July Newsletter
A Calamitous Start!
The Scottish Cruise had a significant incident whilst still on the home berth at Largs. The trolley complete with ship’s stores and skipper’s gear ended up in the marina waters! Here we are seeing the skipper, crew assisted, fishing out tins etc.
This necessitated a further visit to the supermarket the following morning, whilst the wind blew and blew.
But a Happy Ending
And the wind did indeed blow all week. Every day there was a high wind at some stage. I was pleased the experienced Don Gunton was in charge and knew where to find shelter. Indeed the victims could enjoy conditions they would not normally have set out in, if by themselves.
Culminating in tacking practice in a Force 7 after visiting most parts of the Clyde. Here we can see a very happy crew, with a happy ending after all.
Seahouses is Home
Not many have the privilege of keeping their yacht at Seahouses, in the ‘Fluke’. Pictured here is Duncan Irons safely berthed, temporarily, on the harbour wall, pending removal to a mooring in the ‘Fluke’, shown in the background.
I was employed to assist delivery from Royal Quays to Seahouses on the 27 foot Hunter ‘Woodlark’.
It was not without incident though, as we were hit by a F6 just beyond the pier ends. The boat veered windward, the visibility fell and the black clouds predominated. At one stage we were heading for Blyth for temporary respite and to pester RNYC members, but….. behind the black clouds we could now see clear weather and we pressed on. By this time we were managing to control the boat in gusts as well as identify strange noises from Duncan’s newly acquired boat. The large grinding noise proved to be the propeller shaft turning whilst the engine was turned off.
Seahouses beckoned and Duncan was on home ground, passing the red port hand buoy on the wrong side and myself checking the depth.
Boat Delivery
I am pleased to announce a Boat Delivery service is now available using a qualified and experienced Yachtmaster™. Ask for a quotation.
Passed Out – Twice!
2015 has been a year of inspections. First for the boat’s commercial certificate and my thanks to surveyor Fiona for ticking my boxes, despite asking to see my keel bolts (what else would a woman want to see from a guy my age 🙁 ) Secondly to John from the RYA for my annual inspection as a Recognised RYA Practical Training Centre. Now inspections are over and I can get down to business….
Now there are Four
My new Chief Instructor, Trevor, suggested we have an Instructor’s sail. This was quite new to me as there had only ever been two of us! Now that there are four which gives a lot more flexibility on timings and types of sail offered, although if and when victim selection of Instructor happens I might think again…. So I can offer profiles, but not a beauty contest:
Melvyn Wallhead, Yachtmaster & RYA Instructor. I started this business in 2010 partly to justify keeping our rather nice Hallberg Rassy yacht, never expecting it would grow to it’s 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. Newly appointed as my Chief Instructor he will ‘raise the bar’ for Northumbria Sailing instruction standards.
Don Gunton, Yachtmaster & RYA Instructor has extensive sailing experience primarily on the west coast of Scotland. Other trips have included a scary one to Norway with me onboard. Note ‘scary’ due to the weather. He would probably list sailing to St Kilda as one of his great achievements. Don has been instructing with Northumbria Sailing for a few years and can also do a useful turn in nautical slang due to his previous experience in the Merchant navy.
Malcolm Young, Yachtmaster helps keep our average age down and has come through the ranks with Northumbria Sailing. Malcolm has sailed in the west coast of Scotland, the Caribbean, Med, Norway as well as the North East. Sailing ambitions have to dovetail with running a company but he has already shown his capability of coping with the high winds we have experienced so far this season.
Yacht Orca Collision – One Death
Last year Orca, a Moody S31 yacht, same type as our previous boat, was sailing home towards Harwich, outside the deep water channel. The skipper identified a large dredger 1.6 miles away, which was not on a collision course, and took a toilet break down below. His wife stayed down below and no-one was on watch. The dredger took an unexpected turn out of the deep channel towards Orca, colliding resulting in the wife losing her life. The MAIB Report highlighted that neither vessels were maintaining a proper lookout in what was good visibility.
SPECIAL POINT OF INTEREST The dredger’s Watch Officer thought there was no need to consult his radar as the visibility was good. Orca was clearly visible on his radar had he looked. The Officer was unaware of a blind spot on his ship. Also highlighted was the closing speed and 1.6 miles was too close for a call of nature sacrificing a proper lookout. More information is available on the link Orca
Update on Courses;
THEORY COURSES
RYA OCEAN YACHTMASTER Explore the wonders of a sextant with Celestial Navigation and Ocean Passage Planning. This ‘top of the range’ RYA theory course can lead to the coveted ‘Ocean Yachtmaster’ ticket. I have four sextants, one new lightweight metal, one plastic & two old brass, for you to handle. I will try and arrange a practical session. Cost £450 or £725 on tailored tuition.
RYA COASTAL YACHTMASTER The advanced Course, a must for those proceeding to Yachtmaster level. Cost £395 for class & £595 tailored tuition. You need a good knowledge of this Course before being tested by the RYA Examiner. Autumn Class, evenings/Saturdays; September 30th, October 7, 14, 21st, November 4, 11, 18, 25th, December 2, 5, 9, 16 & 21st
FASTRACK RYA COASTAL YACHTMASTER A new opportunity for those already experienced who wish to by-pass the Day Skipper Course. Basically, It’s the Coastal Yachtmaster Course with some Prep beforehand. More of an individual Course this will probably be one2one, although could be done in class form. Not the cheapest option and not for the beginner, it does have the advantage of flexibility in content and timings. For one2one it would be £575 plus the cost of the Prep.
