Shore to Sail News
September’s News On and Off the Water
‘I wait for the oil wells to run dry, for the last gob of black, sticky muck to come oozing out of some remote well. Then the glory of sail will return’ – Tristan Jones, cruising sailor and author
Rob and Faye made it Hjem after their epic voyage around Britain in their newly acquired sailing yacht. Starting at Eastbourne they eventually arrived at Royal Quays on September 2nd. Notable not only for the journey, but also the blog presentation. I owe them a lunch now….
New for the autumn are River Trips and a Sextant/Star Globe seminar. As the practicals come to an end the theory starts.
River Trips
Take a short Trip in the River Tyne on my luxury yacht Pure Gallus
As a seafarer who endured seasickness in my early days I can sympathise with anyone who feels they might be a bit queasy going all the way out to sea. In this case a two hour trip motoring all the time and never going out to sea beyond Tynemouth pier ends may be just what you need. Cheaper too with a £45 cost instead of £95 for a full Saturday.
You will start and finish at Royal Quays marina which has full facilities including café and washrooms available for you to use. Onboard you will have the opportunity to steer the boat, lots of photographs and a free cup of tea too!
No special clothing, other than outdoors, is necessary but Pure Gallus comes up to commercial standards with lifejackets amongst many other safety items.
From Royal Quays a typical route will be motoring downstream past the nautical college and Little Haven beach in South Shields. Sometimes seals are seen in the river. Then returning upriver past the revitalised Fish Quay and further on past the large ships, including cruisers if berthed, then the ship terminals before returning to Royal Quays with a red face if you haven’t been applying sun block. Cost £45, £25 under 15, £35 weekday. The first day of trips will begin Saturday September 23rd [space_20]
High Noon Sextant
Ever wanted to handle a real sextant and take sights without doing the full RYA Ocean course or going out to sea only to find the sun doesn’t make an appearance or you are too queasy to focus? This latest Skills Course will enable you to do just that on November 11th. Not only will you be able to handle a sextant there will also be a Star Globe, and the opportunity to meet Jonathan Kemp who used the Star Globe for real after the GPS failed on a trip to the Falklands during his time in the Royal Navy. The session will be in support of Tynemouth RNLI and there will be an opportunity for buying and selling nautical magazines and books. Cost £45 + 10 voluntary RNLI contribution.
Whitehaven to Clyde Delivery
Justin & Emma Hoskins were looking to transfer their boat to a better sailing area without the restrictions of tidal access and ‘volunteers’ were impressed shown here, Peter MacLaren, Justin & Shaun Robson successfully completed the trip and skipper Justin reports (not a seafarer noted for his brevity and his report will be in two parts); ‘In the spring of 2022 my wife and I became the proud owners of Stella Maris, a Jeanneau 34.2 sailing yacht. Berthing our new boat at Whitehaven had worked well for us. The marina is relatively convenient to our home, is sheltered, has good facilities (with friendly and helpful staff) and boasts an excellent ecosystem of marine trade professionals on site to assist with various jobs, upgrades and general advice. The sailing is also good, with immediate access to the beautiful Cumbrian and south Dumfriesshire coastlines and easy access to the Isle of Man.
The Irish Sea however can be a cruel mistress and it doesn’t take much for a westerly (the prevailing wind direction) to create big swells and choppy conditions. As an area with large tidal ranges, taking particular care to get the timing of passages right so as to be able to get safely in and out of the marina is also a constant consideration (generally access to Whitehaven is +/-2 hours HW, with similar restrictions at nearby Maryport and across the water at Kirkcudbright). Whilst these factors have no doubt helped to sharpen our passage planning and boat handling skills over the last year or so, my wife and I decided that heading for the more sheltered and less tidal waters of the Clyde would make sense for us given our twin objectives of maximising our time on the water whilst also providing a fun sailing experience for our young children without overwhelming them.
