New start for 2020 – Liberty Yachts Sea School

2020 has certainly been a year of plenty of ups and plenty of downs. But one of the ups has definitely been my new partnership with Liberty Yachts in Plymouth. With me as Chief Instructor and Simon Beeby (Liberty Yachts) as Principal we have set up Liberty Yachts Sea School as an RYA Recognised Training Centre. We are concentrating on quality, bespoke training. 3 : 1 instructor student ratios and a cabin for everyone! Watch this space for pictures of our training boat Vents Secundis!! I’ll be delivering  the vast majority of RYA courses myself in 2021.

First students of 2020

 

 

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Back online! Moonshadow goes in search of sun…

Ready to document some activities earlier this year as my website needs  updating….It’s a bit old fashioned this retrospective ‘news’, but I like there to a lasting record of these sailing ventures, or as many would call them, misadventures..This is the start of Moonshadows’ delivery to Southern Spain for regular client Guy. This is Moonshadow being delivered to the crane for a complete re-rig courtesy of Yacht Delivery UK and Allspars. Electrics separated ready for the rig to come down. More on that later and the whole passage in a bit…..

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Tsuru delivered from Torquay to Swanwick Marina

Sunrise off St Albans Head – that’s a grey boat patrolling the 6 mile ‘limit’ off Lulworth Gunnery Range

Tsuru alongside at Swanwick Marina

It’s always nice to get a call from Tom at Sea Ventures. I’ve done a few deliveries over the years for him and he’s always great to deal with. ‘Torquay to Swanwick in a Sunfast 32 asap” was the request. No problem. Looks like a weather window next week. Thinking about crew I got a 100% yes from my first call, Graham Elkins! A completely solid chap and always a joy to sail with. So far, so good.

As Graham and I  left Torquay Marina in Tsuru at 2200 on 12th February 2019 we had a dream of a forecast! Beam reaching all the way to the Needles in 12-15 knots of breeze from the South/South-West. Slight to moderate sea conditions. Too good to be true? As we arrived at the Needles fairway buoy at 1200 on Wednesday we needn’t have been so sceptical! Sometimes things do go to plan…

Tsuru was a lovely boat to sail in these conditions; responsive and with a surprisingly easy motion. Our only drama was collecting some fishing kit lying adrift  5 miles off Portland Bill. It managed to get itself around the keel at 0300 in the morning (hey it was dark!). Heaving too and backing off the offending item freed it thankfully as it popped up on our port side. The line found its way into a bin on the IOW but the float has since had a promotion to fender (the rather bright orangey one in the picture above!).

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Catching up with old friends and meeting some new ones

Plymouth Sound with my old pal Steve and his friends Jo and Kev (on helm). Not much wind, but a great weekend telling old yarns and fibbing….The photo is looking back towards the anchorage at Cawsand for any non Plymouth types.

 

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Amazing book – Florence Arthaud

Currently reading about this amazing lady – despite countless set backs in her life (she had ups too..) Florence never gave up. She would have been a fascinating person to meet.

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Braid on braid splice

Using time off the water this week refreshing my ageing grey cells and their ability to splice. After a few false starts (doh!) the end result is sweet.

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Yacht Sail Training – Croatia!

Working with Jon Colwell  to help set up a new RYA training venture. Watch this space! The picture is from the Riva in Split city centre.

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Hamble River with Boss (British Offshore Sailing School)

A cold, but beautiful morning on the River Hamble. Yachtmaster Preparation this week for British Offshore Sailing School based at Hamble Point. Peter and Nikki run a great training establishment here with a lot of customers on the courses returning for the second or third time  –  always a positive sign!

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Just beyond Pandora Inn….

Having a well earned wander after tying alongside the Pandora Inn’s new pontoon. We get to stay FOC as long as we buy a beer. How very reasonable. Let’s see how Juan’s bilge keel Cobra likes drying out! A nicer crew I’ve yet to find, keen to learn and always upbeat…

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Checking a rig…

All sailors worth their salt should be comfortable with conducting their own rig check. Here I am checking a re-rig in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria prior to delivering the yacht via Madeira to Portugal and ultimately the UK. Just remember to only use climbing equipment that is in tip-top condition (preferably your own), use two halyards and thoroughly brief crew involved in the hoisting! Clear communication is vital.

Be methodical, nothing can should be rushed or hurried. Remember, this is going to be your best opportunity to cure any issues with the rig. Once you set sail the process becomes a lot, lot harder. Check all junction points and replace any split pins that are looked deformed or corroded. If you are interrupted at any point be particularly careful to start again exactly where you left off! If you have a sneaking suspicion you’ve not go back and double check. You’ll sleep better in your bunk believe me…

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