After reading all of your stories, I thought I would share my summer lockdown with you all. Because, well you have no choice but to read it!
Since there was no sailing available and all my holidays were cancelled I decided to buy the most beautiful and pinkest paddle-board you ever did see. Saturdays became days at Druridge bay or coquet yacht club. Our cadets were shown how to sail by Phil. Although he did seem to move them from the Topper on to paddle boards after 10 minutes so he could have the boat to himself.
I also joined the ladies from TSC and SSSC for a stupidly early sunrise Paddle board. It took 2 weeks for my feet to warm up! Note to self…buy wet boots!
I also learned that if you go camping, a single skin tent will almost certainly blow away and is best kept under someone’s awning for protection from the elements! As you can see it’s also very pink.
Also I had to add in a picture of Royal. Poor dog was gutted she couldn’t join our funday. (You wouldn’t believe the struggle behind this adorable photo)
So that was my lockdown. I hope you enjoy the stories in the lockdown newsletter take 2….I have added some extras I hope you find interesting.
It’s a joke!
I ran a little Facebook competition for best joke and it was judged by the dental nurses I work with and the loudest laugh was for Joanne Sime’s love life joke. We’ve all been there, don’t worry. (Bad love lives I mean for those of you with gutter minds.)
You all impressed me with your clean sense of humour so I thought this could be a regular thing. Let me know your jokes, bad first date stories, embarrassing moments. I might post some…might just silently judge…lets find out!
The Big Event
Sunday 1st November
Mass start 12.00hrs huge huge start line
Race or cruise the course
Sail or Motor no one cares
Limited edition labelled cans of Stella up for grabs (prizes)
Categories;
- Best cake baked whilst afloat
- Best dressed boat crew or boat
- Quickest and slowest boat
- Happiest dog on board
- Youngest and oldest crew on board
- On route entertainment (quiz ,knot challenge etc)
- Most fouled up boat and anything else we can think of you will need the makings of a baking for the cake thingy
- You will need 2-3 m rope and a broom handle or boat hook for the knot thingy
- You may well need to steal a dog for the dog thingy.
Help me Aunty Lynne!
Dear Aunty Lynne
I’m totally confused,
I hear the term spurlash used quite often,I have been through my yacht manual and my nautical library but nowhere can I find the term, please help me out.
Dear totally confused
I understand your predicament and it has taken me a bit of research to discover what it is.
It is the noise your anchor makes when it hits the water when anchoring.
You may also be aware of another nautical term ‘bollicks’ when you realise you cannot retrieve the anchor.
I hope you are now disconfused.
Dear Aunty Lynne
Everyone is keeping their distance from me these days and not letting me share their table at the Club, please can you help.
Lonely Ken
Dear Lonely Ken
It’s most likely your bad breath and patter but there is a chance it’s pandemic related.
Aunty Lynne
Got a problem? Give me a shout….again…keep it clean people, keep it clean!
Also, if you have any gossip let me know. Not necessary to publish…Just because I’m nosy!
Right folks, here we go. Hope you all have a cuppa or some sort of alcoholic beverage in hand.
Its taken 68 years to get her full name on. “Well you can’t rush these jobs can you”
Ken Murray
An old dog relearns some old tricks and learns some new ones.
Yachtmaster Theory 2019 -20
Simon Martin
I joined RNYC in 1979 (possibly as an Introductory Member the previous year) and sailed on a variety of yachts, but mostly Vernon Charles’ Sootica.
Winter of 1979- 80 the younger members of Sootica’s crew formed a large contingent of that year’s Day Skipper Theory course (yes we passed). The logical step would have been for me to do the Yachtmaster Theory the following year but my University course in Architecture and student activities got in the way.