Recognising that getting the boat up to the Clyde was a great opportunity for me to gain some experience as a skipper, I enlisted the help of Melvyn in assembling a suitably experienced crew and I am extremely grateful to him for his support, encouragement and advice on this. The crew I ended up with comprised Shaun Robson (who, like me, had recently completed his Day Skipper and VHF courses and was eager to build his experience and sea miles) and Peter MacLaren, (an experienced Yacht Master – and member of the 70 club – who had graciously agreed to mentor me and be the ‘voice of experience’ on the boat whilst at the same time allowing me to act as skipper). It was a great combination and, although none of us had met before setting off, we all got on well and had a very enjoyable trip sharing a lot of laughs, good stories and a few bottles of wine.
The route that I had planned comprised three legs over three days, with the aim of maximising our sailing during daylight hours. I had assumed 5 knots boat speed and spent some considerable time working out when we would ideally need to be in various places to either benefit from tidal streams or – as was the case going round the Mull of Galloway – mitigate their effect. (It’s worth noting that tidal streams in parts of SW Scotland can be particularly strong and, in certain weather conditions, can be dangerous for small craft). I also spent a considerable amount of time monitoring the weather and likely wind conditions given the position of the jet stream and the somewhat unsettled weather that June and July had thrown up across the UK with low pressure systems constantly looming from all corners’. – continued below under ‘Victims at Sea[space_20]
Yorkshire Adventure
Our August Adventure visited Hartlepool first, a tricky entry at the best of times but at night even more so. Berthed next you a large offshore vessel I was hailed the following morning; ‘Are you Melvyn?’ This was Ivan and I gratefully accepted his invitation for a tour of his domain. Next stop Whitby, right in the harbour, but instead of Scarborough by motor we opted for an early return and training exercises. (just as well as I received a poor report on Scarborough from a couple there at that time) Shown here are Joan, Tim, David & Leigh[space_20]
Missed Whales
Here is an image reproduced from the Evening Chronicle of minke whales off our Coast. Seen by my crew whilst I was down below resting my eyes and didn’t believe them when they said they had seen minke whales 🙁
Another Long Tow with Victoria
Long tows seem to follow Victoria who was present when we noticed a long tow out of Blyth in May. Now again her influence showed itself on the Tyne when we anchored in the Lower harbour and were shown this with 4 tugs and pilot.[space_20]
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
Classroom
Onboard Pure Gallus there’s a classroom suitable for a small class but, mostly, the modern Life Centre in Heaton is used.
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 £595 or £925 on tailored tuition. ‘I have to say it was tough, and tested the brain calls somewhat. However – it was great challenge and good company – Debra’. The US Navy are teaching sailors Celestial Navigation again as a precaution against cyber attack. An evening class is planned to commence October/November. US Navy.
Navigating by the Stars
Fewer mariners with experience of ocean sailing before GPS are still with us and Jonathan Kemp is one of them. With his guidance I have acquired a Star Globe of the type he used down in the Falklands and will be using this in sessions, ashore I hasten to add. He has described his experiences for posterity. Jonathan.
RYA COASTAL YACHTMASTER The advanced Course, a must for those proceeding to Yachtmaster level. Cost £575 for class & £850 tailored tuition. You need a good knowledge of this Course before being tested by the RYA Examiner. Provisional dates for the next class, Thursday evenings & two Saturdays; January 11, 18, 20 & 25th, February 1, 8, 22 & 29th March 7, 9, 14, 21, 25 & 28th. An extra victim is sought to share costs for One2One. 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 £550. Autumn 2023 dates; October 2, 9, 10, 16 & 30th, November 6, 7, 13, 20 & 27th, December 4, 11 & 12th all from 1800 – 2100hrs (limited space available) Day Skipper Theory.
