplicate could be arranged on demand) & May 14 – 19th 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. April 23 – 28th (FULL, a duplicate is possible on demand) & May 14 – 19th. ‘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
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
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 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
Pieces of Eight – Knotty Problems Analysed
Seasons in the Sun
As the clocks go back and we reflect on the summer we have had, we might like to thank the Earth’s tilt for all this.
Here is a good image which shows what happens when the Earth makes it’s elliptical orbit around the Sun. The Earth spins towards the east, along a parallel of latitude, and the June image shows the tilt resulting in the Northern Hemisphere receiving more Sun’s rays than the Southern. This position is reversed in December, which is our winter and Australia’s summer.
Shown also is the timing of the perihelion, when the Sun is at it’s closest, and the opposite the Aphelion. Thus January’s perihelion would bring the most Sun’s heat were it not for the tilting (declination) away, in the Northern Hemisphere.
If there was no tilt then the amount of Sun’s rays would be constant all year round, which might please some, but our seasonal changes and all that goes with them, would disappear.
Specialist Courses include;
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 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. Next sessions, all day; 11th November, 12th January. 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 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. Next Course December 1st 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 £27 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. Possible dates 2nd or 4th February
Congratulations Ocean Yachtmaster
Well done Mick Brown on having just attained his Ocean Yachtmaster ticket. In case anyone thinks I do Ocean qualifying trips, Mick did his YM Ocean theory with me and boat handling with Don. Mick coped well with the Celestial Navigation part of the syllabus. Of all the RYA theory subjects, this is the most demanding.
‘Delighted to report that my Azores trip went like clockwork 1200 miles in 8 days I got a morning sun sight meridian sight an afternoon sun sight and was able to plot them all with 2 runs between. Very happy with the fix. Planned star shots but cloud came over.
Oral exam went very well and I passed! thanks for your excellent tuition’. 27th October Mick updates ‘I got my Certificate today – very pleased , a long but satisfying route from tying my first fender!’ You can see his passage plan on Ocean Qualifying Passage
Victims (all) at Sea
Sam Robinson, a young man who left his life in England to seek work on a super yacht. It took him a while to get taken on but now reports; ‘I left my previous job on a 38m motor yacht called Sarita Si and now I have a job on a 44m motor yacht called Space but it’s just for the winter. Sam says; ‘loving it and haven’t looked back’. Space Yacht
Paul Kröner reports, ‘In January this year I completed the SRC VHF Course with Northumbria Sailing.
In May 2016 my son Martijn (42 yrs) and I hired a bare boat Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 in Trogir Croatia for two weeks and we sailed ± 375 NM on the Dalmatian Coast.
In September 2016 we both were crew on a trip on the Northsea: Amsterdam-Lowestoft-Woolverstone- Amsterdam.
Amsterdam – Lowestoft was done in 26 hours with excellent weather conditions, however not with very much wind.
Woolverstone-Amsterdam was a different story. It started with a nice wind from West/Northwest, but the wind got stronger and stronger up to 35 knots. After 4 a.m the wind calmed down and in the end we even needed the motor to get to IJmuiden. Quite an experience with high waves – it took us 24 hours.
Tim Edwards reports on his charter in the Med; We had a great sailing holiday on a 33ft Jeanneau.
I only had three problems. Two concerned lazylines – a text book slipping at the very start on day 1 but quickly finding I was still attached to the lazy line at the bow! The second was reversing a considerable distance around pontoons to get to the final mooring at the very end on the last day and managing to snag my keel on a lazy line of another yacht. No damage done though! The third problem was the dingy outboard motor that my 18 year old had secured to the plate on the stern rails. I failed to double-check the tightness. Unfortunately, whilst performing a controlled gybe, the motor demonstrated that it needed to be “ultra g-clamped” to prevent it sliding off into 120 metres of sea! That cost me 250 Euros insurance excess.
Other than that, all went very well
Michael Green is one of my power victims and currently taking the RYA Day Skipper theory course. He’s one of my older victims, but with served in the Navy and, last May, bought a Corvette 32 motor cruiser Daisy Rose now based in Royal Quays. He’s organised and determined to make his mark.
Karen’s 28th Anniversary fire
It was the day of the Sunderland Airshow, and my husband, Mike, and I were celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary. It was also a long planned reunion with four friends from London, including Paul who had been our best man, and Matthew who had been one of our ushers. Mike dished out lifejackets and a comprehensive safety brief and spirits were high as we all left Royal Quays in our Sigma 362, along with our son Robin, and headed off in the fine weather. What could possibly go wrong ………
We anchored off Whitburn Steel as the airshow was starting and enjoyed some quality catch up gossip. Time for a cup of tea, and Paul’s wife Alex joined me in the cabin. Mike turned on the gas up in the cockpit, and I switched it on at the isolator switch in the aft cabin, lit the gas ring and turned it to low for a second while I filled the kettle. Still chatting away about life, the world and everything I plonked the kettle on the hob to clamp it in place. From nowhere flames leapt high around the kettle. Alex and I stared in horror as I yelled ‘Mike! Fire!’
I’ve always wondered how I would react in such a situation, but found myself to be about the calmest I’ve ever been! In an instant clouds of black smoke were billowing around the cabin and bits of carbon started floating about. So many thoughts went through my mind in that split second (Was the roof lining fire retardant? Was anyone going to panic? What was causing the fire for goodness’ sake???) but the loudest voice in my head was that of Melvyn telling me that my fire blanket was positioned in the wrong place immediately above the hob. Mike and I had acknowledged this at the time, but in true Hartley domestic discord fashion we had not been able to agree on where to move it to, so we’d just left it until we could think of a better solution. The fire blanket!! A quick yank of the pull cord nearest to me and I had the blanket. I shook it out, and placed it over the flames. I turned to find Alex with a fire extinguisher at the ready – she’d clearly listened to the safety brief and knew where to find one. Gas off at all three points, and a quick peek under the blanket showed that the flames were just about out. The culprit had been a folded piece of plastic non-slip matting which must have been stuck to the bottom of the kettle and had remained unnoticed even while I was filling it. Hatches were opened for a bit to dispel the smoke, and there was stoical acknowledgement all round that Diet Coke or bottled water would have to suffice.
In hindsight, I have learnt two lessons. The first is to give a clear instruction, ie Fire! At the cooker! Mike pointed out afterwards that from his perspective the fire could have been coming from either the engine or the cooker as he could see the clouds of smoke but I hadn’t been specific. The second lesson is to take good advice when it is given. The fire blanket has now been replaced, and relocated…..
We went on to thoroughly enjoy the delights of the Red Arrows, the Spitfire and the Typhoon. A couple of hours of Karen versus the carbon later in the week eliminated all evidence of the fire. A fabulous, memorable day all round!
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.
For more information contact me via my web page
Sail Safely the RYA Way