I saw three ships… Posted on 1st December 1999 by Bruce Grant Fiona Mathieson In September 1998 my subscription copy of Sailing Today arrived in the post, what I didn’t know then was that it would change my life. The magazine contained an article about a company called Square Sails shipyard based in Charlestown, Cornwall who run a fleet of 3 wooden square rigged ships. I was […] Read the full article
We went for a sail down under Posted on 1st December 1999 by Bruce Grant Julie Elliott You can travel to the other end of the earth but it still looks like Scotland in the rain! This was the verdict on our first day sailing in the Whitsundays in Australia. We’d flown to Hamiliton Island from Sidney after 5 days of sightseeing, eating, drinking and me sneezing. I’d brought a […] Read the full article
“Lees a-helm” oops or is that “Helm’s a lee”? Posted on 1st December 1999 by Bruce Grant Omer Tuzel (a Turkish diplomat) After a long and tiring journey from Vienna I finally dumped my rucksack in the cockpit of Kiwi, a Moody 31, and joined my shipmates, Cath, Mick and Andrew. Last year I had taken the Competent Crew course with Largs Sailing School under the instruction of Quentin Mitchell, who had kindly invited […] Read the full article
The seven year itch Posted on 1st December 1999 by Bruce Grant Colin Davidson reports on his cruise in Border Reiver Wednesday 7th July 1999 – I am lying in bed, 6 a.m., in Hoorn in the Ijsselemeer. The sun is glinting on all shapes and sizes of houses around the harbour, heralding a beautiful day in prospect. I wonder why men bothered to leave this idyllic place to […] Read the full article
Tobago Race Week Posted on 1st December 1999 by Bruce Grant If ever you are sitting on a yacht, with your feet in the North Sea, a view of Ashington power station, and a dream of embarking on one of the several Caribbean Regattas then…go for the dream! Six of us from Northumberland (four are members of the RNYC and the remaining two of us seemed to […] Read the full article
Northumbrian Piper Posted on 1st December 1999 by Bruce Grant Dave Ward Over twenty years ago I converted a Northumberland Barn into a house. With the vagaries of interest rates during the eighties, the task nearly broke us, but we stuck it out, and brought up our kids in it. Later, we were able to afford some sailing, which along with my daughter’s pony club […] Read the full article
RYA Training aboard Aquarelle Posted on 1st December 1999 by Bruce Grant Don Gunton Our crew comprised one Coastal Skipper, three Day Skippers and one Competent Crew. Manoeuvers on Sunday morning in Rothesay Bay revealed that Aquarelle was fine going forward under engine but what as about as manoeuverable as a soap dish going astern. Under sail in light airs, however, the 20 year old Pele Peterson, […] Read the full article
A Jolly on the Clyde Posted on 1st December 1999 by Bruce Grant Alex Tweddle Saturday Largs Marina was left behind as Kookaburra a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 34 with 2 ladies and 4 gents aboard looked for adventure on the Clyde. When we got to Rothesay we found the pontoon berth a little on the tight side. Exit was decided on by our mentor’s (Colin Grant) previous knowledge […] Read the full article