I dropped out of my degree course in 1981 and after some non starts started working at the Theatre Royal on the technical side in 1983, retiring in 2018 after 35 years. In that time I would have been working evenings and most weekends, so couldn’t regularly sail or commit to an evening course. I did get some sailing in (Island Cruising Club cruises, the occasional day sail from Blyth and the Coastal Skipper Practical Course on the Solent)
With my then partner I bought Gay Caroline, a 1949 Laurent Giles Vertue in 1995: not a very auspicious first season, but if plied with drink might tell the tale in the bar (for those who don’t know it) or in print later!
Still working evenings and part of most weekends never able to cruise the North East coast, but day sails and an annual cruise:
1996 Blyth to the South Coast as far as Weymouth, my birthplace and where I began sailing, to show the family, but mostly for the Vertue Diamond Jubilee in the Solent; Lymington (Giles’ design office) Cowes, Yarmouth, Portsmouth and Newtown River among ports visited.
1997 Blyth to Bergen, up the Norwegian coast to Trondheim, that year’s main Tall Ships venue, and return to Blyth via Lerwick, Kirkwall and the Scottish East coast.
1998 Blyth to Ijmuiden, Amsterdam, the Isselmeer, Den Helder and return to Blyth.
All the above with Day Skipper Theory and Coastal Skipper Practical, 30 years of varied experience and reading about sailing and voyages. Electronics: Streamline GPS about £350 (a week’s wages) Navtex, Tillerpilot and Log and Depth.
This and the delivery trip I crewed on a 35ft catamaran for Cascais (Portugal) to Plymouth in the 2000’s, are all deemed by the RYA as time expired.
A lot happened in 1999 and Gay Caroline was eventually sold in 2001. From the mid 2000’s until early in the 2010’s I attempted to sail a Hobie 16 at South Shields Sailing Club.
For some time I’d also sailed on and off with Andy Miller: Moonshadow? but definitely the 2 Contessas; Thumper a 28 and Nemis, a 32.
So, in 2019 RNYC was offering the Yachtmaster Theory Course and I decided it was about time I should refresh my knowledge and hopefully upgrade it, to be a more useful potential crew member for cruises. The idea, before Covid 19 happened, was to join the Cruising Association’s Crew service (assuming I passed). Sally Hodgson suggested I join the Sailing and Cruising for Scotland Facebook group, and that has a Crewfinder subgroup that I would have used.
After that sailing autobiography, back to the Yachtmaster Theory Course.
One similarity was that Quentin Mitchell, one of the Instructors on my Day Skipper Course, was still teaching some elements of the Yachtmaster Course. The much missed other Instructors on the earlier course, especially Bruce Grant, the then Principal, can be proud that their legacy is ably continued by the current team under Mike Bradburn.
With the RYA training courses now being used worldwide the major difference is the practice charts. No longer desensitised charts of the South Coast and harbours, recognisable to a West Country boy like me, but a concoction of imaginary coasts and harbours. Quentin did point out that some of the harbours were based on Solent ports, Chichester and Portsmouth particularly.
The overall format of the Yachtmaster Course I think has changed; there is no longer a separate Meteorology exam (never my strongpoint) so I was very relieved.
The only bit of Meteorology, or sources of weather forecasts, that I was surprised not more highly regarded, was Navtex, which I found very useful during our Norway cruise.
I was quite pleased that my chartwork knowledge seemed not to have been completely forgotten and was coming back and being covered in greater depth, even though my aged brain was occasionally taxed!
I did have to do a partial resit of the Chartwork exam: Mike did give me one or two more questions than I’d expected, but it was a true test and not a sympathy pass!
The major test was the Passage Planning exam. There was a 2 hour preparation exercise in the week before the exam to have all the information necessary during it. We were told the intended voyage start and destination ports and date and approximate departure time. There was a tidal gate, or more accurately a recommended safe window to round a headland midway on the passage. The actual questions asked in the paper were much easier to answer the more fully prepared you were.
The final hurdle was the ColRegs exam. 80% or more to pass, and the one area where the candidates had to do it for themselves. The instructors could talk about ColRegs, but learning it was down to the individual. It was the one thing I think we all dreaded!