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 £795 for Day Skipper, £850 for Coastal/Yachtmaster™ and £925 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
Skills Centre
It’s now some 13 years since I started delivering RYA Courses, their format and their questions to be answered. Yet important messages are not always given their due weight and there’s no scope for further investigation. Skills Centre sessions and courses will have this in mind and offer the opportunity to seek further knowledge as well as refreshing existing. I see subjects being mainly theory with some practical, but am open to suggestions
TIDES In this subject we look at real tides and apply this to examples in waters of the UK and Europe, with particular emphasis on our very tidal North East Coast. Learn how to calculate tidal heights and streams at main and secondary ports. You will be using Reed’s Almanac and the first session will be for assumed beginners leading to more advanced stuff later on. This Course will be run across three sessions 1800 – 2100hrs at Heaton. Cost £95 for three sessions, less for fewer. ‘Being new to sailing and having seen numerous yacht go aground in Amble harbour entrance, the tides we have on the NE coast frightened me a little. I looked into the online courses but decided to go with you and the classroom instead and I’m glad I did. Learning in a group with instant help and feedback from you made understanding the lessons so much easier.’ – Thornley
FOG ALL OVER You have a chart plotter, AIS and Radar showing there’s another vessel out there. Plenty of electronic information but, you then realise, none tell you which way to turn. In the collision between Whispa and Gas Monarch the former was not on a collision course but the skipper misconstrued notorious Rule 19d and actually turned towards Gas Monarch and collided. This short course, I’m not sure yet how many sessions, will attempt to throw some light on this important subject.
SKIPPER SKILLS Another new course aimed at improving skills of either an existing skipper or a very competent crew about to take their RYA Day Skipper Practical. This Course will include exercises such as berthing, which are not normally available outside an RYA Course and others according to demand. For example; use of up to date Raymarine electronics, night sail or just confidence building.
Northumbria Sailing Adventures
These adventures are when we either charter a sailing yacht or take Pure Gallus 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 Skye, Orkneys, the Clyde, London Tower Bridge and a North Sea crossing.
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 in 2024
May 11 – 18th
In 2024 we are looking towards a stunning Adventure around the Mull of Kintyre, visiting ‘whisky’ Islay and relaxing in the Crinan canal. This will be one you will remember for a very long time.
A reservation has been placed on a 2011 commissioned 12.1 metre yacht, Tramontane, a Hanse 400, sailing out of Largs, a marina with easy access and excellent facilities. There will be a maximum of 5 persons onboard. A larger yacht might be more glamorous and cheaper per head, but is less participatory.
Costings. There is a maximum availability of four persons onboard plus the skipper, and the prices vary according to the berth; Aft cabin; £895 for one person alone. Saloon; £795. Forecabin with ensuite; £750 each for two sharing. Extra is a ‘kitty’ share. Only the saloon berth is still available.
New – Mini Sailing Adventures
In response to demand, Sailing Adventures on Pure Gallus will take the form of Mini versions as well as Maxi, tailored for holders of their RYA Day Skipper Practical tickets, but also welcomed are other seafarers keen to experience sailing on this 2016 built yacht fitted to high standards. Electronics include Raymarine kit including a Plotter, Radar and AIS. Pure Gallus, a Sun Odyssey 419, is the type of boat, with twin wheel helms, you might charter on your holiday in the Med.
Guidance will be available but you will be fully involved in the Adventure and may even care to select your own crew. Maximum number will be four plus the Skipper and sharing the ensuite forecabin will give berths at the most economical rate.
Anyone already familiar with Pure Gallus or the predecessor Lian by means of a 3 or 5 day Course qualifies for discounted prices from £75 discounted and £125 non discount.
PRACTICAL COURSES
All local courses take place on the school boat, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 419 12 metre built less than 6 years ago and the type of boat you may aspire to when going out on your own adventures. For full information on what to expect from an RYA Course with Northumbria Sailing you are recommended to click
From Alan following a 5 day course; ‘Food was really good btw which I wasn’t expecting![space_20]
Where Do I Sleep?
On Pure Gallus you will have the opportunity to select your berth and pay accordingly. Singles go in the saloon or an aft cabin with doubles in the forecabin which has private ensuite facilities. Doubling up in the forecabin provides the cheapest deal.
PRACTICAL CREWING My version of RYA Competent Crew. Three days, 0930-1700hrs onboard for up to four ideally, sometimes five, and you will be up to the Comp Crew standard. No experience necessary and no need to stay onboard overnight. This was very popular in 2022 and here we see Lorna, Mel, Sean, Emma & Jo, one being pregnant too. Cost £350, weekday only. The RYA Sailing Skills – Level 1 is incorporated into this Course and this RYA certificate will be issued with the logbook marked accordingly.
