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.

Audaciter - Blessing for Voyage

Gordon's yachtmaster companion Gareth has finally begun his ocean odyssey ~ Audaciter slipped her moorings early this morning.

Audaciter had been 'up the valley' in Mylor for the last week alongside 'Salmo Salar' the wooden prototype to my father's Moody 40 Delfin Salar . You can just see Salmo at the edge of the photo. It is curious how weavings of history seem to happen - this sailing history which is a strong part of our family DNA.

Audaciter's rudder was being renewed. The tradewind 39, also, has a new mast, rigging and sails after dismasting at the beginning of her trip last year. She has been delayed by 12 months.


But this has given us an opportunity to become acquainted with her and to get to know her new owners and crew - Gareth, Phil and Dicken.

While awaiting launching it was possible to pray blessings for her and her crew - for a safe voyage and pilgrimage. May the Lord bless them all ~

Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you
Deep peace of Christ
The light of the world to you
Deep peace of Christ to you.

We will be following her blog with interest.

Shorebased Yachtmaster

While we were being battered by the storms, while our sisters and brothers were being deluged and washed away in Cumbria, the Yachtmaster class were doing shorebased training.


Land based teaching, training and examining of the aspirant yachtmasters, takes place in the Hamble at the School.

A tour of Peel Harbour over the weekend confirmed the terrible sea conditions. All the fishing boats were safely moored in the harbour - out of harms way.

Those who are living through terrible times in Cumbria are in my prayers, so too are those who work on the sea:

Here's a Sailor's Psalm:

Others went out to sea in ships
and did their business on the great oceans.
They saw what the Lord could do,
the miracles he did in the deep oceans.
He spoke, and a storm came up,
which blew up high waves.
The ships were tossed as high as the sky
and fell low to the depths.
The storm was so bad that they lost their courage.
They stumbled and fell like people who were drunk
They did not know what to do.
In their misery they cried out to the Lord,
and he saved them from their troubles.
He stilled the storm
and calmed the waves.
Then were they glad because of the calm,
and God guided them to the harbour they wanted.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his love
and the miracles he does for people.
from Psalm 107

Life's journey will always be through storms, as well as calm. Sometimes we can avoid distressing storms, as the fishing boats have done throughout the last week here on the island. There will be times when the only thing to do is to hove to, metaphorically or literally, and face out the tossing of the storm, knowing that we're never without hope.

A Prayer ~
Rescue us, Lord
from the storms.
Still our fears,
calm our minds
and bring us
safely into harbour.
Amen

These charts, pictured, were my father's - in the bottom left hand corner is written:
Based upon British Admiralty Charts, with permission of the Controller of HM Stationery Office, and the Hydrographer of the Navy Apl. 1954 - 424. Corrected to 1955.

Morning Thoughts

I love the opening prayer in the morning office:

The night has passed and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind:
the silence used to gather thoughts and prayers together with all those in prayer
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you, now and for ever ...

A wonderful way to commit the day to the Almighty.

This morning my thoughts are again with those of Inspiration of Boss and all who go down to the sea in ships.

http://www.missiontoseafarers.org/
http://seattle-daily-photo.blogspot.com/2008/10/those-that-go-down-to-sea-in-ships.html

Yachtmaster in Progress

Another attempt has been made today to make a bolt for Alderney. Not sure of the timings, but this time Inspiration of Boss cleared the Needles, and was about 3 hours out. It was now blowing 8-9 and gusting 45 knots. In the conditions a decision to heave to was taken and at this point the grabrail on the coach roof was under water.

Rather than plough on when some were unwell in difficult conditions they returned to safety in Swanage, and tonight they are in Poole.

Swanage has a place in our family history. During the war my mother, Norma, went there with some of her family. While on the playing on the beach they saw a Luftwaffe plane coming towards them. They huddled under the sea wall, and Mum's brother Rodney, aged about 10, lent over the females to protect them. Later they returned to the haberdashers shop for more provisions, and found it had received a direct hit.

Yachtmaster update

Yesterday afternoon I blogged that our elderst son was on his way across the channel. Well here is an update of his progress. Last night they were heading the tide down the Solent, and weren't getting anywhere. Before reaching The Needles they received a severe gale force warning, so they ducked into Yartmouth for the night.

This morning and went to catch the tide out, and the weather warning is again for gales so turned around and and into Lymington, they are now waiting for the gale to blow through might make a bolt for Alderney. He is onboard Sigma 38 Inspration of Boss (British Offshore Sailing School): http://www.boss-sail.co.uk/

Currently he's drinking tea and eating Jamaica Ginger Cake!