In this Issue...Commodore’s Report 2Sailing News 3-4Cadet News 5Wednesday Dinghy Series 6Reverse Polarity and OYT South 7Caradon Gig Club 8-9Albatross - Nauticat 33 10-12New Members Corner 12Losing Mistral 13-15Events & Opening Times 16Contact Details 16

Welcome to the second new look Newsletter, I hope you enjoy it. Please send your feedback, articles, photos and any other contributions to enquiries@saltashsailingclub.co.uk by 15th August for the September-December 2016 edition.

A huge thank you for all your positive feedback and to the contributors in this issue, I appreciate it greatly.

Designed, edited and published byTeresa Spear on behalf of SSC.

A multi-faceted, vibrant, thriving Sailing Club situated on the Cornish banks of the beautiful River Tamar, just south of the Tamar Bridge and the historic Brunel Railway Bridge

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Photo of the month Chris Jackson and his Ballad, Sixpence

Chris Jackson’s Ballad, Sixpence, is no stranger to the Jester Challenge, but this year, instead of joining the fleet to the Azores he decided to undertake an alternative challenge in a shorter timescale: to sail singlehanded around Rockall and back, within a fortnight. He and Sixpence set off in company with Gus Davidson from

JUNE – AUGUST 2016

Saltash Sailing ClubSUMMER NEWSLETTER

TRSC in Foxy Lady, a 29’ Van de Stadt Cape One Design. Both boats met with extreme weather conditions off south-west Ireland. Foxy Lady had to put in to Baltimore with a broken gooseneck: Chris hove to for six hours further out before deciding reluctantly to turn for home. Both are now safely back in the Tamar. (more photos on page 2)

c o m m o d o r e ’ s r e p o r tThe production of a second newsletter only a couple of months after the first says a great deal about the energy and enthusiasm of our Editor, Teresa, and also about the active nature of our Club.

Our sailors have been busy with sessions out on the water on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Friday evenings as well as the four Saturdays in April, as you will see from the reports in this edition. Students from Saltash.net take the afternoon shift on Wednesdays before handing over to the dinghy cruisers.

Caradon, who train nearly every day, are now World Pilot Gig Champions, successfully fielding more than a dozen teams in the Isles of Scilly.

And then there are the individuals, almost too many to mention: Richard and Jane Kingsnorth are cruising the sunny Algarve in Zwailer, and Simon Baker and the crew of Hissy Fit came 3rd in class, with Bruce Sutherland in Bare Necessities in 5th place, in the Armen race in Brittany. Trevor Bardwell-Jones and his merry band are fending off rain or midges (or both?) in Inky Paper somewhere off Scotland, while Chris

Jackson has been halfway to Rockall and back singlehanded in his Ballad, Sixpence, see front cover and photos below.

Another Ballad, Shara of York, took a rather more sedate journey up the Tamar to Pentillie, carrying a bride, Victoria Noakes, to her wedding in the sunshine.

Cadets have raced to Forder and back, and the Middleton family’s new boat, an Elan 333 called Goody Two Shoes, has been spotted trying their sails out in the river.

The cruisers are going to Guernsey for May Bank Holiday, while the Topper Travellers are coming to Saltash. There is the race to Fowey and back, and the Town Regatta to look forward to for rowers and dinghy sailors alike in mid-June. Crews are planning to enter the South West Three Peaks Race and the Round The Island Race.

Back home, the West Yard is now being opened up at the south end to make available more space for summer storage of tenders, and extra tables and chairs have arrived to extend the seating area inside the clubhouse for hungry diners after sailing. This may prove very useful for the ‘Garden Party’ tea in honour of the Queen’s Birthday, should the weather dare to rain on us that day.

Wishing everyone a happy summer, afloat and ashore,Nina (fending off midges…)

s A I L I N G N e W sA GREAT START To ThE SEASoNIt seems only yesterday that the boats were going back in the water, but we are already at the end of the first Thursday evening series.

The season got off to a great start with the Tamar Packaging Spring Series over the first four Saturdays in April. The weather gods were very kind to us and we had near perfect sailing conditions for the whole series.

There was a good turnout with 26 yachts competing in the MOCRA, IRC, Cruiser and J24 classes. Whilst the sailing was good the atmosphere back at the Club was brilliant with live bands and sponsored beer all adding to the buzz. A big thank you to our sponsors, Tamar Packaging, Skinners and Stylus Engravers who helped make the event such a success. The overall results are on the next page.

There has also been a good turnout for the Thursday evening yacht racing with a resurgence of the cruiser fleet and the J24s enjoying very close racing.

At the end of the first series the overall scores in all classes were very close with

only 1.5 points separating the top 4 yachts in the IRC class and three J24s tied for third place. Overall honours were taken by Muskox (Neville Devonport), Private Life (Terry Curtis) and Jabberwocky (Brian Cann).

Tuesday evening dinghy racing is also flourishing with over 30 boats regularly competing. One of the draw backs of the popularity of the Club is that space is at a premium and we are running out of capacity. We are aiming to address this by

Spring Series photos kindly supplied by Glen Gorman @GlenG Photography

Continued on next page

s A I L I N G N e W sA GREAT START To ThE SEASoN

opening an access to the West Yard in the next few weeks which should relieve some of the pressure on the main yard. In the meantime, please bear with us and make sure you have been allocated a space before bringing your dinghy/tender down to the Club.