Congratulations to the class of 2020: Alan Atkinson, Alan Richardson, Chris Lawrence, David Theobald, Diane Carr, Laura McGinty, Mat Hill, Paul King, Peter Holwell and me!
Also a massive thank you to the instructor team: Mike Bradburn (Principal) Mike Bradley, Paul Common, Quentin Mitchell and Tony Whittingham. I haven’t forgotten John Williams, Jonathan Wallis, Liz King and Ray McGinty. I think this was their first year as Shorebased Instructors, but if they hadn’t told us we would never have known!
Some words from Doug Sharp
I was joined by Susan and Dianne for a few days , Susan of RNYC and Clipper World race.
The forecast wasn’t for a lot of wind but good weather maybe. Nothing is ever certain in Scotland .
Susan is on hold due to the virus thingy , awaiting to go back to the Clipper round world race. Brave Lady ! Or crazy ?
We slipped Linnhe Marine at 1700 , very little wind , motoring.
We ate strawberries and arrived at Oban Marina , isle of Kerrera. 1925.
We walked to the lean to farm shop , got a few extra supplies.
We were berthed next to RNYC yacht Lindisfarne. We chatted. We also spotted yacht Sequela , Andrew and Guthrie Scott , who I’ve known for some years now. We later went aboard and shared a dram and more. A lovely evening.
Tuesday 11th August.
We slipped Kerrera 0915. Dull with rain. Heading Lochaline. Thankfully it soon brightened up. Full sail , for a while , wind freshened from the north. Not for long though and after a surprise jibe in the sound of Mull , wind did a 180 !
Susan helmed us in to Lochaline and anchor was down by 1210. The sun also shone !
We had a lovely lunch , went ashore and walked to old boat house.
12th August. Wednesday.
Anchor up 0527 , yes ! And early start. It was almost light. Out into the sound , motor sailing , NW 2-3. Dull. Breeze was good for a while then eased. We passed Tobermory and headed for the Atlantic. There was a good breeze there , NW 3-4 , we had a good sail over to Coll. Bright skies now ! 1120 , the anchor was down in Arinagour , Coll. Good to be back once more. I love this wee island. Twas a wee hazy over the island.
After lunch we went ashore , had a look about then drinks in the warm and sunny hotel garden.
Beautiful ! We then had dinner in the restaurant , masked staff. Food was very good.
Drinks to follow in Honour Bound’s cockpit. A big otter swam close by and showed us its teeth !
Sleep was welcome.
Thursday 13th August.
Arinagour , Coll. Anchor up 0543 , a wee later today !
A lovely morning. Good breeze. NE 3-4.
We were heading for Eraid , close to the south corner of Mull.
Good sailing , 8+ knots at times. Friendly tide.
0715 , off The Dutchman’s cap , we went in close for a look. Susan on helm.
The wind eased , motor on 0905. Dianne on helm. The sun was warm. We left Iona to port , I’d never been through the channel and decided today wasn’t the day. We saw a couple of Dolphins close by. We were in David Balfour bay by just after 1100 , two attempts to anchor as there was an Irish boat in the best spot.
It was now hot and sunny ! Yes , Hot !!
Dinghy launched and ashore. The girls were sunbathing, followed by a swim. I climbed a nearby hill to find a phone signal for a weather forecast and to tell folks we were alive.
I thought of a swim , however , the water was just too cool for delicate me. It was a most beautiful afternoon. A few more boats arrived and folks went to the beach , there are two here.
1910 , I spotted a friendly face on the beach and went ashore. A dancing pal , Gill , she now lives on the island in the wee Findhorn community. She had a bottle of Jura ! And crisps. She shared. We had a great catch up.
Midge about later. We slept very well.
Friday 14th August.
