December 2020

December Newsletter

Preparing the school boat for sale, as outlined below, has created extra activity onboard but I can’t allow myself to be without a boat for the courses to be delivered in 2021.

Demand is high for courses, both theory and practical. Five day practical courses have been fully booked up to July but an extra in May has now been laid on. Zoom theory, the only safe option at present, is popular and needs to be started early. The usual January is too late for March completion as sessions are shorter and will not normally complete by Easter. The popular one, Day Skipper, is just about full.

Optimism is now in the air though and  2021 can’t fail to be better than 2020. 

Lian  up for Sale

Why sell a Hallberg Rassy, I hear. We bought Lian seventeen years ago as a family sailing yacht and she has served us very well. Lian has sailed to the Med and back, rounded most of the UK, visited Germany, Netherlands and France but, as a school boat, has not ventured further than Hartlepool in the last three years. With the sailing school in mind I must be realistic and have the instructional needs foremost, in addition though to the fact that she’s 30 years old and requires regular attention. I can’t be without a school boat as most of my classes, theory as well as practical, are fully booked and will not sell her until a replacement has been found. This is likely to be a modern twin wheel job with twin aft cabins, good for training but a bit better than average for family sailing. Lian is being offered for sale at £75,000. Life sails onwards……

A New Job

I have now accepted an appointment as Harbour Agent for the North East to assist with updating information in the Reeds Almanac. It’s a paid post too! – a free almanac so marinas can expect me to be contacting them for updating and victims can make suggestions too. 

Sailing Masterclass 2021 

July 11 – 13th. A new Course for those who wish the nautical equivalent of a re-tune. Starting from 8pm on 11th July at Royal Quays you will spend two nights onboard Lian under the instruction and close supervision of an experienced Yachtmaster Instructor, Stephen Scott. The Course will end on 13th and during this time you can expect to visit a tidal port and sail just a bit harder than you would expect on a typical RYA Course. Sail trim will also be a feature. Cost £275. Preference will be given to RYA Yachtmasters and Coastal Skippers.  

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. 2020 Adventures have, sadly, been postponed until 2021.

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.

Mull Adventure 2021

June 9 – 16th 2021  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’ 

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

Northumbria Sailing  on Zoom

Following my demonstration to the RYA I am pleased to be able to launch Online Courses via Zoom. Two months ago I received authorisation and only a few days later two wanted to go ahead and had completed their FREE trial. In order that anyone thinking of this form of Course can see what it involves I will offer the first hour FREE so a decision can be made whether the format is appropriate. Thus I won’t take any money until after this FREE hour has been completed. The Course cannot be as good as with human contact but, in my opinion, this is better than a full online course where little or no direct contact is made with the instructor. You also enjoy the company of fellow seafarers. Online information

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 £750 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 & £675 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. Try Zoom and enjoy seafarer’s company. 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 or £375 Zoom. Try Zoom and enjoy seafarer’s company. Next class starting Early December

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 (Zoom £525) for Day Skipper, £675 for Coastal/Yachtmaster™ (Zoom £575) and £750 (Zoom £650) 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. You will be using Reed’s Almanac and the first session will be for assumed beginners leading to more advanced stuff on the second. Joining is possible for both sessions or just the first and will be at Heaton or The Lock café at Royal Quays, depending on numbers. 0930 – 1400hrs, cost £45 for the first session only or £85 for both.

PRACTICAL COURSES

All local courses take place on the school boat, a quality 36 foot (11.1 metre) 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. (for 2020 temporary adjustments are necessary)

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. This has been very popular since Courses re-started and here we see John, Jill, Barry & Derek. Cost £295, weekday only. Next availability; April 21 – 23rd.

