December 2019

Northumbria Sailing

      The Leading Provider of Sail Cruising Courses in North East England

December Newsletter 

‘It is remarkable how quickly a good and favorable  wind can sweep away the maddening frustrations of shore living’  – Ernest K Gann, pilot, sailor & author 

Practicals are now over and it’s maintenance time, commencing with replacing the standing rigging, illustrated below. Contractors involved in this are Storrar Marine, PA Lynch and Royal Quays marina.

The autumn RYA Day Skipper Theory Course is coming to a conclusion and a record 11, yes eleven, are aiming to complete successfully before Christmas. The New Year will see lots of activity on the Yachtmaster Theory front and practical bookings for both RYA Day Skipper Theory and RYA Competent Crew are looking healthy. My first availability for the former is in June.

At this time of the year I can expect to receive requests for a sailing gift. Not a bad idea and my policy is to send a personalised gift voucher and only accept the donor’s payment when a date has been arranged.

Mast Off Time

Every 10 years I have to have my standing rigging replaced to comply with commercial and insurance conditions. A more stressful time even than lift out! All went well thanks to Alex and Chris from Royal Quays and Tony  as crew. There’s lots of opportunities to spend money for a boat owner….

Wolf Rock and Banana Beds

My daughter presented me with a fascinating book on lighthouses. I first thought ‘I’ve read these before’, but no, this one’s different. Seashaken Houses by Tom Nancollas is  not just the story of lighthouse building. Tom, whose ancestor family were involved in lighthouses, refers to the ‘banana beds’, so called because the lighthouse curved shape demanded beds  and mattresses similarly so. Tom visits some and memories of former keepers are graphic for the hardship and loneliness enduring for months on end.    World’s Loneliest Christmas .

Mull Adventure 2020

From 3rd to 10th June 2020  a superb yacht has been reserved for our latest Adventure, a 2008 commissioned 13 metre yacht, Pollyanna, a Dufour 425, sailing out of Dunstaffnage, Oban, a marina with easy access and excellent facilities. There will be a maximum of 6 persons onboard. A larger yacht might be more glamorous and cheaper per head, but is less participatory. We aim to circumnavigate Mull, taking in; sheltered Loch Aline – picturesque Tobermory – Staffa & Mendelssohn’s Fingal’s Cave – Tinker’s Hole anchorage opposite Iona – lovely Colonsay Island – Corryvrechan (outside whirlpool time) & then finally Dunstaffnage.

Berth pricing ranges from £675 to £775, excluding a catering ‘kitty’ Only one saloon place available

Ocean Tuition in the Tropics?

I think the scarf gives it away! Recent Yachtmasters Peter Millican and Peter MacLaren may be planning on going away though, having successfully completed the challenging RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course. My Ocean theory Course includes several opportunities to use a sextant (I have four), but on the level and not in a heaving swell.

Even November!! 

Hardy seafarers here having completed their Course, very late in the season. Congratulations to Peter, Jonathan, Paul and Rob for their survival, although it wasn’t as cold as it was last April during the first 5 day course of the season.

Safe at Royal Quays

After several delayed starts, due to the weather and time of the year, The Irons Lady was finally delivered safely by Don Gunton and crew to this berth at Royal Quays. They ‘enjoyed’ a cold sail down from the boat’s summer quarters at Seahouses, arriving in the dark.

Saving Lives Locally

What Causes Seasickness?

Phil Butler linked me into this very useful article. I’m telling everyone that it’s normal to be seasick and also normal to get over it. Only a few are never seasick. Take the tablets though until you are confident you are OK, as they are very effective. Seasickness

King’s Tall Corner (Episode 3)

The final part of the adventures of Liz King in 2019.  The previous episode found Liz in Southampton ‘Poor old Ocean Scout, she went off with another skipper (floozy) for a cruise around the Channel Islands, and promptly conked out on the way back. A bit of graunching, a big bang and a lot of smoke was the description and she had to be towed by her sistership, Offshore Scout, all the way back from Alderney to Portsmouth. We had been having lots of issues with her starting motor all summer – but now the damage is irreparable.

It’s an amazing feeling of freedom to sail a yacht, without an engine. I collected our casualty and with the assistance of John, Will and Josh we had a fabulous sail from Haslar to Harwich. 200nm ish in 30 hours, taking some of the longer, cautious channels through the Goodwin Sands and across the Thames Estuary. Just enough stress to keep me on my toes! We conserved the batteries as much as possible; no charging phones and minimal chart plotter. Sailing onto our chosen mooring buoy in the River Orwell was easier said than done – mainly because we couldn’t find the buoy in the dark (no moon and only a hand torch and a couple of head torches to help us). Once we found the buoy, sailing onto it under headsail only was quite easy!

So, there ends the summer. Ocean Scout is at Harwich, awaiting a new engine and Williams II is in Grimsby, awaiting her liftout for her winter refit. The Tall Ships Races next year will be crossing Biscay and collecting in Lisbon and Cadiz and the plan is to take Williams II up to the Arctic. Another busy year… 

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

Beware of fraudulent Online 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. Many years ago now, I completed my RYA Day Skipper Theory as a correspondence course. I passed but later thought I didn’t really know the subject so enrolled on a Local Authority evening class.

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. Winter/Spring evening class; January 13, 20, 25 & 27th February 3, 10, 24 & 29th March 2, 9, 16 & 23rd. 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 £650  for Day Skipper, £675 for Coastal/Yachtmaster™ and £750 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 and no need to stay onboard overnight. Cost £275, weekday only. 