Looking ahead, there is a lot going on over the next couple of months… some dates for your diary:

Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 May SSC hosts the Topper Travellers Open meeting.

Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 June Fowey weekend – the first of the Ullman Sails Plymouth Race Series.

Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 June Town Regatta – Dinghy pursuit and Gig racing on Saturday and sail taster sessions on Sunday.

Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 July PPSA Dinghy Regatta – lets see if SSC can retain the team trophy.

Friday 15 – Sunday 17 July PPSA Yacht Regatta & SW IRC Championships with racing in Plymouth Sound.

Have fun and enjoy your sailing.Regards - Neil

TAMAR PACKAGING SPRING SERIES RESULTS

MOCRA 1st hissy Fit Simon Baker 2nd Apollo Nigel Passmore 3rd Bare Necessity Bruce Sutherland

IRC1st Elusive Neil Trathen 2nd Xtorsion8 Dave oliver 3rd Muskox Neville Devonport

nHC 1st Private Life Terry Curtis 2nd Joburg Phil hooper 3rd Smile heather Quinn

J24 1st Dogs Jorrocks Steve Wassell 2nd Cacoon Nick McDonald 3rd Jawbreaker Dave Cooper

Continued from previous page

A great start to the cadet sailing season with a number of new cadets who joined us in the winter taking their first steps into sailing in the Wayfarers, supported by instructors, and some even newer faces due to join over the coming few weeks.

We’ve had a wide range of conditions on the Friday evenings so far, with the Levels 1 and 2 brushing up on the five essentials, while the Intermediate and Advanced groups have been

roll tacking, rudderless sailing and occasionally capsizing uncontrollably.

In an early season trip, 20 cadets in 16 boats took part in the Forder Race, arriving to cheers at Forder Fete on a lovely day in mid May. Our thanks to the Forder Committee and residents, as well as parents and instructors who made the trip. Congratulations to Max Robins and Cameron McFarlane in the Pico and Jack Willerton in the Topper Class.

We have a particularly busy period coming up with the Topper Traveller, Town Regatta

c A d e t N e W sand the Cadet Exchange trip to France - all in the next couple of weeks, and, in the not too distant future, our long away trip to Weir Quay for their annual cadet BBQ.

CADET DIARY DATES3 JUne Skills2-5 JUne French Twinning Visit 10 JUne Rat Island Games11 JUne Town Regatta Pursuit Race17 JUne J24/Skills18-19 JUne PYS Topper Event24 JUne Weir Quay BBQ25 JUne Saturday Race Training Day29 JUne Cornwall Schools Regatta

1 JULY Games/Sail Away2-3 JULY PPSA Dinghy Regatta8 JULY Pasty and Coke9 JULY Tamar River SC Regatta14 JULY Ullman Sails Youth Race (Yachts)15 JULY J24/Skills22 JULY Skills/Sail Away29 JULY Skills

5 AUGUST Skills/Games12 AUGUST Skills19 AUGUST J24/Sail Away26 AUGUST Skills

2 SePTeMBeR Skills9 SePTeMBeR Skills10 SePTeMBeR Saturday Race Training Day16 SePTeMBeR Skills ‘Tick off’ Night17-18 SePTeMBeR PYS Topper Event23 SePTeMBeR Final Fling30 SePTeMBeR Boats away

More information available on www.saltashsailingclub.co.uk

Photos: Many thanks to Shauna Templeton, Matt Higman, Andrew Swann, David Riches and Mike Robins

WedNesdAy dINGhy sessIoNs2016 PROGRAMME UPDATE

All members are welcome to join in the activities, also new and prospective members are welcome. The key objective of these informal group activities is to enjoy sailing in the fantastic waters we have on our doorstep, develop skills at all levels and enjoy sailing in a relaxed and supportive group.

Unless otherwise stated briefing at 17.30 on the water by 18.00 prompt.

More information is available at at www.saltashsailingclub.co.ukor contact Geoff Evans on 01752 845867  in the evenings please.

WEDNESDAY DINGhY SESSIoNS DIARY DATES1 June Boat swap/Crew swap 17.308 June Under the Bridge to Devon 17.3015 June Drakes Island and the Hoe 17.3022 June River Lynher and Forder Creek 17.3029 June Mashfords, Cremyll and Royal William Yard 17.30

We met to sail for the first time on a sunny but cold Wednesday evening. 10 intrepid sailors set off into the unknown, in full thermal underwear to carry out Geoffs’ refresher.

There was only one capsize (Chris in the laser), everyone managed to get very cold toes but were thoroughly invigorated on this beautiful April evening.

The following week, luckily the weather had warmed up a bit and we set out in glorious sunshine to practise our mark rounding.

Grenville disappeared off to Torpoint following the breeze with several others being led astray, whilst Stuart, Caroline and Corinne stuck strictly to Geoffs mark rounding regime.

Another lovely evening on the water...Corinne

oceAN youth trust southOcean Youth Trust is looking for potential future volunteers, youth workers and potential sponsors.

This invitation is extended to anyone who wants to know more about the organisation, and how it functions.

In particular, we are looking to offer free day-sail berths to our future potential volunteer sea staff and individuals who work or volunteer with young people.