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 Trip; April 20th. 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, subject to £50 discount as they are day sails and not catered. The full RYA certificate will still be available. Course dates; March 22 – 26th (FULL), April 25 – 30th 2021 (FULL), May 16 – 21st & July 19 – 23rd. 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. 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. Cost £625 subject to £50 discount as they are day sails and not catered. The full RYA certificate will still be available. Course dates; March 22 – 26th (FULL), April 25 – 30th 2021 (FULL), May 16 – 21st & July 19 – 23rd. ‘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’. Next Courses; April 11 – 16th (FULL) & October 10 – 15th 2021 Cost £650  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

Specialist Courses   

RYA VHF This important Course is available in class, onboard, 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 £95 to include manual. Assessment £60 extra. Next availability, provisionally; January 22nd 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 10.50 to RYA. March 10th ‘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 £29 (includes instruments) for the RYA Pack. Online Navigation

RYA FIRST AID. All day for the RYA certificate, valid three years. Find out the latest recommendations on what to do at sea from an experienced sailor with over 50 years in nursing to include A & E. Cost £95 plus £7.50 Pack. Next availability February 9th (FULL). To check which certificates are acceptable to the RYA e.g. for examinations.  First Aid Certificates   

Pieces of Eight – Knotty Problems Analysed

Refer back to ‘October Iron Men’ above where I opted for an ‘in slings’ inspection, cheaper and quicker than the full lift. Here the boat was just lifted enough to show the propellor so this could be checked (for which I was very grateful to Royal Quays marina, Alex in particular, for doing the lift so promptly).

Trafalgar Day

Drinking alcohol onboard whilst underway is usually banned but enroute to Hartlepool we had to toast Trafalgar Day and local lad Lord Collingwood in particular. The trip was crewed by a Coastal Skipper and three day Skippers; Colin, myself, John, Mario & Catherine shown here. Not that is was without incident though, for when we arrived in the dark I tried to navigate without the chart plotter and the all important light on the pier end was off. We were straying towards shallows before the marina noticed my track and advised me accordingly. John said ‘I learnt more in this hour of night sailing than 6 hours in the Med!’. 

October Iron Men

A quote from Royal Quays marina on their Facebook page; ‘Pretty grim conditions today as witnessed by the fact that everyone is wearing waterproofs! Cold, grey, wet, with a brisk north easterly – even the trawlers are tied up. So hats off to our two resident sea schools Oceanic Sea School and Northumbria Sailing for getting out and having fun on the water. If you can get through days like this you’ll sail through when the sun is shining!’

I left very sorry for them having two such wet days – fortunate for myself though as Steve  was the instructor on this 5 day Course!. I asked them more than once whether they were enjoying themselves and received a resounding ‘yes’ so, for the first time in my 10 years, I presented them all, instructor included, with a bottle of wine each in appreciation. .  Not that the Course was without incident though as I received the call I always fear ‘Melvyn, we have a problem’. The rains had washed down a lot of branches, logs etc and one was caught between the prop and the rudder. This was eventually freed but a liftout was required to check her over as later they were setting off to Blyth for their night sail. Thus the 5 day practicals came to an end for 2020.

Ships in the Tyne

Norman Baker is producing videos of ships in the Tyne to watch on YouTube and I have subscribed to this awaiting the moment when Lian is featured during one of her transgressions of the laws of the Tyne (There are cameras on the river as I found out when a No 1 rocket came from the Harbourmaster) and was caught ‘bang to rights’!normtyneships

Victims (all) at Sea

Adrian & Jo Smith ‘We had both retired from long careers in the NHS during 2019 and were starting to think about how to use all this newly acquired free time; an exciting opportunity but also a bit scary when you have become used to a fixed routine for so long. What we needed was something we could do together for shared experiences, something that would stop our brains seizing up and yes, something that would stop us getting fed up with the sight of each other!

Language classes, ballroom dancing etc. have all been considered (and not completely discounted yet) but having some limited, but enjoyable, previous experience of sailing this emerged as the immediate front runner. Actually at that point in time it was Adrian’s front runner and Jo dutifully went along with it (to her credit) and explains why Adrian may have to face up to Ballroom Dance classes as a reciprocal arrangement. So, after a quick search on the internet we discovered Northumbria Sailing and Melvyn – and that’s when our problems began. February and March 2020 saw us sitting in the Lock Cafe at Royal Quays wrestling with problems such as “do I add the tidal stream at the beginning or end of the ground track” – all patiently explained by Melvyn as part of the Day Skipper Theory Course. We live in Alnwick so although we would have liked to do the group evening classes it was easier to do a couple of mornings a week.