This popular Course is now available stayover where you will spend two nights onboard away from Royal Quays and included will be the RYA Start Yachting certificate. There is a maximum availability of four persons onboard plus the instructor, and the prices vary according to the berth; Aft cabin; £495 for one person alone. Saloon; with limited stowage, £395. Forecabin with ensuite; £375 each for two sharing or £650 alone, when available. September 19 – 21st (Saloon only left)
DAY TRIPS. ‘Taster’ days run throughout the season with the aim of having a pleasant day out on the water. You can see whether yachting is for you at modest cost. Trips operate out of Royal Quays 0930 – 1700hrs. Cost £75 weekday & £95 weekend. Next availability; October 7th (Saturday, but only one place left) 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. No experience needed. Cost, according to berth, from £650 (cabin sharing, £695 alone). Or see Practical Crewing above. Next availability; September 25 – 29th (FULL) & October 2nd – 6th ‘You were a pleasure to have as a guest, instructor and examiner. Your wisdom, advice and encouragement was much appreciated’ – Rachel
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. 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.
It is important that you are ready to take this important Course and, for minimum standards, check out on the web page Day Skipper Pre-Quirements. These standards and experience are expected at the time of booking. Cost, according to berth, from £695 (cabin sharing, £750 alone). Ask for more details if you possess the pre-quirements linked above. ‘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 START YACHTING A two day course for beginners which can be the ‘start’ of greater things. You live onboard for two days and visit another marina, away from Royal Quays. This is a Weekday Course for which a minimum booking of two is needed (singles also welcome). Cost from £275 sharing & from £295 single. Next availability; October 13+14th.
INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE (ICC) This can be done on the same course as Day Skipper/Competent Crew. In 2023 there will be a new ICC Course, shorter and cheaper than the full 5 day Day Skipper Practical. Some countries will not accept RYA Day Skipper Practical certificate and request the ICC; ‘To sail a yacht bareboat in Greece the Greek authorities require the skipper to be over 18 and have a sailing licence issued by a statutory authority. Currently the ICC (International Certificate of Competence) for sail is most widely accepted, an RYA Coastal Skipper practical certificate or higher (new certificate version to include photo ID’. Cost £495. Alternatively I can test you on your own boat at much cheaper cost. Individual quotations are given for this which will be from £275 for one day, own boat ICC Guidance
Pieces of Eight
The Educational Section
Hartlepool Entrance Channel
Enter into Hartlepool and you must face the tricky approach channel which will dry 0.6m at Chart Datum. The directional light on the office tower is difficult to spot and shown here is this channel at low water. 😏
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Northumbria Sailing on Video
Alan Robson produced this video of his sailing experience during his five days and gaining his International Certificate of Competence. Day Skipper.mov – Google Drive
Have a look at my Theory Training Centre with this video. Training
Onboard the Hallberg Rassy training yacht, now replaced by a Sun Odyssey 419, 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 £120 plus £70 for the RYA. Also available One to One at £190 and online at £95 to include manual. Assessment £70 extra. Next sessions; September 11th and October 19th Try these links. RYA Online VHF Radio and RYA Online VHF video
The RYA require you to book your face to face assessment at the time of enrolling on a Course. Beware of anyone offering this Course without this. RYA 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 £130, plus 10.50 to RYA. Next session; October 17th provisionally ‘Thank you very much for yesterday’s course’ – Stephen
CEVNI test for the Inland waterways endorsement to your ICC. Done online, cost £35
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 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 £130 plus £11 for the RYA Pack. Maximum 6 persons. Next session; October 18th provisionally. 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 £30 (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 £8 Pack. Next Session; October 5th First Aid Certificates
Two Sailing School Principals (One in waters a lot warmer)
Jonathan Colwell paid a visit on his return from Croatia where he’s principal of an RYA Sailing School in warm waters. Jonathan was one of my very first victims and went through most of my courses and now is able to sail in the sun. Yacht Sail Training so if your preference is the Med give him a try
Tall Ships at Hartlepool
Justin, Paul, Rachel & Ehmke accompanied me to the Tall Ships visit at Hartlepool in July. I was impressed by the number of Tall Ships represented and open to inspection and the welcome started at the lock where we were given a good berth. Rachel wears her seafarer’s hat and it was a great time complete with entertainment.