Once again , an early start. Still midge about !Anchor up 0528. Out of the bay , followed the marks to the east. A most beautiful morning. We were treated to a fantastic sun rise ! Sadly no wind. Motoring. The girls took turns to nap below. A good number of Porpoise were spotted, some with young. Then dolphins . Then Minke whales , single and in numbers , they were all about for quite a while. Never too close though.
Gannets , razor bills , Puffin and more.
It was very warm. The girls sat on the upturned dinghy on deck and watched the beautiful world go by. Lots of wildlife. So warm in the hot sun !
Eggs bacon and fried bread for breakfast.
We motored 43 miles back to the pontoon at Linnhe marine. Arrived back around 1430.
A short but very memorable voyage.
Dianne and Susan quickly departed as Susan had a riding event to get to. ( I believe She won her class ).
That evening I walked to the Old Inn with Dougal and Tom from yacht Shard. Sadly we could get alcohol only , we couldn’t persuade the staff to part with any food.
Addict 11 and RNYC – Mustang 30
Charles Stirling
Tony Freeth’s recent request for his “bar chat” newsletter reminded me of an evening’s club handicap racing that I enjoyed off Cowes last summer. Among the assorted yachts on the start line there was Addict 11 – now renamed “Haggis”, but same sail number and indeed same Storrar supplied the mainsail! I was on the Island for a weeks intensive trumpet training and, being a hunting man, to help judge the IOW Foxhound puppies with hardened, bowler hatted and still bearded Island sailor Anthony Blest who was just back from solo delivery trio to Gib. An old family friend had invited me to join their crew and we met up on the West Cowes pontoons, where a week later so many famous sailors would be embarking for the Cowes Week races. “Haggis” performed well in fairly light airs, and with a good crew!, my friends were pleased with their result too.
The surprise of seeing the little yacht brought back memories of when with Ray Cook at the helm her dark blue hull was a winning legend on the NE coast, I also thought of his charming Father Brian, always a source of good advice and very often wearing his smart brown velvet squadron waistcoat.
I rather think that Addict’s, as I will revert to calling her, handicap had been adjusted to reflect her many successes and that may have been why, on Rob Storrar’s advice, I got the chance to buy her?
We had many adventures, and with a loyal crew consisting of Isabel, Dave – the retired RAF musician from Alnmouth, and – sometimes if he thought that there was a chance of beating “Shotgun”, the evergreen Bill Etherington. Andrew Cooper, then a media student at Uni, is nowa professional yacht skipper in the Med having found his calling in life skillfully rescuing a dropped genny off Sunderland after a botched sail change on Addict 11. The best day’s racing we had was when it blew at the RNYC 2007 Regatta and Sports boat events were cancelled. Ray and his experienced crew offered to join us, and crikey we won the Regatta! I still remember the excitement, and being amused when one of the competitors had a bit of sail trouble in gale – at which our helmsman sardonically commented – “it couldn’t happen to a nicer person”!
The next year we took Addict up to the Firth of Forth regatta, and after a good time up there racing backwards and forwards on that historic stretch of water near the famous bridge, we had a memorable trip back to Blyth. With Isabel’s accountancy skills she calculated the tides and timings precisely, and with what seemed like a constant broad reach and one reef in for most of the passage, we were past the Bass Rock, round St Abbs Head and through the Farne Islands channel to be back at Blyth just as it was getting dark in about 9 or 10 hours – even Dave Morgan, who had been racing up there too, looked a bit surprised at such a swift passage home.
All these thoughts came back to me – including wondering if my car keys were still in the bilge when I was the grand little mini yacht back in the harbour where she was originally laid down and I have no doubt she will give her new owners much pleasure and sport. Nick and Katie Spurr sold her for me through their brokerage to owners in Poole Harbour just across from the Solent from Cowes, where I gather she enjoyed several seasons racing before being sold even further south to the Isle of Wight.