In addition we are keen to see any potential sponsors of course who are keen to make a difference helping youngsters from the vulnerable and disadvantaged to future potential young leaders. No experience is necessary. There are lots of opportunities to get involved, cruise extensively on large yachts around the UK coast, and help young people in some very positive ways

If this is something you might like to do

please email andy.mark.brown@gmail.com for more information and to book on to a day sail from Plymouth with John Laing the “UK Sail Training Vessel of the Year”.

The dates are either Saturday 30th July or Sunday 31st July 2016, 09:30-17:00. Should you be unable to get a berth,

reverse poLArIty, so WhAt?

current insufficient to trip the RCD on the shore tower. Similar to the mains indicating screwdrivers that glow when touched on a live cable. Thus when the neutral line becomes “hot” the neon will illuminate.

John Glover

I have heard some debate amongst club members concerning reverse polarity when connecting shore supply. Sure everything will work but some danger to a person could be present depending how the circuit protection is configured.

Let us first consider a supply protected by fuses or single pole circuit breakers. Usually the circuit protection will be on the positive (live) red or brown cable. However, in a reverse polarity situation this cable will carry the neutral line leaving the live cable connected to the blue or black cable thus still “hot” regardless of removal of the fuse or opening the circuit breaker.

Double poled circuit breakers will remove the possibility of accidental electrocution as both the live and neutral supply is disconnected on opening the breaker.

Providing we apply the double poled breakers do we need to be concerned?

If one is pedantic then we need to either have two shore supply cables, conventionally wired and another “left hand drive”configured.

The other alternative is to install an isolating transformer which will sort out reverse polarity internally and as a bonus isolates all the cables on the shore supply including the earth line which has the added benefit of blocking any stray earth currents we all are wary of destroying our underwater fittings. The cost both in cash and weight is a consideration as a 3.5kva (16amp) will cost about £350 and weighs in at some 30kgs.

The remaining question for those who are concerned with reverse polarity is how do we know we are wired “left hand drive”?

The simple fix is to connect a neon indicator between the incoming neutral (blue) cable and the incoming earth (green/yellow) this will conduct very little

please come and visit the boat in Plymouth Yacht Haven during her visit to the West Country.

Please contact Andy Brown for further details, alternatively you can email webmaster1@oytsouth.org and check out our Ocean Youth Trust South website at http://www.oytsouth.org

c A r A d o N c h A m p I o N sSaltash Ladies are World Champions!

Saltash-based Caradon Gig Club’s Ladies crew are World Champions for the first time in the Club’s history, after taking the top honours at the World Pilot Gig Championships held in the Isles of Scilly over the May bank holiday weekend.

Rowing their gig ‘Amazon’, the Ladies A crew of Kate Bourn, Bea Holman, Natalie Smith, Stacey Best, Naomi Philpot, Leanne Woodward and Steve Kent (cox), were unbeaten in all four races at the championships, eventually winning the final by three lengths from Flushing & Mylor in 2nd and St Mary’s in 3rd, to be crowned Ladies World Pilot Gig Champions 2016.

Leanne Woodward from the winning crew said ‘The feeling when you cross the line as winners is fantastic. We have put in a lot of hard work and training over the years, and to finally be able to say we are World Champions is a dream come true!’

Caradon Mens A also got on the podium finishing 3rd overall behind eventual winners Falmouth and 2nd placed Looe.

Caradon fielded a total of 5 ladies, 4 mens, 2 ladies veterans and 2 mens veterans crews at the championships. The Club also has an alliance with the H4H services team who fielded a mens vets crew and a mens crew, rowing their new gig H4H Valliant.

The first races on the water were the veterans races on Friday night. The Caradon Men’s Vets crew re-claimed their championship crown

from Roseland and the Ladies Vets finished an impressive 5th.

The main championship was contested over Saturday and Sunday, starting with the seeding races from St Agnes, which saw a record number of 151 gigs take to the start line. Following the seeding race, the group sprints took place on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, with the Champion-ship finals being held on Sunday afternoon.

Caradon Gig Club will be holding novice sessions every Wednesday evening at 6.00pm from Saltash Sailing Club from May to August, for anyone interested in having a go at gig rowing.

WorLd pILot GIG chAmpIoNshIps cArAdoN GIG cLub resuLts

Ladies A – World Champions Ladies B – 12th Ladies C – 29th Ladies D – 67th Ladies E – 104th Ladies Vets A – 5th Ladies Vets B – 19th

Mens A – 3rd Mens B – 8th Mens C – 20th Mens D – 78th Mens h4h – 100th Mens Vets A – World ChampionsMens Vets B – 15th Mens h4h Vets – 39th

c A r A d o N c h A m p I o N s

CARADOn GIG CLUB SALTASH LADIeS AAnD MenS VeTS A

ARe WORLD CHAMPIOnS 2016

ALbAtross - NAutIcAt 33ALBATROSS - our Nauticat 33 Mk. II and why it’s our ultimate cruising boat by Mike Barrett

We didn’t intend to change our beloved Voyager 30 “Sweet Temptation”. After 17 years she seemed everything we wanted and indeed we had just bought a lovely new mainsail for her. Trouble was, that upon retirement, instead of sailing every weekend, whatever the weather, we waited for the high pressures to reach Cornwall before we set off. During that first season, we hardly sailed at all! Then Holland happened. Our Brit friends, now working and living in Holland, invited us to join them for a week on their 15m, steel 100 year old “Iselark” barge on the Dutch canal system. The weather was atrocious and the rain came down in stair rods. “Never mind” said Dick, opening a beer and switching on the windshield wipers, “good job we’re in this wheelhouse”. He was right and despite the dismal weather, we had a great time, nipping outside from time to time to moor alongside a convenient hostelry.

