July 2019

Northumbria Sailing

      The Leading Provider of Sail Cruising Courses in North East England

July Newsletter

‘The only reason that  Uldra’s engine never failed was because she did not have one.’ – Dennis Puleston, author 

Dutch Adventure Part II

Four intrepid sailor’s have just returned from the second part of their adventure, which began last year. Known this year as the 67 Club they set off into the Waddensee and the Friesian Islands in a traditional Dutch flat bottomed boat Bellefleur. 13m length by 4.2 beam is no mean feat in the restricted area of a canal.

Seen here, L to R, Tom, Phil, myself & Peter adventures we had in plenty. In fact we seemed to have the full range of experiences, such as; Large locks with boats galore, great sails with this gaff rigged boat, shallow waters, confined spaces in the minor canals, not to mention the food and the beer. If you are up for a challenge then try Sail Charter Friesland, but make sure you have crew a plenty.

 

Parade of Sail

Williams II leads the way into Blyth, followed by a fleet of yachts, after the successful round Britain trip skippered, for the most part, by Liz King. Follow the exploits of this Baltic Trader on Blyth Tall Ship

June Practical Successes

The June 5 day practical was delivered by Steve, enduring difficult weather conditions, which caused a delay but, at least, the Course was completed. A good time for me to be at home!

Seen here are Greg, Nigel, Steve, Elaine, Mark and Oliver.

 

Control the Invaders

Invasive, non native, species can cause harm and destruction. The RYA has an informative article here  Invasive Species

Watch Out!

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 & RYA Instructor has a wealth of experience, including 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.

 

Yacht with Oars

We saw this yacht in Tarbert, clearly having power supplements in mind. John Williams provides the explanation; ‘That photo of the yacht with the oars in the rigging was probably one of the boats from the Scottish Islands Peaks Race.  As with the Three Peaks Yacht Race you are allowed to row but as most people take proper full length sculls they can be a problem to stow in the average cruiser racer hence the ‘vertical’ option.  We had a Class 40 in this year’s 3PYR and as it’s very much a minimalist racer, short handed, no home comforts furniture or bulkheads we just stowed the oars below.  Thankfully did not have to row this year unlike last time when we rowed through the Swellies and halfway across the Irish Sea!’

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

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, crewing opportunities, 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

7.   One2one is often done at The Lock café, Royal Quays, with excellent surroundings and a latte to hand!

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 £495 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. 

RYA COASTAL YACHTMASTER The advanced Course, a must for those proceeding to Yachtmaster level. Cost £475 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. Next Course; January 9, 11, 16, 23 & 30th, February 6, 8, 13 & 27th, March 5, 12, 19, 25 & 26th 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. Autumn evening class sessions; September 30th, October 7, 12, 14 & 21st November 4, 11, 18, 23 & 25th December 2 & 9th For Bareboat charter this is the first qualification to be obtained. Nevertheless in some areas, the Solent for example, a higher qualification is needed and UK tidal requested. An example from one web page; ‘RYA Coastal Skipper Tidal Practical course completion certificate must show the course was conducted in UK tidal waters. For example courses conducted in the Gibraltar & the Mediterranean are not accepted as tidal courses. The ICC qualification alone is not an acceptable qualification.’

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, £650 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. Next sessions; Spring 2020

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 Availability; July 15+16th+September 5th.

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 availability; July 17th (£60) & 24th August (£70). 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. Next availability; 8 – 13th September (FULL another Course would be considered if there is sufficient demand). 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 Availability; 8 – 13th September(FULL, another Course would be considered if there is sufficient demand). ‘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. Next Course; August 22 & 23rd 

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

Pieces of Eight – Knotty Problems Analysed

How do you turn your boat around in a narrow canal like the Crinan? Risky with the 12.5 metre boat we chartered from Flamingo Yacht Charter last May. Take a long warp to the centre cleat and pull around. Here we surprised the lockkeeper who was about to open the lock gates, when next time he looked we had turned around ready to depart without going through his locks.

 

 Crinan Canal

We had a great week on the Clyde and the Crinan, enjoying lovely weather and only a few drops of rain on the final afternoon. Seen here, L to R, Rob, myself, Lynn and David on a 12 metre sailing yacht, in the Crinan canal. Our journey log was; First night from Largs to Loch Ranza mooring, 2nd Campbeltown pontoon, 3rd Tarbert pontoon, 4th Crinan (Cairnbaan) pontoon, 5th Kames mooring and 6th Inverkip pontoon, before returning to Largs.

