April Newsletter 

‘This is one of the very few sports whose techniques never quite match the demands. Throughout a sailing career, we never stop finding new skills to master and new problems to solve.’ – John Rousmaniere, author 

The 2019 Practical Season Underway

March and Lian was off from Royal Quays heading towards Newcastle Quayside. A big headwind there was too, gale force at times. A night spent on the Quayside with the Millenium bridge lit up is a delight and the Friday morning saw a gathering of NE1 staff for their training session. Seen here with 6 in all, including the photographer, were shown ropework with knots and coiling. Onboard we set off for ferrygliding practice onto their pontoon.

Early afternoon this magnificent bridge tilted and we were off on our return to Royal Quays. One newcomer to the team so loved the bad weather on our return and was reluctant to relinquish the helm. We are now in the sailing business for 2019!

Congratulations to Theory Classes

Producing  new Yachtmasters; Andy, John, Sally, Mario, Orang and Heather, who all successfully completed the challenging RYA Coastal Yachtmaster Theory. Also Day Skippers; Tony, John, Rob, Bob, Stuart and Joe are now on the ‘ladder’ to their sailing adventures.

Congratulations also to Eric Petts, Ocean Yachtmaster

Eric requested a One2One refresher in preparation for his Ocean Oral Examination. This was done in the comfort of The Lock  and I am pleased to report he has been successful.

Williams II

Skipper Liz King is shown here with watch leaders Michael Stanley and Alan Chapman following a successful sail down to Chatham, calling at Whitby, Grimsby, Lowestoft and Harwich. (see Paul Walker’s report below). Williams II,  the Blyth Tall Ship, is continuing her journey around Britain and Joe Boothby,  the shipwright, plans to join them at Ullapool. Anyone interested in joining them could contact Liz direct: liz@lizking.co.uk

Meet the Team

Melvyn Wallhead, Yachtmaster & RYA Instructor. I started this business in 2009 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.

Steve Lovett, Yachtmaster. 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.

 

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, Amsterdam, Skye circumnavigation  and traditional sailing on the IJsselmeer.

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.

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 finally 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

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. THE RYA HAVE LAUNCHED AN UPDATED COURSE. ANYONE PREFERRING TO TAKE/RE-TAKE THE OLD SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS

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. Since the Course was re-written by Chris Slade, one of my RYA Inspectors, it’s a lot more challenging, but relevant.  Phil from 2018 says; ‘Although I knew the YM Theory would be a step up and a challenge the hard work and effort was worth it once I got out there on the boat. That extra depth of knowledge really helped me understand the dynamics of sailing, sea conditions, anticipated weather looming on the horizon and, of course, it’s likely impact on boat handling and the crew’.

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.

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; May 7 – 9th

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. May 20th (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. June 9 – 14th (1 space left) and 8 – 13th September. 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; June 9 – 14th (1 space left) and 8 – 13th September. ‘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

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This video was compiled by Phil Butler and shows our efforts sailing a 15 metre traditional Dutch yacht on the IJsselmeer. A great time, other crew being Tom Pinder, Steve Austin and Orang Salehy. We enjoyed ourselves so much, once we got the hang of it and rid of the nervous owner, that we are chartering another for summer 2019 Adventures. (can’t think why the owner was so anxious about our skills on this boat which had few mechanical comforts such as winches and sail hoisting was heavy work for men past their prime – in sailing terms I mean…)

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

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What is Happening Here and Why?

This video was taken at Allmend Rail station whilst we were on a family skiing holiday at Grindelwald, Switzerland.

I challenge readers to tell me what is happening, why it’s happening and what relevance has this to sailor’s time taken from a GPS.

Clive Gerrard correctly identified the situation. In Switzerland clocks are synchronised on the rail system by a pause when the minute hand reaches the top. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_railway_clock The second part of the question was it’s relevance to sailors. Sailors taking GPS time incur a very slight error, uncorrected by the instrument, because we set our clocks by average Sun time. http://www.gpsinformation.net/main/gpstime.htm. GPS time is not exactly equal to Greenwich Mean Time (Universal Time). Practically, this only becomes apparent in Astro Navigation

Specialist Courses      

RYA VHF 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.  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 23rd April. ‘Thank you very much for yesterday’s course’ – Stephen

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

RYA DIESEL ENGINE

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 call outs are 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.   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. ‘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

Victims (all) at Sea

Paul Walker sailing on Williams II; ‘After a delayed start to the trip caused by heavy winds, we departed Blyth at 5am just as the sun was starting to come up.  A few people had got up early to see us off.  We headed for Whitby with light winds but rolling seas.  This gave us a good chance to practice putting the sails up and down and doing Man overboard drills.  It was nice to do this early as was a good team building day.  We arrived in Whitby at 5pm which gave us plenty of time to get the boat sorted in time for dinner.