RYA DAY SKIPPER A popular starting point for many. Same Course for Sail or Power. Maximum 8 to a class and located in Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne. Included is a half day visit to the School boat. Cost £375. Autumn Class, evenings/Saturdays; September 28th, October 5, 12, 17, 19th November 2, 9, 14, 16, 23 & 30th (Already half full!)
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 bunk cushions you will be well set up to handle whatever may come your way. Courses are fully inclusive, except for a kitty contribution to drinks onshore.
PRACTICAL CREWING My version of RYA Competent Crew. Three days, 0930-1700hrs onboard for three persons. 3:1 private tuition and you will be up to the Comp Crew standard. No experience necessary. Cost £265
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 £50 weekday & £65 weekend (maximum 5 customers onboard). July 15th & 31st August
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 £550. 18th July London trip with extra days for same cost, September 20 – 25th 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 £575. September 20 – 25th
INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE (ICC) This can be done on the same course as Day Skipper/Competent Crew. Cost £525 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.
YACHTMASTER PREPARATION Following on from the successful session last June, where three new YM’s were delivered, there is to be a repeat format from 11th September. Three days preparation followed by examination by an RYA Examiner for two days. Cost £595 excluding exam fees (2015 rate for YM Coastal £181).
Mileage to & from London
A Mile Building or gentle sail south from North Shields with the aim of arriving in London a week later. You will be sailing on ‘Lian’, enjoying comfort with a grand finale up the Thames past Greenwich and booked to stay the night in St Katharine’s Dock.
The return will be more of a speedy delivery trip ideal for those seeking mileage in the shortest possible time. July 18 – 24th towards London, with the return trip commencing following changeover day on 24th. South going trip cost £550, and return £475. One place left for southbound & still space northbound
Northumbria Sailing on YouTube
Have a look at my Theory Training Centre with this video. Training
Onboard the Hallberg Rassy training yacht, by courtesy of Mark Batey and the kind co-operation of victims Andrew and Clive. See me giving berthing advice in trying to avoid the electric supply post Mark Batey Day Training
RYA Competent Crew in the sun, by courtesy of Mark again Mark Batey Competent Crew
In a clip from 2013 you see the appreciation of Ladies on an RYA sponsored day at Royal Quays Ladies Day
Pieces of Eight
Don’t Do Secondary Ports?
There’s an easy way. As shown here Whitby High Water is 5 hours after Dover. This is an average, so not as accurate as a properly calculated correction but a good, workable, result.
‘ML’ refers to Mean (Sea) Level, the average sea surface level, above chart datum, over a period of 18.6 years, showing 3.3 metres here at Whitby.
‘Duration’ indicates that Low Water Whitby occurs 6 hours and 5 minutes before the next High Water
Victims (all) at Sea
Andys, Daya, Nigel, Gerard et al on Carmen Maria trying out their new found Day Skipper skills. Newly acquired VHF abilities may also be tested too…….
David & Alison Morgan, sail their spotless Vancouver 34 Classic Ramora along our Northumberland coast.
Frazer Venters has taken his new boat Coquet Connection over to Dunstaffnage, north of Oban, for the racing season. Record time was made and record amounts of beer were drunk enroute I hear.
Eddie Redshaw his taking his yacht through the Forth & Clyde canal, mast down of course!. He can be followed on Facebook
Duncan Irons, has bought a 27 foot Legend Woodlark to operate out of Seahouses and is featured above.
Mike & Karen Hartley, have purchased a Sigma 362 SigiMae berthed at Royal Quays and will be taking the autumn Day Skipper theory course to improve their skills
Jane & Ian Ainsworth continue their trip on the eastern waters of the USA. You can follow their blog here Tales of the American Waterways
Remember the two Russians, Konstantin and Alexander?, Following their Course here in rough weather, they set off for Croatia and this year plan to sail the Ionian Islands. You can watch a Russian video of an unfriendly North Sea North Sea
Specialist Courses include;
RYA VHF Still available in class 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. Next session; July 2nd. Cost £110 plus £60 to RYA Also available One to One at £160 and online at £85 to include manual. Assessment £60 extra. Try these links. RYA Online VHF Radio and RYA Online VHF video
RYA RADAR Are you safe using your set? Can you properly identify a collision situation? If you have radar you are required to know how to use it properly and could be held responsible if an incident was to occur. Day or two evening courses. Cost £120, plus £9.50 to RYA.
CEVNI test for the Inland waterways endorsement to your ICC. Done online, cost £25
RYA Essential Navigation Online. Do this starter course on your own laptop. A good introduction to the theory part of sailing, with yacht or power boat. Cost £95 plus £27 to the RYA
RYA FIRST AID. All day for the RYA certificate, valid three years. Be prepared for all day activity with lots of practical work. Cost £85, £100 with Cat C drug endorsement.
Defibrillator
Defibrillator points are settting up in several public places and you should have been on an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) Course to know how to use one safely. My First Aid Instructor can do this and it would last for half a day and include CPR. Cost £60. Apply for further details.
Highest Tide Possible?
On 1st September at 0535 BST the Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) is predicted at North Shields, followed by an almost lowest (LAT) at a more social hour of 1215 BST. Go out and have a look. September 29th has a similar range at 0430 BST for HAT and 1109 BST for almost LAT.
Aviva Community Fund
CALVERT TRUST, Kielder have just been awarded second prize worth up to £10,000 for their Freedom on the Lake project to increase their sailing fleet. They brought in 6,595 online votes many of which were from yourselves Freedom on the Lake
For Sale
CONTESSA 32 A very popular yacht with beautiful lines now lying at Royal Quays and seeking a new owner. £26,950 Contessa 32
For more information try my web page or mail me
Sail Safely the RYA Way 🙂