October Newsletter
‘Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made’ – Robert N Rose – Author
New Yachtmasters
A very hearty congratulations to 4 new Yachtmasters this week! Also thanks to the Examiner, Richard, for enduring a gruelling four days checking out victims and putting them through their paces.
To the right we see 5 Yachtmasters, L to R; myself, new YM Peter Mac (he’s Scottish), Richard, Examiner, Peter again, new YM and with the biggest smile Mike (probably because he’s so surprised he passed!)
Below for three Yachtmasters, L to R, Steve Instructor, Richard again a
nd new YM Phil, who was asked whether he would do some crewing (I think that gives him an extra lift, until he realises it was probably due to his culinary skills onboard)
Examiner Richard has the last word; ‘The photos on the Newsletter look good, albeit I look decidedly more tired and windswept on the second after the 4 days’.
At Least We Have Got Rid of the 4
So I said whilst out at sea during the Yachtmaster training Session. I meant that the wind had gone down to less than 40knots and it was ‘only’ blowing a gale. We were safe though in my steady and sturdy Hallberg Rassy yacht.
Victims had a chance to put this experience into practise during their examination the following week, also a windy time.
Victim Orang, taking time off from his extensive practising on his own Hallberg Rassy, Sandancer, took this image of Lian in Royal Quays lock before we left for an interesting afternoon
Ashes to Water
My friend and sailing colleague Terry, see July Newsletter, died a few months ago and I received a request for his ashes to be scattered at sea. From where Terry lived, with Anne, he could see down the river and out to the pier ends at Tynemouth, so it was appropriate that it was done out there.
Thus Anne, and Terry’s daughters Sarah, Lorna & Charlotte were ferried out to sea with myself and Rob as crew. Anne gave me a ‘helpful’ reminder of the sail we had together, the three of us in my previous boat, a 21 footer. Both Anne and I were seasick so it was left to Terry to lead us through. On this occasion it was Terry’s turn to leave a mess on the side deck. Afterwards during The Lock party my wife, Maureen, asked ‘do you want this done to you?!’
I recently featured a wedding celebration, now ashes scattering and so, next, I will be looking for a heavily pregnant woman
Party Time at The Lock
Royal Quays marina and The Lock owners threw a party for berth holders and friends. An opportunity to meet together and sample their home made beer (named ‘Crusoes/The View/The Lock’ sourced from the Newburn brewery and pretty good too) Here’s a pic of wife Maureen, The Lock boss Jill and son Daniel.
Kintyre & Crinan Adventure in May 2019
A stunning Adventure round the Mull, going through the notorious Corryvrechan and relaxing in the Crinan canal. This will be one you will remember for a very long time.
If all goes to plan, and understandably it’s an ‘if’, we are aiming to set off from Largs on 11th May on passage for; picturesque Lochranza – sheltered Campbeltown – the notorious Mull of Kintyre – whisky Islay – Colonsay Island – Corryvrechan (outside whirlpool time) – the idyllic Crinan Canal – the narrow Kyles of Bute & then fin
ally Largs.
The chartered yacht is 13 metres in length, commissioned in 2010
May 11 – 18th with costings depending upon the berth and from £625. (FULL)
I hope you enjoy this Newsletter and you can ask me to e-mail it to you monthly
Become a Marine Mammal Surveyor
A unique opportunity for members of the public to learn how to survey for whales, dolphins, porpoises and other marine wildlife from ferry routes across the UK, including the DFDS Newcastle to Amsterdam route. The Course is being held on Saturday 17th November at Newcastle University. For more information try the ORCA website at http://www.orcaweb.org.uk/train ORCA members have ferry tickets provided!