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 & £75 weekend. Next availability; 7th May (6th now 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. Course dates arranged so far;   April 25 – 30th, and June 14 – 19th (FULL) Apart from April the next scheduled will be September unless there is sufficient interest for one inbetween. 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. Cost £625. Course dates; May 17 – 22nd (FULL) and June 14 – 19th (FULL). The next scheduled will be September unless there is sufficient interest for one inbetween. ‘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 £650  Next Course; April 25 – 30th. 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

Pieces of Eight – Knotty Problems Analysed

How do you enter and leave Royal Quays lock? Negotiating this lock is not easy and berth holders and visitors alike can be treated to a ‘character forming experience’. Unfortunately, this can result in a fear of entering the river and consequential ‘harbour rot’. Courtesy of Phil Butler, I’m shown entering and leaving the lock, made more difficult with the other boat already there. Fortunately this was correctly positioned at the front of the lock and, happily, we entered and left at this busy time on August Bank Holiday Saturday without incident.

 

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, a Full Day; 10th January. 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

The RYA require you to book your practical examination at the time of enrolling on a Course. Beware of anyone offering this Course without this. RYA Practical VHF 

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. Candidates for RYA Yachtmaster examinations are expected to be conversant with radar.   Day Course: Cost £120, plus 10 to RYA. Next Course; March 18th ‘Thank you very much for yesterday’s course’ – Stephen

CEVNI test for the Inland waterways endorsement to your ICC. Done online, cost £30

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. RYA Examiners have requested greater knowledge from candidates. 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 £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; 26th 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

From The Archives

Looking back over the years, and it’s now 10 since Northumbria Sailing  was underway for the first time, I’m looking back, this time from August 2018;

The Strange Case of SS Warrimoo

The passenger steamer SS Warrimoo was quietly knifing its way through the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way from Vancouver to Australia. The navigator had just finished working out a star fix and brought the Master, Captain John Phillips, the result. The Warrimoo’s position was LAT 00º 31′ N and LONG 179º 30′ W. The date was 31st December 1899.

“Know what this means?” First Mate Payton broke in, “We’re only a few miles from the intersection of the Equator and the International Date Line”.

Captain Phillips was prankish enough to take full advantage of the opportunity for achieving the navigational freak of a lifetime. He called his navigators to the bridge to check and double check the ships position. He changed course slightly so as to bear directly on his mark, and then he adjusted the engine speed. The calm weather and clear night worked in his favour.

At mid-night the SS Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the point where it crossed the International Date Line! The consequences of this bizarre position were many:

The bow of the ship was in the Southern Hemisphere and in the middle of summer.
The stern was in the Northern Hemisphere and in the middle of winter. The date in the bow (forward) part of the ship was 31st December 1899.

In the aft part it was 1st January 1900.

This ship was therefore not only in two different days, two different months, two different years and two different seasons, but it was also in two different centuries – all at the same time!

Victims (all) at Sea

Chris Forker of Carbery Sailing operating out of Tenerife for the winter reports a typical problem there; ‘The Sahara sand causes havoc to the rigging and decks so a good hose down was in order for Merlin. Stainless steel parts tomorrow’. Earlier Chris reported; ‘The trip down shall we say had some excessive weather. First leg had Merlin clocked just under 16kts and the second leg just under 19kts. Both speeds obtained wave surfing. However,  first night out in big seas 8m with 7sec period and 36kts of wind  was going really well, all beam stuff, until the auto helm thought it was a good idea to gybe at night!  This little episode resulted in what I can only describe the reefing line for the 2nd reef to explode rather than break. So no bother out of my bunk, kit up and put the 3rd reef in. All good and a good nights sleep.

Next morning conditions still as before then the 3rd reef line explodes. What a mess! It did calm down significantly about 100nm north of Finistere so we put into Baiona. Being Spain and it a Friday everything closed till Monday for a festival. Finally got away the following Thursday due to strong southerly gale on Tuesday and Wednesday. In the meantime I replaced the reefing lines with dyneema and sailed rapidly to Madeira. One thing though which has resulted in an update of the SOP’s. Check all the nuts on the master fuse panel before a passage. It would be the 2 nuts holding the 24v alternator fuse that would loosen with the result the battery bank feeding my navigation system would run down. Tested everything even checked the master fuse but failed to check the nuts. It’s never happened before on any other boat I’ve been on. I’m now putting a split spring washer on the fuses so the nuts stay tight. It was only the one fuse which was affected and a nightmare. Also showed the necessity of keeping an accurate log at all times. Essentially on an ocean passage I do it on a crew change which is every 2 hours from 20:00 to 08:00 and then 4 hourly although crew are encouraged to put one in halfway through a 4 hour watch. So now in Tenerife. I’ve had the linear drive serviced and the course computer firmware updated since we arrived by the Raymarine agent. The sprayhood got slight damage from the reef line failures and that is now like new again by a swiss sailmaker in the marina. Engine serviced by Marc a Dutch Volvo guy again in the marina. So just about ready to go again.

Looks like you have a very busy season ahead so fair winds and following seas on your passages. I should be in Newcastle over Christmas so will try and arrange a meet up’. Mobile: +353 85 2256901

Mark Batey has taken the plunge and re-engined Jessie his 1989 Moody 336 and employed Steve of SDS marine to do the job and fit a new Beta engine (same guy as the Hartleys)

John Matthews has also taken, finally, the plunge and has bought a Nauticat 33 which now rests in Royal Quays and he’s intending to sail her through the winter. He does have a warm wheelhouse though! 

Yacht For Sale

My Chief Instructor, Trevor Jefferson, is on the move and selling his Dorothy Mitchel, asking only £70,000. I expect Trevor will have carefully maintained his onboard living in boat, and himself a reputable and very experienced Yachtmaster Instructor. Try this link to the broker Network Yacht Brokers

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.

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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