Sextant Sighting near Skye

Here I’m assisting Eric with his noon sight using a sextant during our sail round Skye. We managed to visit the Shiant Islands and enjoyed fine weather throughout the week.
After the sights, also done by 2 x Peters, we performed the calculations to give our latitude. The longitude is rather more difficult and was omitted on this occasion.  

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. Next Course, across two evenings; 31st July+1st August. 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. Some radar knowledge is now considered essential for Yachtmaster candidates.   Day Course: Cost £120, plus 10 to RYA. ‘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. Next Course; October 8th   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 £79 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 Course; 18th September ‘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

How to successfully introduce a reluctant partner to the joys of sailing!

After getting my work/life balance sorted I found myself time rich and thus finally able to realise a  long standing ambition of mine – sailing! 

Several trips on friends’ yachts and I was hooked. With the Day Skipper Certificate, SRC Certificate and 1000 nm logged the oceans beckoned! My wife had never shown any interest in sailing, in fact quite the opposite, comparing it to her childhood experiences of caravanning with added ‘mal de mer.’ Sailing was clearly going to be a solitary hobby.

It was a real surprise when one day Lorna declared that she’d consider joining me on a sailing trip. Excitement was rapidly replaced with foreboding as I recalled the advice of so many sailors to never teach your partner to sail. Undaunted I went about looking for a suitable sailing trip to ensure an enjoyable and successful first trip. 

A flotilla holiday seemed the best option somewhere with light winds, short passages and using a reputable company. A week in June with Sunsail sailing in the South Ionian Sea ticked the boxes . Booking the holiday over the phone with the helpful, knowledgeable staff was straight forward and the RYA discount a welcome bonus. 

Bolstered by the positive reaction to a present of a length of rope and a book on knots I suggested to Lorna that a course such a the RYA 5 day Competent Crew course  would be a useful thing to do prior to the trip. This did not go down well! Visions of helming, berthing etc on my own loomed large.  Stress Free Sailing – single and short hand sailing by Duncan Wells became my very interesting and useful bedtime read. 

Then I  remembered that Melvyn from Northumbria Sailing offered his own taster sailing day on the schools Hallberg-Rassy. A quick email and Lorna was booked onto the next one with her friend Julie as company. Meeting at 9.30am at The Royal Quays, Newcastle in May the group of 5 were introduced to the parts of the boat and how they worked followed by a comprehensive safety briefing before practicing berthing and helming. After lunch it was time to leave the Tyne and do some sailing and tacking. Lorna enjoyed the experience and learnt a lot from it.

June arrived and after flying from Manchester to Lefkas we booked into the Ianos Hotel in the marina right next to the Sunsail office, the boats were berthed just  20 metres away. As boarding was not until later in the day we did a shop at the marina’s supermarket using our 5% Sunsail discount and arranged for the victuals to be delivered to our yacht appropriately named `Fearless`!

The yacht we had chartered was a Jeanneau designed Sunsail 33i with 2 cabins,1 head,10 m long, 3.34 m beam with a very useful Bimini, lots of fans below decks and speakers for music. There was an electric windlass and a holding tank. Overall a safe and stable yacht. 

We discovered that the flotilla consisted of 11 yachts ranging from smaller yachts like ours up to a rather impressive catamaran. Ages ranged from young newly weds on honeymoon to rather raucous septuagenarians. Skippers experience ranged from just having passed RYA Day Skipper to a Yachtmaster. For a few of the crew this was their first time ever on a yacht. 

The next morning over breakfast ashore, we met our lead crew for the week consisting of Cam, James and Charlie Throughout the trip the morning briefings were excellent. All the daily passages left time to stop off in a quiet bay or beach for a swim and lunch before meeting up in the late afternoon with the other yachts at the days destination.  At departures and arrivals the crew were there to give as much or as little assistance as you wished. Nothing was too much trouble for them. Options in the evenings were to eat on board, eat with the group or find your own restaurant. Despite our initial reservations about holidaying with strangers we soon made friends. 

Day 4 and a ‘free sailing’ day. As we left the marina in Kefalonia we were  able to pick our destination for the night regrouping the following late afternoon. 

Life on board Fearless was relaxed and chilled. Neither of us can recall any cross words despite living in a confined space. It was with sadness we berthed back in Lefkas marina and went ashore for the final time, but taking with us many happy memories. Several couples on the flotilla in similar positions as ourselves clearly had equally good experiences as they intended booking further flotilla holidays with Sunsail. 