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. Next class starts January
RYA COASTAL YACHTMASTER The advanced Course, a must for those proceeding to Yachtmaster level. Cost £450 for class & £650 tailored tuition. You need a good knowledge of this Course before being tested by the RYA Examiner. Next class starts January
RYA DAY SKIPPER A popular starting point for many. Same Course for Sail or Power. This is a Course where early booking is essential. Classes take place in a modern building in Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne. Included is a half day visit to the School boat. Cost £425. Autumn Courses; Monday evenings & two Saturdays; October 8, 13, 15, 22nd November 5, 10, 12, 19, 26th December 3, 10 & 17th (1 cancellation left) or daytime 0930 – 1430hrs from January. 2019 evening class; January 14, 19, 21 & 28th February 4, 11 & 25th March 4, 9, 11, 18 & 25th
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; 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 Hallberg Rassy, well known for its comfort and steadiness afloat. Properly equipped with modern electronics, the preferred wheel steering and comfortable, recently replaced, bunk cushions you will be well set up to handle whatever may come your way. Courses are fully inclusive, except for a kitty contribution towards drinks onshore.
PRACTICAL CREWING My version of RYA Competent Crew. Three days, 0930-1700hrs onboard for up to four. 4:1 private tuition and you will be up to the Comp Crew standard. No experience necessary. Cost £275, weekday only. Next Course; October 10-12th, For 2019; April 24-26th (1 space 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 £60 weekday & £70 weekend. Next Trip; 20th October (FULL) Yes, describing it as a “taster” is an understatement. It was a practical and thoroughly excellent training day. It’s a credit to your skill and confidence to take two complete novices to sailing at sea out into force 7+ and make it feel so easy. Your training plan and instruction was just right and delivered with clarity and a sense of humour which quickly removed any tension. I know Peter had as much fun as I did and we both came away with a heightened enthusiasm. – David
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 £595. 31st March – 5th April and 28th April – 3rd May 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 £625. Next Courses; 31st March – 5th April and 28th April – 3rd May ‘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 For a murky glimpse of a night sail try Night Sail
RYA COASTAL SKIPPER PRACTICAL The ‘top of the range’ RYA practical course providing greater challenges to get you up to the standard to skipper a cruising yacht safely by day and night. A sample requirement for chartering a yacht on the Clyde; ‘Skippers must hold/be experienced RYA Coastal practical or Yachtmaster practical when sailing within the Clyde. Outwith the Clyde – Yachtmaster practical’. Cost £625 Jonny Colwell gives a detailed review of his YM Examination
RYA START YACHTING A two day course for beginner groups, 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 £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 ICC Guidance
Northumbria Sailing on Video
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
Royal Quays Friday & Gosport One Day Later!
Bet you didn’t know how fast the school boat Lian is??
Have a look at this screenshot of the AIS taken one day after I had left the boat in Royal Quays, North Shields.
An important reminder as to the accuracy of AIS. One of two things could have happened as the Gosport position was clearly wrong. Either the signal had been ‘spoofed’ or misreported.
In the case of the latter some explanation of how AIS operates is needed. The AIS signal is picked up by the operator allocated a sector and this is relayed to the central computer. There are several web sites but Marine Traffic, based in Athens, is the leader. Click for more information. Marine Traffic GQ
It would seem this has been misreported somehow and was corrected when next turned on. The misreport was probably the Gosport sector as I know the local guy, a victim, and it wasn’t him. Or perhaps I was just trying to mislead wife as to my whereabouts
Specialist Courses
RYA VHF Here we have a pic of a record 10 attending this Course over two evenings. It gets a bit hectic though when there’s alarms going off from all directions!