We had to admit to ourselves that a “good thrash” to windward was less appealing as we got older and so began our quest for comfort. My idea of a motor boat was firmly quashed by the First Mate, insisting we maintain a rag and stick capable of being used and so a motor-sailer was to be the answer. After much research and considering the usual boats such as Fisher, Colvic etc. we homed in on the Nauticat 33. These boats were and are, built in Finland to Lloyd’s A1 standards and over 1,300 have been built. Based on a Baltic fishing boat, the original “33” had a long traditional keel of shallow draft, with a keel hung rudder and a high flared bow, it was always considered a good sturdy sea boat, but it’s sailing qualities were limited and I remember meeting an owner years ago who told me that passages really needed the engine as well as sails to make decent times.

These boats were only made to order as there were a range of options and layouts, but by the early 80’s, the manufacture, Siltala, offered a Mk. II versioned that really did sail well. The S/S bowsprit became standard, as did the full width raised aft/poop deck with outside steering and engine controls. The main difference however is out of site, below the waterline. The traditional wine-glass shaped keel, with encapsulated ballast is at 1.6m much deeper and it ends about 2ft in front of the propeller. The rudder is then hung on a skeg. Thus the kindly sea-keeping qualities are maintained, she is much stiffer and her lateral resistance increased. The large 3 bladed prop. running in clear water is most effective and this fin/skeg arrangement makes her highly manoeuvrable. The shape of the hull at the rear was redesigned to give more buoyancy and this eliminated any tendancy to “squat” under power. To finish it all off, the main mast was lengthened to give more sail area. (not sure about the mizzen) Actually the “33” was named in the days before the marketing people realised that the bigger the number you used, the more you could charge for the boat. Yes, she is 33ft from stem to stern, a big 33ft at that, but the bowsprit adds another 3ft. Siltala did make another version with a transom stern rather than the canoe one that we have, mainly for the American market and they called that the “36”.

Having decided what we wanted to buy and visited the UK agent at Hamble to view a couple,

we found it was impossible. In Europe they were just too expensive and way out of our budget. Today, the latest “331”, equipped, delivered to the UK with VAT is likely to cost the best part of £300,000. To cut a very long story very short, the US dollar was weak and a £1 bought two of them. European built boats are not that popular in the US and prices reflected it. We found “Albatross” in a hangar, close to the Canadian border when the temperature was way below zero and there was 5ft of ice on Lake Michigan. A deal was struck and after a survey, 3 days trucking to Baltimore, Ro-Ro ferry to Southampton and a truck to Plymouth Yacht Haven, she arrived in July 2005. Even paying the crippling VAT we still had sufficient funds to install the equipment necessary to make her a comfortable self-contained live-aboard. Strangely, for an American boat she had little equipment. No Eberspacher for instance. Anyway, over the next few months I beavered away installing all the goodies, to finish with the boat we have to-day. In budget? Well sort of!

So, that’s the history. Are we pleased? You bet we are!

ON DECKThere is a great feeling of security. The teak decks are complimented by a substantial teak rail around the gunwale at hand height and there are opening gates on either side, where the freeboard is not too high. The aft deck is up a couple of steps and the guard rails have an additional two strands of wire above the teak rail for additional security. This is a boat that has “scuppers” and the side decks are of adequate width with plenty of handholds. The aft deck has two inward facing seats with back rests and storage inside for Continued on next page

warps, gas etc. With the mizzen set, there is 6ft of headroom under the boom and there is the outside wheel, engine controls and compass. I have manufactured and installed a third forward facing seat/box which houses a small suitcase style 700watt generator which is very quiet. Unfortunately there is no home for the very large fenders and as I don’t like those “mortar launching” style of wire stowage baskets, they live over the stern. We don’t notice them, but it does offend my sense of tidiness. The fore-deck is quite large and we can stow our four man Avon Redcrest dinghy, fully inflated, upside down over the electric anchor winch.

The fully battened mainsail is raised from the base of the mast. The later “331” has the halyard taken back to the aft deck but I find that the sail sliders jam quite frequently, probably due to the battens, so I am content as things are. The sheet blocks are close to the base of the mizzen which is stepped on the aft end of the wheelhouse and are adjacent to the wheel and engine control. The mizzen is raised from the same location and sheeted from the aft guard rail. The outboard stows on it’s adjacent bracket so the mizzen sheet is used to lower the outboard onto the dinghy. Easy peasy. The large overlapping genoa furling gear is controlled from the aft deck, as are the sheets which run through turning blocks to self-tailing winches, again on the aft of the wheel house. For the American market, she was rigged as a cutter, so there is a small jib on an inner forestay which is self-tacking. Actually it’s so small, that unless it’s blowing old boots, it has little effect, but it does look nice! Our multi-coloured cruising chute is magnificent and it’s “snuffer” makes it so easy to use.