Was it a success for us? Well a second Sunsail flotilla holiday for September was booked within 2 days of getting back to Durham!  

What  helped to make it a successful holiday especially given my wife’s initial reticence? 

The Northumberland Sailing School’s day sailing experience with Melvyn was invaluable giving Lorna some basic but essential knowledge. 

Choosing  a reputable  company’s flotilla holiday was definitely the right decision. All the staff were good but special mention must be made to the 3 lead crew who were always available  and ensured we got the most out of not just the sailing but onshore as well. 

Opting for the South Ionian Sea ensured light winds and short passages. Maybe the winds were a bit light for more experienced sailors but good for a novice like Lorna. So if you are in a similar position and want to introduce someone to the joys of sailing you now know what to do! As for me the Coastal Skipper Course is already booked. I await the best time to raise with Lorna the possibility of buying our own yacht !……………

 Ps. I’m always looking for interesting trips/passages for the future so if you need crew feel free to contact me; dcatterick@gmail.com  

Jack’s the Lad

Jack Lowe’s aim in life is to visit all the RNLI stations and take a photograph of it’s crew. Not in a normal way for Jack though – he wants to take them using original methods and glass plates.

Last month he visited the Eyemouth area and you can follow his progress on his web page Lifeboat Station Project

Victims (all) at Sea

Rob Langley, Ocean Yachtmaster, reports; ‘We began our season with a relaxed sail from our winter berth in Kip Marine to Belfast, lots of northerlies and rain, but a great blast across the North Channel to Belfast city centre marina for a good run ashore, finishing up in Bangor’s excellent marina (sister to Royal Quays).  Then the Boss flew home and the crew flew in for an epic 472 mile windward beat, stopping in Dun Laoghaire for 2 days for adjustments to our new electronics.

The Irish Sea is very tidal (running north and south), some watches were harder than others!  Getting past The Smalls reefs off Pembrokeshire was especially frustrating, but the tide abated and wind shifted when out in the Atlantic approaching Land’s End.

We ran ahead of a gale into Falmouth and sat it out snug on a mooring in the harbour, strengthened by a run ashore to The Chain Locker. Our final 44 mile run to Plymouth, downwind at 8+ knots with a preventer rigged, was great end to a great adventure.’  Shown here is Pendragon in Stranraer.

 

Glen Hogg, seen here with Mario and Mike, is off to the Med and reports; ‘It has always been a sailing dream of mine to cruise the Mediterranean in “Caledonia”, my 1998  Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 36.2 which I’ve owned since 2003.  My dream eventually became reality when on the 4th May we set off from Kip Marina, Caledonia’s base for the last six years, to begin my Mediterranean adventure.

I had negotiated 11 weeks off work and the plan was to spend at least two nights at each port visited on the way so we could explore the surrounding areas.  After making a couple of stops in Ireland we sailed south to the Scilly Isles before crossing the Channel to Camaret Sur Mer.  From there we sailed down the French coast to La Rochelle from where we made our 250 mile Biscay crossing before continuing  along the coasts of Spain and Portugal before reaching Gibraltar and into the Med.

For 8 of the 11 weeks, different friends and family members have accompanied me along the way the remaining 3 being undertaken solo.

I will be leaving the boat close to Alicante so I can fly back to continue the Med adventure during future leave periods.’

Brendan Arrowsmith reports; ‘Having completed my Day Skipper with Northumbria Sailing in 2016 thought best to put theory into practice. Just completed round trip from Amble to Granton on the Forth. Visited Holy Island, Eyemouth and Dunbar in my 21ft Snapdragon. Thanks for your support Melvyn and team! Fair winds and here’s to more practice! Plan trip south to Whitby later this year’. The image shows Peggzy Girl moored in Eyemouth. ‘

Own Boat Tuition & Courses

If you have your own boat and would prefer private tuition or an RYA course then these are possible. Your boat would need to be acceptable of course and a daily rate for an instructor would be quoted.

Cruising Season at Royal Quays

Here a very big one taking up the whole of Northumbria wharf, next to Royal Quays. There will be many more before the season’s out.

Sailing Today Podcasts

Try these Podcasts Sailing Today Podcasts.

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.

Steve Austin has uploaded this video of our 2018 Adventure sailing a traditional Dutch flat bottomed boat

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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