Here we have the long awaited Soling saga…part 3
Recap 3 of us Ken, Roger and yours truly had decided to do the 50th Anniversary Soling national championships at Rutland water, so far we had got as far as Northampton when the 4 wheeled trailer we were towing Running Bear on, a soling, had caught fire. Lack of lubrication Lack of maintenance but par for Soling trailing as you can read about in Soling Trailing monthly a magazine of mishaps near accidents and utter folly, rife in the Soling brigade, and never short of content.
At this point we are awaiting the arrival of the AA. As promised a lovely man from AA duly arrived and assessed the situation.’”Looks like the bearings have gone”, I’ll give him his due, he knew things mechanical. After some discussion and deliberation he said the best course of action would be a low loader trip back up north, not what we had wanted to hear. The problem was that the inner ring of the bearing races had literally welded themselves to the shaft and without mega tools such as pneumatic chisels and grinders there was no way we could replace them, especially on the side of the busy A1, end of. Whilst he was talking to Ken and Roger I had found an old junior hacksaw and was attacking the inner ring with some gusto, because of the space I could only use the first 4 or 5 teeth, however I did manage a small nick,”have you got a cold chisel” I asked “yes”says he and produces a lovely brand new Bahco 10 x 1” chrome steel chisel. With fear and trepidation I took a huge swing with a 2 ½ lb lump hammer at the chisel which was resting in the previously cut nick and whoaa it split the ring. It fell orf, This obviously piqued the AA man, he wasn’t going to be bested by an idiot who doesn’t grease his bearings. Again giving him his due he did a magnificent job removing what was left see the photo . We would have made a formula one pit team look like amateurs they way the task was attacked. Whilst this was going on and thanks to Google we located a bearing supplier not 3 miles distant so off we went with accurate measurements of the bearings .The reason we had an ‘accurate ‘measurement of the defunct bearings was that Roger had in his pocket a vernier gauge, still haven’t got to the bottom of why Roger would carry a precision metal measuring device in his pocket. Something he is not telling us,ce la vie each to their own hobby.
“What size do you need?”asks him behind the counter “1 and 11/16” says we in front of the counter,”you sure” says he behind the counter “can’t change them if you take ’em out of the packin” Its Friday afternoon and we have great difficulty getting back onto the A1,w eight of traffic. Eventually we get back to the trailer all prepared to receive the new greased bearings, mother of god and all that’s holy why can’t they standardise shafts. They won’t fit; we need 43mm. Why oh why does Roger have to have an imperial vernier when we need a metric one. Back to the supplier just as he’s closing “we’re closing”says he from the front door with keys in hand.Nice man starts to work overtime and fortunately he does have the required size, but its now even more difficult to get back onto the A1 even heavier weight of traffic but we do, we deliver the bearings. Lovely Mr AA, or Kevin as we now call him, who we have grown to admire and become firm friends with, fits them replaces the wheels and follows us to the next service station where we pull off and he gives them the once over.We thank the AA man, Kevin, profusely he’s welling up and see tears in his eyes, is that an emotional farewell look or is he crying at the fact that we have wrecked his professional set of automotive tools. All’s well with the world now ,though we are some 5 hours behind schedule, but on the up side I have had the trailer rebearinged for the cost of only them. We head off down to Rutland Water.Its been a long day and I fear it’s going to get longer.
HISTORY OF SHOTGUNS
In 1968 I drove past Peter Millers house (Jon Millers Dad) and parked up the drive was an Enterprise sailing dinghy.
Big expensive mistake, went sailing with him and I was hooked. He introduced me to someone selling a 17’ 6” Silhouette and a Scorpion racing dinghy, that was it I got the racing bug so joined Tees sailing Club.
1969 Raced with some success but in 1970 saw advertised Oliver Lees 19ft Hunter at Burnham on Crouch, liked it so ordered one. This was to become Shotgun.
This was the start of more serious racing so joined Hartlepool Yacht Club for better cruiser competition. Shotgun won most of the races she competed in.