SAILINGWith 10 tonnes of boat to push along, she does like about 20kts of wind on the beam. Rounding Start Point for Dartmouth with a westerly is always a joy. The wind comes abeam, the waters are sheltered and 7 knots comes easily. On the wind is more problematic. She tacks

ALbAtross - NAutIcAt 33

through 100 degrees if you are lucky and makes quite a lot of lee-way. The distance between the two forestays is small, so when tacking, the genoa needs help through the slot. She carries her way well so I tend to put the helm over, furl the genny and let it out the other side. If truth be told, we do tend to motor into wind. As someone once said, “if you can motor at 8 knots into a gale, why sail ?”. There are reefing points on both the main and mizzen. Of course all the sail controls are on the aft deck, but if the weather is inclement, you can chose to set it all up and take over the wheel below. The steering is hydraulic, with 5 turns lock to lock in the wheel-house and 7 on the aft deck, so there is no feel and wheel movements are light. The rudder position indicator does show weather helm being applied and this increases with wind speed until you take a few turns in the genoa. The aft deck is, of course, a long way up from the water and if there is anything of a sea, it does roll a lot making harnesses essential. I suppose it must be the same for other boats that have accommodation under the cockpit.

MOTORINGPower is provided by a Ford Lehman (Sabre in the UK) giving 90 hp. The base engine is the Ford 2711 Dover tractor engine of a little over 4 litres. with 4 cylinders and pushrods. We choose to cruise at 1,600rpm which gives us 7 kts in calm conditions and with a clean bottom, using 1 gallon per hour. We lose no more than ½ knot over the season. Top revs. of 2,300, according to the manual, should give us 9kts. which is far in excess of the calculated speed possible. No, I can’t explain it either and I’ve never done it, but the fuel consumption would be horrific. Transmission is courtesy of Bourg-Warner’s “Velvet Drive” epicyclic gearbox. In practice it means that when you select forward, or reverse, there is no click or clunk as it engages. Very smooth. The engine is beneath the floor in the wheelhouse, encased in its’ own dismantleable sound proofed box. I would say it’s quite noisy, but acceptable, although I have nothing to compare it with and you can hardly hear it at all from the deck. Newer boats were fitted with the 70 hp Yanmar which revs much faster, but is probably quieter. Whilst we are here, there is

sufficient space to store both the Avon Redcrest and it’s outboard to starboard of the engine box.

Handling and manoeuvrability are superb from either the comfort of the wheelhouse, or even better up top. All “corners” of the boat can be seen from both steering positions and the engine/gearbox control is immediately to hand. Perhaps not quite as agile as a modern lightweight, but pretty good due to its fin/skeg arrangement, a good kick to starboard when astern and positive stopping power. At very low speed, when a lot of rudder may be required, it’s necessary to put a finger between the spokes and wind rapidly. It is reported that a bow thruster is highly desirable on the long/shallow keel version, but so far, touch wood, I haven’t needed one.

BELOW DECKSThe first thing to notice is that there are no exposed fibreglass surfaces to be seen. Everything is teak, with much of it solid, except for parts of the galley and heads which have laminate surfaces. The second is that the clever designer has used some spaces twice. For instance, the full size chart table, capable of taking a full size Admiralty chart and next to the wheel, is actually the ceiling of the saloon below. Also the foot of the double bed in the aft cabin goes underneath part of the wheelhouse seating. Thus the space achieves the same as, perhaps a much longer boat.

WHEELHOUSEThis is the Star! Entrance is via a sliding door on each side, down a couple of steps (boxed for storage). The wheel is central with the chart table in front. (later options included the wheel to starboard to allow a larger seating area to port) Standing at the wheel and with more than 6ft headroom, the engine control is immediately to your right hand, with the colour chart plotter, digital compass/auto-pilot/RPI and analogue log directly in front. All other displays are along the top of the windscreens, being, from left to right, VHF, radar, instrument cluster (engine rpm, water temp, oil pressure, tx pressure, fuel contents, voltmeter) Navtex, digital log/depth, wind instruments, and water tank contents. Thus everything necessary for safe pilotage is to hand. Brilliant! Moreover, if your legs are getting a little weary, the Captain’s chair is but two paces away to the starboard and aft in the wheel house. Auto-pilot selection is a mere push of a button and from the “chair” there is a good all round view of your surroundings whilst being able to monitor the instruments. Luxury indeed

The wheelhouse is also the main living area. On the port side there is an “L” shaped settee around a pedestal table sitting three. A pull out surface under the port door slides out from under the port door allowing for an additional cushion to extend the seating. With 13 windows (wipers on the front 3) in the greenhouse, sorry wheelhouse, there’s plenty of light, even not including the large teak sliding sunshine roof. Because we are delicate creatures, I installed a 4.5 kW Eberspacher heater, whose first outlet is in the wheelhouse before reaching our cabin. The control for which is close to our bed, so even if it’s freezing outside, it only takes an hour to warm the boat to a toasty 20 degrees before you get up and no-one says you can’t keep it on whilst you are on the move! We chose to carpet the boat throughout, rather than accept the varnished wood and have at last found a system that keeps the carpet in place when

we heel. I have also installed LED lighting. It can be bought in self-adhesive strips by the meter and you can choose a lovely soft yellow light, very akin to tungsten bulbs. With pelmets for the curtains, I have been able to recess them to give us indirect lighting which is strong enough to read by.