No Mal de Mer with Rachel
Rachel Dollery demonstrated her apparent immunity to seasickness during our return trip from the Hartlepool Tall Ships to Royal Quays. A south westerly Force 6 put the sail on a broad reach with boisterous conditions. Rachel remained down below despite my encouragement to come on the helm would would lessen the risk for normal mortals. No, she made sandwiches, unwilling to come on deck where four men were conscious of their own stomachs. Eventually retiring and sleeping in the forecabin whilst underway. Later I asked Rachel ‘have you ever been seasick?’, and the reply was ‘no’! Valuable crew indeed😊 (Jonah Steve Austin, read below, also has this irritating ability)[space_20]
Victims (All) at Sea
John Williams reports; ‘Just come back from a rather brutal Fastnet race. At least we finished in good order which is more than happened last time when we lost the mast and had to ditch the rig north of the Scillies.
For a feel of the washing machine conditions at the Needles, search on YouTube for ‘Fastnet 23 Hurst’. Average windspeed 30 kts+, wind against tide, raining and standing waves. One of the toughest races even with a solid 48′ boat and a dry suit!
There were 86 retirements in the first 12 hours and a lot more than that before the end. One boat sank, 3 lost their rigs and a lot of crew injuries. And we do this for fun?’ (shown here with his son, checking out his inheritance!)
Jo & Adrian of Dawn Sky; ‘We took off on the boat in early June with a plan to go north. We have taken our time so we can explore places and worked our way up the east coast and round some of the Moray Firth. Braved the Pentland Firth and we are currently in Stromness where we have just seen out a storm. Off to Westray tomorrow for a few days.
Will start working our way back then, hopefully stopping at different places to those visited on the way up. (shown here entering tricky Whitehills) Hopefully we will be back around end July’. (now back – Ed)
Craig Berry writes; ‘Just a quick note to say thank you for all of your help over the last 12 months. Nick and I had an incredible first charter with the family. It was a challenge but went off without a hitch. We can’t wait to return next year.’
Nick Berry, brother to Craig, also reports from the Ionian islands; ‘We’ve had a wonderful week and we’ve made it back in one piece, unscathed! The first couple of days were challenging with high winds and getting to grips with the boat but we all improved as the week went on which was very satisfying! We’re already talking about when we can do it again so that must be a good sign. Thanks for your time and help introducing us to sailing.’ (Nick must be conscious of 
brother Craig’s ‘poster boy’ image from earlier this year)
Andy reports; ‘I thought you might like an update from the Ionian. It’s a been a very hot week of over 35C and the wind a little less predictable but a couple of good days with constant 20kn for a few hours late afternoon. We managed to get the Bavaria 40 up to 8kn to windward. The time with you was very well spent. Although hand hauling 50m of chain when a windlass broke was not something I remember covering! PS – The windlass just had a clutch and no manual winch so what I couldn’t pull by hand. With my son I put a prussik loop on the chain and ran a line back to the cockpit main winch and winched it in!’
Justin Hoskins continues; ‘Day one of our passage took us north west from Whitehaven up to East Tarbet Bay, a sheltered and isolated anchorage in Luce Bay just east of the Mull of Galloway. Leaving Whitehaven at the first HW on 9 August meant that we arrived by mid-afternoon, having motored through light airs for most of this leg. Anchoring was straightforward and we enjoyed good shelter, affording us plenty of opportunity for a good meal and a decent night of sleep.
Day two necessitated slipping anchor shortly after 6am in order to get to the tip of the Mull of Galloway at HW when the tidal streams are at their most benign. The day did not start well!!