1971 and flushed with success went back to Burnham on Crouch and subsequently became the owner of a Hunter 701, Shotgun 2. This boat was also successful winning NECRA Class 2, Hartlepool Points series and Northern Daily Mail race to Sunderland.
1972 – 73 – 74 – 75 Living in Devon.
1976 Bought Jack De Ridders Extension and proceeded to fit her out myself, she became Shotgun 3.
Not sure of dates but again won NECRA Class 2 and races in Hartlepool Yacht Club. On Shotgun 3 we won possibly my favourite race, the Queens Jubilee. It was a tough race and the crew consisted of Jim Ashton, Peter Miller, Jon Miller and Owen Kelly who unfortunately was killed in a motorbike accident several months later. Kept Shotgun 3 for a number of years just racing now and again.
1988 An interesting yacht came on the market which was to become Shotgun 4. This J29 was in Pembroke Dock, Wales and was called Firanjo. Think it had won its class in Cork Week, once again I was hooked.
Easily won the first three races but then disaster. We had hit something under the water ripping off the keel, the end of Shotgun 4, a fishing boat that picked three of us out of the water, gave us a computer printout showing seven metres of water with sand on the bottom. Crew that day was Jim Ashton, Robert Ashton, Dave Arnold, Mark Burgess and Jon Miller who nearly got caught under the mainsail when she capsized.
!989 – 1995 Did not race Shotgun 3 just pratted about – lost interest.
1995 Once again Peter Miller, supposed to be my friend, informed me that David Fletcher at Burnley had purchased the J29 moulds. Thanks Peter, I could not resist getting in touch with David, price agreed and the hull of Shotgun 4 duly delivered and fitted out.
When lifted in this yacht was grossly overweight and we refused to race it. After legal matters sorted all the gear was taken off , new hull supplied to my specification (foam sandwich)
!996 Shotgun 6, in my opinion, was one of the best racing yachts on the coast, winning East Coast Sailing Week and many club races at Hartlepool.
1997 One of my best decisions was to join Royal Northumberland Yacht Club. Won some races but could not race all of them. Raced Bass Rock Race, if any of my crew read this, I am saying nothing.
This went from ridiculous conditions surfing down rather large waves with full sail up to drifting down the coast. I suppose most skippers have been told to F*** Off when certain crew members are not keen at the skippers request to change sails (think that was me – Jon)
I believe we were the first yacht under 30ft to finish the race in less than 24hrs. 23.05hrs
1999 My last season (big mistake) was a fun packed season and we won 5 out of a possible 6 Class 1 trophies. Also crewing was Carolyn, opposite the greyhounds, Dougherty. You will have to ask her about that. Think we got to know the boat that season.
2000 Transported Shotgun to Windermere, Jon Miller warned me and I should have listened as she was not happy there for two years.
Dave Morgan bought her, pleased she went to a good home, and continued to race successfully on the North East Coat.
2018 Almost a full circle from Peter Miller starting it all to Jon & Moira Miller with Ray Cook with me and Dave in between, this lovely yacht’s life must have been mapped out and I am sure each owner has and will thoroughly enjoy sailing her.
When I meet Peter Miller in my next life I shall present him with a vast bill at today’s prices but he will probably say never mind that have a look at this new boat and it will be here we go again.
Jim Ashton
Notices
‘Working on boats
Just a reminder.
If you are going to grind anything ferrous on or near your boat please be mindful of those around you. The swarf/filings can travel a long way especially if the wind blows. If they are hot at worst they melt into gel coats and pit the surface. At best they settle onto the gel-coat and start to rust leaving unsightly marks.
It doesn’t take much to skirt off the area and save a lot of future hassle.’
Notice to marine users of an upcoming deployment of a Seawatch LiDAR buoy in close proximity to the Blyth met mast.
Deployment is planned for October 14 onwards, weather and vessel permitting and should require less than one day on site. The buoy will then remain deployed for approximately 1 month before being recovered to shore.