OWNERS SUITEThe Owners Suite as it is euphemistically called by the builders, is down a couple of boxed steps, (access to stern tube greaser) aft of the wheel house. There is a comfortable double bed to port and several storage lockers across the stern. To starboard there is a full height locker. Actually, it’s really a shower “room” with a shower hose and slatted seat, but we use it exclusively as a hanging wardrobe and a useful store for bits and pieces too large to go elsewhere. eg. our cold box and wheeled shopping trolley. The door can also act as the door to that cabin for privacy should you need it. Aft of that is a “dressing table” whose lid hinges up to reveal a porcelain wash basin. All particularly appreciated by the 1st Mate.

SALOON/GALLEYForward of the wheelhouse and down a couple of steps, again boxed, is the saloon to port and galley to starboard. Headroom is reduced to 5’10”, unless you’re standing next to the steps to do the drying up where, at 6’ I can stand upright. I don’t really find this a problem. The saloon is “U” shaped and will sit six around the pedestal table which can be lowered to make a double berth. A sliding curtain can be rigged for privacy.

A recessed cocktail cabinet and bookshelves are standard and I have installed a domestic sound system whose speakers are in the wheelhouse and can be controlled by the remote. A 300W inverter drives this and we can blast “Mustang Sally” as loud as you like! The galley has plenty of working space and a double sink. Aft is a large chest fridge, which does make ice, we rarely fight about the ratio of food to booze. With the demise of the original cooker, I fitted a new Dometic which boasts 3 rings, grill and oven. Originally the boat’s hot water was provided by a calorifier, but we found that even 30 minutes at idle, the water was only luke warm. Out it went and we now have a gas fired water heater to give instant hot water whenever we need it. It’s fitted to the main bulkhead and vents up through the coach roof. Experts say you shouldn’t fit it, but we lived with a similar system in our last boat for 17 years with no problems. We bought it from a Norfolk Broads chandlery where they don’t appear to be so squeamish.

HEADSForward again to the heads on the port side. I must admit that they could not be described as spacious, but I’m a big guy and don’t have any problem. There’s a porcelain sink and Lavac loo that can be discharged into a holding tank. I installed a shower head/hose which works well. Like the aft cabin, the door can also be used as the door to the forward cabin. Opposite the heads is a large locker, with hanging space for guests.

FORWARD CABINConventionally, there are the usual “V” berths up forward, with an in-fill if required. With the door closed, there is no room to stand with the in-fill in

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o N t h e f u N N y s I d ehoW To RACE A YAChT· Call seven friends Friday night, have them all meet you at your house at 0700 tomorrow, sharp.

· Have your friends clean your house, and haul everything from the basement to the roof garden.

· After the house is clean, everyone wraps themselves from head to toe in plastic.

· All eight of you cram together in the bath. Point a large fan at the bath and turn the shower on cold.

· While yelling and swearing at your friends at the top of your voice, tear up £20 notes.

· Do this for six hours.

· At the end of the six hours, everyone gets out of the bath and walks around the house, dripping wet.

· Have all your friends clean your house again and take the stuff from the roof garden back to the basement, then take them all out for a drink.

· Invite them to come back next weekend and do it again.

CALLING ALL NEW MEMBERS A very warm welcome to all

our new members.Please send a photo of you

and/or your boat with a few words about

yourself, to help the existing members get to

know you better.

enquiries@saltashsailingclub.co.uk

N e W m e m b e r s c o r N e rGLEN GoRMANI’m a retired fire officer with a limited amount of sailing experience, this year having sailed a Bavaria 34, 120ft Bristol Pilot Ketch, Bowman 57, Jeanneau Sun Oddessy 37. I have my day skipper and VHF ticket, and at the moment I’m working through the coastal skipper theory. Other than sailing I’m a keen photographer and have a small picture framing business based in Liskeard. Although I don’t have my own boat at the moment I’m very keen to be able to crew for anyone who is short-handed and to be able to build my experience and get more involved with the club - please contact: glen.gorman@btinternet.com

place, but guests seem to work it out for them-selves and in practice, the loo is given priority for the door. Plenty of storage on both sides.

UTILITIESFor completeness, we carry 600 litres of diesel (900 miles) and 500 litres of water. There are 6 batteries. Two for starting and four 110ah service batteries. These are charged by either the engine’s 90 amp alternator through a Sterling smart regulator, shore power or our 700w generator through two Sterling smart 20amp. battery chargers. Perhaps it’s not sur-prising then, that when fully loaded, I reckon we weigh in at somewhere between 10 and 11 tonnes.

CONCLUSIONSIn “Albatross” we have a cruising boat that is as comfortable as we can make her for 4 or

Continued from previous pageeven 6 crew and that we can live aboard for long periods, independent of the land. Siltala have produced a fine boat which performs well under sail and motor and is particularly seaworthy. Perhaps it’s a pity that her crew aren’t quite so rugged !