This important Course is available in class, online 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. Cost £115 plus £60 for the RYA. Next Courses; Evenings October 17+24th Daytime; 14th November, 12th December. Also available One to One at £180 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. Cost £120, plus 10 to RYA Next Course; 28th November
CEVNI test for the Inland waterways endorsement to your ICC. Done online, cost £25
RYA DIESEL ENGINE
I am pleased to announce that this Course will be available from October. A Volvo Penta 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. Cost £120 plus £10 for the RYA Pack. Maximum 6 persons. October 19th RYA Diesel Engine
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 £28.50 (includes instruments) for the RYA Pack. Online Navigation
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!. To check which certificates are acceptable to the RYA e.g. for examinations First Aid Certificates Cost £75, £95 with Cat C drug endorsement, + £7 RYA Pack. Next session; 13th February ‘Simon was fantastic yesterday, best First Aid instructor I’ve ever had and, being a fellow sailor, he was able to put things into a sailing context. Being an ex-instructor myself, I was very impressed with him.’ – Phil
New CG66 Arrangements
A new App, RYASafeTrx, is to replace the CG66 online form, something every boat owner should be part of. The App is free and it even has a Call button in case of emergency. By using this the Coastguard has immediate access to your and your boat’s safety information, a major asset when organising a rescue. RYASafeTrx
Accident Alley
A section to draw attention to accidents and what we can learn from them
Yacht Collision in Fog
In 2003 the sailing yacht, a Moody 47, Wakhuna collided with the container vessel P&O Nedlloyd Vespucci in the English Channel in poor visibility.
Wakhuna left port in good visibility, which then deteriorated into thick fog. Radar was turned on at a range of 6 miles, but the engine disengaged. Wakhuna’s skipper was under the mistaken impression he was the ‘stand on vessel’, whereas the onus in fog is for both vessels to take avoiding action in ample time.
The skipper suddenly saw the large container vessel 50/60m off the port bow and was unable to avoid a collision. The first 3m from the bow of the yacht was torn away, the skipper went astern thereby reducing the water ingress forward, but was unable to avoid sinking. Crew abandoned ship to the liferaft and there was no loss of life.
In the ensuing Accident Report both sides were criticised for ineffective radar lookout. The ColRegs states that a lookout must be made by all means, including radar. My advice is to switch off your radar if you don’t understand it. Yet radar can be so simple – draw a line through the blob on the screen and if it stays on it and comes towards the centre it’s going to hit you.
A full report can be checked out here. Wakhuna .
Lian Dressed
Tom and Helen Peart took their RYA Competent Crews with me last year when they were on holiday in this country and, for this year, requested a family trip up and down the river Tyne.
Recently married the occasion justified Lian in her No 1’s and out came the flags, all in the correct order. Rob Storrar quipped ‘they are upside down’, but I didn’t swallow that.
We had a lovely day, with three generations onboard. Conditions were good and we went out to sea. Grandma took her place on the foredeck and thoroughly enjoyed herself there, disappointed only when we, finally, had to go in.
Victims (all) at Sea
Mario finally took the plunge taking his virgin skippering on the
Clyde out of Largs. His Polish crew didn’t look too good at the end of it though! Mario had Storm Ali to contend with but still visited Port Bannatyne, Lochranza and Tarbert in great sailing conditions. As you can see, he has the hat now, but may need a larger size appropriate to a skipper!
Glen Hogg has been sailing on a pal’s boat over to Holland, ‘enjoying’ 35 knot winds coming into IJmuiden with seas to match. Otherwise he has been sailing his own boat on the Clyde and experiencing the fine summer conditions there.
Gordon Kirkup reports; ‘Just had a good week sailing on flotilla out of Fethiye in Turkey. The bays were very quiet in the main, no selection of restaurants here! More verdant than expected as you can see in the attached picture which was take in Sarsala Bay. Our yacht is in the middle flying the County Durham flag! The winds were much better than in the Ionian Sea with breezes of upward of 16 knots most afternoons. I also took my daughter on an RYA Dinghy sailing course at Derwent Reservoir which we thoroughly enjoyed – managed to get my Level 2 qualification!’
Emre Yilmaz came for his RYA First Aid in September in readiness for his Yachtmaster Examination in October. I took the opportunity of asking him how he had managed to sail single handed for 47 hours non stop from Inverness to Royal Quays last summer (and also remind him to return all of the charts he had borrowed from myself!). Emre adopted the Ellen MacArthur method of sleeping; ‘First I would check to see if the horizon was all clear and then sleep for 20 minutes, using an alarm to wake me, I slept 15 hours when I arrived home’. Imagine his wife and family’s pleasure at that!