The next day we where up early for a 3am departure for the 70 mile sail down to Grimsby.  We where all hands on deck till we got out to sea and the sails up, then split into 2 watches.  I was on the 1st watch, it was cold and wet but was nice watching the sun come up and the mist clearing.  Again we didn’t have much wind so by early afternoon we where fighting the tide, making little progress as we approached the Humber.  It was dark by the time we reached the royal docks.  As we approached the lock it looked so small in the dark, as we got closer and started to enter you could see the full scale of how huge it really was.  We moored up for the evening and redid our passage plan.  It was decided we would leave at 5pm the next day which gave us time for showers and a little bit time to stretch our legs.  Leaving Grimsby we split back into our watches at 9pm.  I was in second watch so could get 3hrs to sleep!! Sailing through the night was very interesting but hard work due to the heavy boat traffic in the area.  Following the passage plan and locating the correct marker buoys in the distance whilst negotiating bigger ships.  By morning it was much the same with little wind and turning tides.  26hrs after leaving Grimsby we arrived in Lowestoft having covered 100 miles.  It was an amazing experience on a traditional vessel and I can’t wait to do it again in July when we head to the arctic circle.  I also plan to get my Yachtmaster offshore certificate this year with commercial endorsements.

Emre Yilmaz is back to winter single handed sailing to Amble on his yacht Wishful. He makes it look easy!

Charles Kingston and Rosalie Sanders could have a lifetime sailing together. It must be great to be their age! ‘We both sail with the youth charity Ocean Youth Trust South, on a 95ft ketch called Prolific. The charity serves to take disabled or disadvantaged young people sailing, although we both discovered the charity through sailing on voyages tailored to individuals. We both quickly fell in love with big boat sailing, whilst both of us had some yachting experience (Rosalie on her aunt’s gaff cutter, Charles on his grandfather’s 32′ cruiser and through 3 summers working at a yacht club as boatsman) the Ocean Youth Trust offered longer voyages with loads of opportunities to gain confidence and skill, whilst teaching those who sail with us. Recently we have been promoted to 2nd mates, meaning we are now usually the more experienced of the two watch leaders that sail on each voyage. This is an exciting step up which will allow us to improve our teaching skills whilst having to be more aware of the workings of the boat. In the future we would both love to cram in as much sailing as possible, Rosalie would like to try an Atlantic crossing, and Charles fancies a Round Britain trip!’ The couple are VHF victims and Rosalie with her RYA First Aid as well, with my instructor Simon. They are shown here on Charles’ grandfather’s 32 foot Comet 1000.

John Hunter went out on Lady May with his wife and a friend only to have the rudder fall off!. Imagination took over though and they jury rigged another from bunk boards and wife was impressed (as well as myself). This all happened 5 miles off the coast, near Tynemouth, winds F6 too.

John is also notable for doing RYA Yachtmaster Theory back to back with his Day Skipper Theory. John reasons that he needs to do it whilst it’s fresh in his mind, I think he’s doing rather well.

Sailing School in Croatia

Jonathan Colwell has just set up his own RYA Sailing School in Croatia, offering a range of RYA Courses, together with bareboat yacht charter Yacht Sail Training.

He cautiously asked me for assistance with paperwork and advice and, of course, I have given it and wish him every success. His web page is very impressive, and certainly puts mine into the shade!

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 a wealth of experience.

Yacht Skippering

There are times when you might feel that your ‘ticket’ and/or experience will not be adequate for a safe holiday. For the last few years I have enjoyed a commission enabling a larger yacht to be chartered and to sail to more adventurous places.

Reader’s Links

A section featuring links of a maritime interest sent to me.

Phil Butler highlights the unexpected and rapid shift in Earth’s Magnetic Field.

Peter MacLaren mentioned this article about a Yacht Delivery Skipper’s Life.

Peter Chater has found a remarkable way of plugging a failed seacock – with a carrot! Sea Cock Repair

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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