Two final notesA few years ago we went to a party where most of the guests were motorboaters. One lady told me that their boat had a small mizzen steadying sail. I asked if they used it often. “Oh no” she replied, “you would have to go out for that”! I now know what she meant. Coming up for a recent birthday, Frankie asked me if I would like a pair of Dubarry sea boots. “No”, I said, “Do they make slippers”?

Mike BarrettProud owner of Albatross

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the hail and his cut head. All good.

The boat was a mess, broken jib, battens, gear everywhere and water inside (quite a lot of it). But we cleaned up and waited for three days while the storm passed. Making use of a strong pound and low beer and wine prices.

We left on the Friday and sailed out the same way as before, we were heading for Finisterre or Muros. We passed several banks of rocks that lie about 3m beneath the surface, they rise from 55m below sea level causing a turbulent and confused sea.

Edward then noticed that the boat was taking on water. I went below to find it was kneedeep, this was a bit of a shock. Before tackling the problem I filled the grab bag with electronic stuff, passports, wallets, chocolate, our gear and chucked it in the cockpit. I keep bungs and a hammer handy so began to feel around for each sea cock, the water was murky - I could not see them as your mind would picture. I could not feel any water pressure from the three I checked - but investigating the others meant lying down and that was impossible as the water had risen to waist deep - it was worrying at this point. Edd had been on the bilge pump the whole time, but cleverly it routes out of the boat with the aft cockpit drains so each pump was filling the cockpit!

I came up and took the wheel, the boat felt like a dead weight - she would only just answer the helm. I decided to heave too. The water in the cockpit was beginning to equalise with that below. Edd went forward to drop the jib. When he stood on the bow it began to submarine.

The boat was now stationary, the waves caused the boat to heel. While Edd stood there, a wave slapped our side and flooded

Three years ago I bought a 1977 Dehler Optima 92 in Cap D’Agde, France for about £6000. No stranger to refitting boats I set about the fundamentals, rebuilding the old Volvo, re-rigging and putting some basic sails and navigation equipment on her.

Sailing with my young family, Emilio then four, Alex two, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain for two 10 week Summers. We left her in Ceuta and then again wintering in Galicia following long summer holidays. She was a good solid boat.

In the winter I drove 1013 miles each way to make sure she was shiphape for her final holiday and trip home to Saltash. I took antifoul, a new anchor and plenty of other gear. I spent days faring the keel and rudder and fitting a new Harken track and laying iroko deck in the cockpit, all done in horrible gale force winds and cold, the guys in the boatyard were happy to see the crazy English guy who obviously loved sailing so much.

In late April, Edd (my adventurous, but non-sailing brother) and I went out to sail her back from Villa Nova de Arousa to France and then on to the UK. It was very rough when we arrived. We put some new kit on board and waited a couple of days to let the storm die down, for many days it remained a F9 with big Atlantic seas. We waited and eventually left in a F6, but it built to F7, we were sailing close hauled, the boat pointed and stood up very well. But, as we neared the open sea the waves were violent, going upwind added a lot to the apparent wind and it felt much more like F8. Waves were coming right over the boat. The pressure from some meant that I was harnessed to the wheel pedestal. I steered to avoid slamming but some waves were like an atomic bomb. The

waves had breaking tops with the boat leaping through the breaks. Edd had gone below to sort out a mess of books and gear that had come loose. On one big slam he fell and cut his head so badly that he had blood in his eyes. It was bright weather and pretty sailing but the force of the sea was massive - I laughed uncontrollably as each wave got bigger.

We turned back. However Edd had managed to snap the ignition key off in the barrel earlier :) nice! I was shouting a bit. We had 2 reefs in the main and a number 3 blade jib up. We were surfing at 11 knots on some waves. There was a lightning black sky and hailing so hard that it hurt. As we neared harbour in close quarters with rocks and the returning fishing fleet, we remembered the ignition. I always keep useful tools to hand and Edd under direction managed to remove the Volvo panel/cover and hot-wire it while moaning about

LosING mIstrAL Continued from previous page

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door opened and instantly a man came down on the wire in full diving/rescue gear. He gave hand signals and I climbed in to the water he pulled me to the sling and told me to keep my arms down. He did a motion with his finger and up we went. I couldn’t look up or down but I did see the boat up ended and going down (see photo below). At the door of the chopper I was worried about falling back out. They asked me to lie down while they winched Edd up. Fearful stuff. They flew us back to Vigo. My life jacket was inflated and Xavi the rescue diver popped it by stabbing a knife in it. They took photos and slapped us on the back introduced themselves and also the pilots, they told us we did a text book evacuation. They then said the boat is gone.

They flew us back made us coffee, and let us have a shower. We were given clothes (I have kept the pink knickers they gave me! They are perverted!). A ‘fast boat’ had been on the scene and had taken our Liferaft to Porto Del Son in Ria Muros.

the cockpit (we were now very low in the water) two more waves came and equalising the water levels inside and out. She was now well down by the bow so I called Edd back quickly. I went below and tried the radio to call ‘mayday’ but it was dead. I had to stand on the galley she was so deeply submerged! I switched on the Epirb and then called ‘mayday’ from the waterproof handheld. There was no response.

