Audacitor - Madeira - Canaries

From early delight to Oceanmaster - time does fly - only seems yesterday he was on Castletown beach enjoying the ripples of the tide! Gordon is off to Madeira to help take Audacitor to the Canaries. Phil has had to return. Gareth and Dickon are shorthanded. Skype is set up so no expensive 'roaming' - phoning.

A prayer I have found, for all on Audacitor, in one of David Adam's books, thought to be from the Hebrides ~

Round our skiff
be God's aboutness
Ere she try
the depsth of sea
Sea-shell frail
for all her stoutness
Unless Thou
her helmsman be

During our various adventures of life, whether on the water or dry land, our companion, refuge and guide remains the same - the 'Thou' the Almighty - occasionally recognised.

Self Skippering

While we are again being battered by the weather, Gordon and other yachtmaster tutees are out in Intuition of Boss in the Solent, a Westerly Fulmar. This time they are without a professional skipper and are in full charge of the vessel. Each on board will take the role of skipper to put hours on their logs.

Without much wind, they set out under engine power and waited for the wind to increase.

For Christmas, I've bought Gordon The Shell Channel Pilot and a number of charts for the region. I've sent down the two Solent charts for his use, but will hang onto the Pilot as it'll cost quite a bit to send. I must confess that I don't know that part of the south coast well. Using the Pilot, we can follow the journey. Last night was spent up the Medina River at the Folly Inn. Here, three pints were accompanied by whitebait, scampi, mash and peas. They tottered back on board along the legendary long narrow gangplank!

With Gordon at the helm, they slipped at 7.30 this morning and continued into the Solent. Later picking up a buoy in Portsmouth to clear up breakfast and change skipper. Much of today is about practising pilotage, and there's still not much wind.

http://www.pub-explorer.com/hampshire/pub/follywhippingham.htm
Picture from Westerly Owners Association site is of a Fulmar 32.

First Encounter

I have been asked by the son at sea to record some of our nautical history.

One of my earliest sailing memories is of Acorn, here on the mud in Woolverstone. There was also a workboat called Pip, but I have yet to find any photos of her. Dad owned the boatyard and park at Woolverstone. As a tiny child Acorn seemed big, but she was dwarfed by all the barges on the river.

There was an old chap, who lived on one of the boats that was laid up in the yard, who was of great interest to little people. I think he gave us a drink and cake. Along with my sister and friends Dena, Dawn and Darrel we would visit him. Remarkably his companions were budgies!

Just found this ancient chart. I'll post some more images as I find them.

Just love the sea.
It is in the DNA.
One son doing his Yachtmaster, the second is crew on Fair Do's VII, a Far 46 racing yacht, which was in the British Team that won the Commodores' Cup last year, and the third is at IYRS Newport RI.

http://www.iwight.com/home/news/2008/june/commodores_cup/default.asp
http://www.fairdoscharters.co.uk/
http://www.iyrs.org/