Roger Somerville reports from Katrina; ‘Thanks for the newsletter, always very entertaining. Thought your newsletter readers may like an update on the Crinan Canal. Earlier this week we were lucky to get Katrina through, they have now set the maximum draft at 1.4mtr, they are experiencing a shortage of water! The West Coast still offers some amazing cruising though for us now based at Ardrossan its the long, though cheaper, way round‘. A trip through the Crinan canal is one of Scotland’s sheer delights, provided there’s sufficient water, which is not always the case. Take time though. On my last occasion there, a couple of years ago, I was unable to pass through the complete length, only 9 miles, in one day! We started from Crinan at the earliest possible time, 0830, and yet before we descended into Ardrishaig at the other end we were advised we couldn’t be locked out. 4pm ish it was!
Peter Millican and Peter MacLaren have been sailing on the Clyde in preparation for their YM Examination here in a month’s time. They chartered a yacht out of Largs; ‘Overall a good boat, auto helm which was great, self tacking which was not so great, very roomy but not very responsive helm. Very tricky exiting Largs from a berth at the north end of the pontoon with a strong southerly wind. Slight bump but no marks! We sailed to Portavadie for dinner then into Tarbert at night. Tricky finding a pontoon in the dark but all worked out fine. Then up to Inveraray long beam reach we sailed probably 70 miles in the day and motored for 20. Passed through Otter point in the dark then into Portavadie for the night. Excellent day except we could not lift the anchor in Inveraray and ended up cutting it loose. Today virtually no wind so motored back to Largs through the Kyles’.
Rob Langley – Norway to Iceland – the hard way. Lots of people visit Iceland by Easy Jet nowadays for the stunning scenery, the northern lights, and the city life in Reykjavik – even the beer is surprisingly good. Not many do it by sea, but Rob Langley did, sailing on a 60 foot former Clipper yacht. After studying on the Ocean Theory course with us, Rob went on to pass his celestial navigation exam. This summer he sailed 700 miles from just south of Bodo in Arctic Norway to Seydisfjordur in eastern Iceland, keeping a dead reckoning, taking sun sights and meridian sights with his sextant every day, and plotting his position the old fashioned way. Now he has written up his “Qualifying Passage” and applied for the oral examination to qualify as an Ocean Yacht Master. We wish him success and good luck in the exam and with his future plans to sail across Biscay to the Canaries and the Mediterranean.
John Taylor sailing under the Forth Rail Bridge. Setting off from Alnmouth he’s had an interesting journey calling at Eyemouth, Dunbar and Granton to name but a few
Lynn & David, seen here in the middle, were virgin skippers in Croatia last month and had a great time. They anchored near Mljet national park, and Lynn takes over now; ‘Then I got sea sick, first time ever, and spent the whole night on the deck with my head over the bathing platform. The following day the prop fell off just as we were about to go into Korcula marina, which was replaced by a cheap looking plastic prop.
Massive learning curve, but it’s the best way to learn. Every mistake we make is reinforcing what we have learnt and we won’t make them again. Med berthing is not easy, there is no room for manoeuvre. When you get it even slightly wrong everyone watches’.
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.
Trevor Jefferson, my Chief Instructor, is very much into yacht delivery these days and has now completed his Med delivery to Corfu.
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.
Crewing Opportunity on Galapago
Malcolm continues his adventures in the Med, often with my victims as crew. Here we see Catherine (left) and Joanne sporting their Northumbria Sailing caps, for which they both qualify.
Catherine first came to me several years ago looking to ‘be useful’ onboard a yacht during Cowes Week. She was aware the men would pick all the best roles (shame!) and wanted to feel needed.
Malcolm’s Galapago is currently in the South of France and crewing spots do become available. Enjoy sailing on a 62 foot Oyster. Email Malcolm; on malcolm@nuchido.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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For more information contact me via my web page
Back editions are now becoming available in edited form
Sail Safely the RYA Way