We dropped the main and launched the liferaft over the stern rail. It popped and Edd and I both thought ‘shit’ then it slowly unfolded. Wonderful! I had bought a liferaft - a Viking 4 man on eBay for £200 and met the seller in the Bury services to collect it, I then serviced it myself. I unrolled it on the lawn and checked the weight of the gas cylinder, replaced the flares and re-grazed the firing pin. Hence our trepidation - it made a popping sound before inflating! I can wholeheartedly reccommend Viking life rafts! Superb quality. We donated it to the air crew who will now use it for rescue training because of its high quality.

Edd climbed in and held the raft steady while I handed him gear. We did not want a man overboard as well so we were extremely cautious. I climbed in and cut the rope. We drifted away. The boat was going down now. The life raft swung around so I couldn’t see, which was a good thing.

We got a call on the VHF confirming the mayday and asking how we were. I told them about the Epirb, they said they already knew and had relayed the shore. I said we were fine and comfortable and not to send a helicopter as I felt in the circumstances a boat or fishing boat would do (I also don’t like heights). The UK Coastguard had contacted my family and asked if they thought the Epirb activation was intentional. Nadine had told them that I have sailed for all my life and that if it had gone off I was in danger and to respond as fast as possible.

Within 10 minutes we heard a helicopter. It arrived at very high speed did an arc and stopped dead in a position adjacent to us. The

LosING mIstrAL Continued from previous page

Rubén the winch guy drove us there at about 100 miles an hour in his chipped Audi A8 truck, demonstrating what a V8 turbocharged 360BHP vehicle can do. He is a great guy and took us for food in a cafe in his home town, a fishing town where he rescues fishermen from the jaws of death for a living. They love him. He is a genuine local hero. All the locals met us and took photos of ‘Los Ingles’ with Rubén. We had the best seafood Galicia can offer, and beer too, but he would not let us pay. They are awesome guys with the best job in the world and they do it so well!

The men who had been working in the marina over winter were so concerned at news reports of ‘Los Ingles’ and yacht Mistral that they emailed Villa Nova De Arousa to see how we were. One has even offered the use of his 7.5m yacht anytime I would like to come back to Galicia. Telling me to just call the club and arrange it!

We will never really know what happened. The Chopper crew are sure we clipped the Basanos Reef where two fishermen lost their lives last year. But I would know if I ‘clipped’ a reef! Others have suggested latent damage from the rough conditions days earlier, and some seacocks. Who knows... But as the chopper guys said...Next time!…

There will be a next time, however I am taking a breather from sailing for the moment and Edd is sticking with snowboarding.

Tristan Harwood

Saltash Sailing Clubwww.saltashsailingclub.co.uk

Telephone: 01752 845988 Email: enquiries@saltashsailingclub.co.ukSaltash Sailing Club, Tamar Street, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 4EL

WhAt’s oN

Photo of the Month Race Results Diary Dates Contributions from the Members and more...Deadline for contributions 14 August for the September-December 2016 Issue

I N t h e N e X t I s s u e

s u m m e r b A r o p e N I N G t I m e s Monday: Closed Open Bank Holiday Monday: 12.00-18.00Tuesday: 16.00-19.00*Wednesday: 12.00-20.00*Thursday: 15.00-22.30Friday and Saturday: 12.00-22.30Sunday: 12.00-20.00**Closing time will depend on demand

Sunday Lunch: 12.15-15.00Tuesday: 18.30-2100*Thursday: 18.30-2100*Friday: 18.30-2100**Dependent on demand

Classes include IRC, Handicap Cruisers, Falmouth Sunbeams and Multihulls. Pimms bar and lots of prizes! Open to all.

In association with:

Download the entry form at www.myloryachtclub.org.uk or email Mylor Yacht Club at savillsregatta@myloryachtclub.org.uk

Savills Regatta

2016Mylor Yacht ClubMonday 13 June

Classes include IRC, Handicap Cruisers, Falmouth Sunbeams and Multihulls. Pimms bar and lots of prizes! Open to all.

In association with:

Download the entry form at www.myloryachtclub.org.uk or email Mylor Yacht Club at savillsregatta@myloryachtclub.org.uk

Savills Regatta

2016Mylor Yacht ClubMonday 13 June

Classes include IRC, Handicap Cruisers, Falmouth Sunbeams and Multihulls. Pimms bar and lots of prizes! Open to all.

In association with:

Download the entry form at www.myloryachtclub.org.uk or email Mylor Yacht Club at savillsregatta@myloryachtclub.org.uk

Savills Regatta

2016Mylor Yacht ClubMonday 13 June

The well established Savills Regatta is drawing more and more competitors each year, and for 2016 we are expecting over 40 boats.

Pete Goss MBE, Honorary Doctor at Plymouth University will be attending in two capacities – as leader of one team from Falmouth and as presenter of the awards.

Savills would like to invite all Saltash Sailing Club members to join in the racing and social activities.

You will all be made very welcome.

G A L L e y o p e N I N G t I m e s

River Lynher ChallengeThe Quay Sailing Club (St Germans) are holding a River Lynher Challenge on Saturday 18th June,

in the form of a sponsored row/paddle from Saltash to QSC in aid of Help 4 Heroes.

Details are on the board in Saltash Sailing Club, or contact Dan Barnes from QSC

e-mail: danbarnes555@gmail.com

All craft welcome even if you aren’t a “proper” rowing boat!