The benefit of Adrian’s “slightly” superior sailing experience was gradually eroded as Jo’s scientific background (and it has to be said, better mental arithmetic) crunched through tidal height calculations, magnetic variations and so on. It would even be fair to say that there was a competitive element to our studies (I wonder where that came from Jo!) with impromptu quizzes over breakfast and  knotty challenges thrown down whilst trying to watch the match on TV (yes, actual ropes and knots). Jo’s interest and confidence had started to grow until by the time of the exam Adrian was seriously worried – especially when Melvyn put us on separate tables to prevent copying. If this all sounds a bit serious it wasn’t really. We really enjoyed doing the course together – it was relaxed and all about providing the knowledge and gaining a real understanding of the theory rather than just learning facts by rote.

Unfortunately the Covid pandemic put a stop to the Day Skipper Practical week we had pencilled in with Melvyn for May but a welcome distraction came along when we were able to do our VHF course; some of it acting as guinea pigs while Melvyn honed his skills on Zoom. Our main training and assessment (again all thorough but informal and relaxed) was undertaken on Lian. Lockdown measures were reduced sufficiently to allow a family day sail (with Adrian’s father and our son, so three generations in all) in July. This was a fun day out with great sailing weather and was a useful way of getting to know Lian and some of the basic routines for mooring and getting the sails up. This set us up nicely to finally undertake our Day Skipper Practical week in September – albeit on a day sail basis rather than sleeping on board. Again, we really enjoyed learning together (along with fellow “victims” Denis and Ingela) and had plenty to talk about in the evenings as we both shared our learning experiences. We even enjoyed the night sail – despite pouring rain and being terrorised by lobster pots (well done Ingela for keeping us clear). Trying to decipher navigation lights from the assorted background illuminations on land (including traffic lights) proved a salutary lesson.

We both made the grade (Day Skipper Theory & Practical and VHF) and it turned out that our areas of strength / weakness pretty much complemented each other. We both grew in confidence and gained a lot of satisfaction from the achievement – especially in a year that has proved so difficult in many other ways. It’s fair to say that by the end of our courses Jo was expressing genuine enjoyment of this sailing malarkey rather than just tagging along – prompting Melvyn to remind Adrian just how lucky he was – even more pressure to do the ballroom dancing then! The culmination of our efforts came when we managed to get away on a last minute flotilla holiday in early October. Given the Covid situation there were, of course, risks to be considered but thankfully everything went well and we had a wonderful two weeks sailing around the Ionian Sea taking it in turns to be Skipper, practising our newly acquired skills and having one or two minor moments (“incidents” as Melvyn calls them) that cement your learning! If being brutally honest there may have been occasional minor domestics as well!

Learning to sail with a partner or spouse brings interesting challenges but mainly advantages. We are still speaking to each other and are already planning further sailing adventures. The shared knowledge, ability to take over if necessary (if one of you gets sea sickness for example) and overall a more equal partnership for making decisions really enhanced our sailing experience, giving us a solid foundation for future sailing adventures together and lots of fun in the making. Jo has started a little black book just like Melvyn’s which still has plenty of room to log our further misdemeanours. Discussions over buying our own (small) boat are ongoing!’  – Jo & Adrian

Sarah & John Knapton made their investment in a Hallberg Rassy, Cally, with a wheelhouse thereby enabling them to go for a sail in conditions which would deter others. Take a look at November sailing and keeping warm in this video. Cally

 

 

Mark Batey has a new love in his life, having just purchased a pretty 20 foot trailer sailer, a Norfolk Gypsy, Isabel when I encountered him one morning – note the slippers! as he was sleeping onboard. Mark still has another mistress, now relegated to the cold boatyard.

 

Liz King is having difficulty with her spoons (spoonerisms) as she reckons her age to be 26 and not 62

Peter Fall has his boat Arabesque on the market as he now has a power boat in the French canals. ‘marinas cheaper, but the lock keepers…’

Miriam & Phil have now put their boat Someday on the market as they are moving ashore to a more traditional home

Ton Scorer now realises my warning to boat owners ‘you are rich until you buy a boat’. He regularly has his hand in his pocket for Future.

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.

Phil Butler again with very useful advice on mal de mer. Seasickness 

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

Peter Chater again – ‘How about this for a large yacht collision’  Antigua 

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 

And finally from myself, try this one for a Broach    

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