To start with, our anchor chain kept jumping out of the teeth on the electric windlass and slipping back into the water, a problem that was eventually solved by slowly bringing it up a meter at a time with one foot pressed firmly to the top of the chain and the helmsman keeping the boat in constant reverse at low revs. The second issue that we faced was that the newly installed chart plotter (with our Navionics route pre-installed) and electronic compass that had worked perfectly well the day before would not switch on. Fortunately, we had an iPad with the same route pre-installed and also some good old fashioned analogue paper charts as well, all of which was great but did not provide us with the real-time depth information that would have been so reassuring to have. The third challenge (which compounded the aforementioned problem with the electronics) was that visibility was very poor.
It was therefore with some trepidation that we set off round the Mull, our strategy being to follow the planned in-shore route but to head further out into the North Channel if the conditions we experienced did not seem conducive to a safe passage. That first hour going round the Mull certainly kept us all vigilant, and for a time we were concerned that the then prevailing wind direction and our close proximity to land might put us at risk of becoming too easily stranded on a lee shore should our engine fail. As a precaution, we therefore adjusted our course to move a little further out from land but as we rounded the Mull and started to head north visibility improved, a steady south easterly wind of 10-15 knots set in and we were able to get the sails up and make exceptionally good time (sometimes hitting nearly 9 knots boat speed) as we sailed up past Port Patrick and towards the entrance to Loch Ryan, no doubt helped by favourable tidal streams. Nothing was said on the boat about our experience earlier in the day but I suspect that Peter and Shaun shared my relief and increasing sense of excitement as we headed up the beautiful Scottish coastline. By the time we had got past Loch Ryan, visibility had greatly improved and we had a thoroughly enjoyable run round to Troon (our final destination for the day), comfortably arriving during daylight hours thus making the entrance into the marina a relatively straightforward affair.
Troon proved to be a useful stopping place for getting an engineer to fix our electronics and was also a convenient hop-off point for Shaun who needed to get back home to meet his wife for their planned wedding anniversary meal that evening.
Sailing with just Peter on day three was pleasant with favourable winds all the way. The biggest challenge of the day was deciding when and how much to reef in, especially as we took the course between Great and Little Cumbrae where the wind at times was gusting to around 25 knots (I think Peter liked the ease with which we were able to reef with my in-mast furling main). It was only when we passed Inverkip that we took our sails down, prepared our lines and fenders and started looking for the marked channel that would eventually lead us to James Watt Dock Marina, our final destination.
Reflecting on my experience, I am so glad that I spent the time I did on developing the passage plan. OK, it took me a long time but the planning paid off and hopefully with more time and experience I’ll get quicker at these things. Oh and I’m pleased that I had paper charts and almanacs on board too – electronics are great….. when they work!! And finally, thank you Melvyn, Peter and Shaun for a great experience.’
Own Boat Tuition & Courses
What happens when there are two Day Skippers onboard. Ask Jo & Adrian of Dawn Sky how they manage with one tiller between them. 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 course and a daily rate for an instructor would be quoted.
This is why I’m in the Sailing Business
Jason
Jason Christie has come all the way from novice to, deservedly, Day Skipper; ‘A year ago, I stepped onto a sailboat for the very first time with the intent to learn. A rather intimidating, relatively new, 42ft Jeanneau 419 named Pure Gallus.
This week I passed my RYA Day Skipper.
I was tested a lot. Everything from intentional groundings in the Tyne to man over board drills under sail due to ‘engine failure’ to retrieve our sacrificial fender ‘Wilson’, in the North Sea. Very intense, but totally worth it. Still learning’. It has been my privilege to take Jason through his Course starting with the Day taster Trip, then the 3 Day Practical Crewing, RYA Day Skipper Theory and, finally, his RYA Day Skipper Practical. Now Jason will set off on his own adventures and I hope to see him again, but not interfere with family life.
Sailing Today Podcasts
Try these Podcasts Sailing Today Podcasts.
Reader’s Links
A section featuring links of a maritime interest sent to me.
Donna gives a clear picture of how she felt as an ordinary person coming to her RYA Day Skipper Practical Course; Donna Sail
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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