Grumpy skippers

I've finally got around to watching Three Men in Another Boat, starring Griff Rhys Jones, Dara O'Brian and Rory McGrath.

Its a great comedy-documentary about their adventure on Griff's classic yacht, Undina. as it sails from London to Cowes to join, Jospehine, Undina's sister ship.

As I watched Griff explaining nautical terms and sailing conventions to his inexperienced crew I saw many similarities in how I had been this summer with my 'new' crew.

'No, not like that', 'Yes I CAN see that big ship', 'Mind that BOUY!' and many other such essential Skipper shouting phrases that I realise Griff and I have in common.

Grumpy and stressed skippers aside, there was lots of lovely sailing sequences an amusing fly-by from the Dover Coastguard and a good look over what Griff's lovely yacht can do.

Undina is 'almost' lovely enough to turn my head from Shoestring, MW found it rather funny when Dara, comparing Undina to a newer Beneteau, said how cramped she was, if he'd only ever been on a wooden folkboat, Undia would have looked like a palace!

I have to agree with Griff's sentiment. 'Proper boats' are made from wood, the new ones with bathrooms, double cabins and kitchens are more like 'plastic shower cubicles with a pole attached'. -But still, all yachts are lovely!

You ca still catch Three Men in Another Boat on BBC iplayer for a few days.

Lack of news...

Mum in the forepeak, note the new Solva Pottery mugs. :0)

Since our last trip down to Shoestring, at the end of August, i've simply not had time to post any entries! Sorry!

We had a quick weekend away, with Mum and Shaun. Got in a good 1/2 day sail, and then explored more of Pembrokeshire. Shaun loved his surfing lesson with me on Broad Haven.

Still more leaks popping up in Shoestring's cabin roof... I may take drastic measures and epoxy everything!

Oddly, after our last post on feeling like 'Semi-Locals', and odder still since nearly a month has past from our last visit. Everything is going to change!

From the 1st October we're moving to Pembrokeshire! We're renting a wonderful converted barn in the Preseli mountains, only a half hour drive from Shoestring!

This also means that we'll be also living in London, as we both have work commitments, so our aim is to have a one week in London and one week in Pembrokeshire basis.

While in Wales, MW will be working on his handmade bicycle wheels -www.michael-ward.net and i'll be continuing to develop my design projects.

It also means we can fit more sailing in!

Historic logs

Thanks to Hannah Robinson and her mother Maggie for the kind extracts from the log-book of Mr H.J. Robinson -a former Shoestring co-owner with Dr Ellis.

Posted below are a couple of entries from the log-book, you may need to click on them to enlarge them to read.

May 15, 1983

The last trip out: Over night at Lawrenny Yacht Station

Shoestring moored up to her buoy for the night

We had our last night in Pembrokeshire, (due both to The Rum Situation and work demands). We left our moorings in Neyland at 11am just before the high-tide, and went out for a sail. Initially we were going to sail up to Angle Bay and then turn back up river to Lawrenny, but the wind and tide was against us, so we sailed as far as the entrance to the Pembroke River and castle pond, then turned to sail up river towards the Cleddau bridge.

After pottering around under sail, Michael had a go at the helm under sail, this time without hitting any buoys, King slept as usually. We realised how much the time flies while we're sailing as four o'clock came round we turned back with hardly any wind -we even tried motor-sailing to speed up things, and headed back from Picton Point towards Lawrenny.

Michael (and new hat) at the helm.
(Shoestring is in need of a new mainsheet traveler!)

The Lawrenny yacht station is a wonderful location, but popular, we managed to get a last minute visitors buoy by calling in advance. -£10 for buoy B28 on the edge of the Cleddau and the Cresswell river mouth, a beautiful spot as you can see but requiring a bit of a paddle to get to the Yacht Station's pontoon -King's first trip in the Sevylor Canoe! (link to the review), needless to say he was nervous but very trusting and eventually enjoyed it.

Thankfully our charts are a bit more up-to-date, but you get the idea.

Once ashore we realised that the wallet was still on the dashboard of the car at Neyland! A quick, but expensive (£60) return trip in a mini-cab solved this. We didn't go in but the Lawrenny Arms pub on the old quayside has been recommended to us many times.

Me(Tony) off out in the canoe.

We rowed back to Shoestring in the canoe, after having a bit of fun trying to get King into the canoe over the edge of the pontoon. -Thankfully he had his lifejacket on so he was easier to carry. -Or at least aim and throw as it must have looked like to the people watching with great humor in surrounding yachts.

After dinner on board we had an amazing sunset at Lawrenny, we sat on the fore-deck in our woolly jumpers with a scotch and coke (YES NO RUM) and watched the still water reflecting the light from around. Then complaining as a motorboat user, just after sunset decided to show off water-skiing skills with no navigation lights and making lots of noise and lots of wash. Thankfully this ended after twenty minutes or so.

Sunset at Lawrenny, looking up the Cleddau river.

We settled in for the night, noting that Shoestring didn't move that much more than she did in the Marina. I was in the double bunk up front and had to have the forward hatch open for a while longer to look at the amazing star-fields you get in the very low light pollution skies.

Shoestring's bow, with No.1 job awaiting a tie-down for the night.

Come morning all had changed. Rain, and I mean RAIN, was falling, Shoestring's cabin roof leaked again, this time in 1 new spot too! We had a quick breakfast of toasted muffins and jam then decided to return to Neyland under engine. -Wearing every waterproof garment we had.

King relaxing on his bunk (again)

Safely docked at Neyland about 2 hours later, we both wished we had spent the night out there before in our trip. We decided to leave Shoestring at Neyland during the wet stormy weather, and drive back to Lawrenny for lunch at the (award winning) Quayside Tea Rooms, where we had a very reasonably priced lunch that was one of the best we'd had on our trip.

One of our best shots from the evening. (Before the storm hit!)

We can't wait to take Shoestring back to Lawrenny. Perhaps next time exploring by Canoe further up to Cresswell Quay (the water is too shallow for Shoestring) where there is another great pub which has the best hog roast and BBQ in Pembrokeshire on a friday night apparently. We'll investigate and report back!

Link to Lawrenny Yacht Station

Last night at Lawrenny

We spent last night moored up river at Lawrenny Yacht Station. Just a quick entry this one, until I get a chance to post fully.

King and friends

As he seems to be the most popular crew member here's some shots of King's holiday with us in Pembrokeshire.

Broad Haven beach is still one his favorite places to look at things.

King's friend, Genie (Ju's dog) was slowly sinking into her bouyancy-aid to avoid helping with sailing.

King's favorite place while sailing in asleep on his bunk. -You may note he needs a whole bunk to himself! He does sometimes stick his head out of the companionway to check we're still there, or to complain when we change tack and heel over the other way.

PHOTOGRAPHS!

Thanks to a 97pence camera card to CD service I can upload few photographs for you all. Above is Shoestring in light winds near Lawrenny. (I've now fixed the slipping boom vang.)


Here's me at the helm, this is a bit past Castle Reach on the River Cleddau, No2 Jib raised on the bow, I'll be testing the Genoa tomorrow!

Here's Julie and myself at the helm under engines after a sudden summer storm blew us all over the place. Michael was in the cabin making tea, while Ju watched. -I think this is just past Picton Point on the Cleddau.

I'll upload a few more photographs over the next few days.

Ju90 on Shoestring

Last saturday we sailed out to Dale for lunch, anchoring up in great weather, we had two friends; Ju(aka ju90) and Julie with their pet Westie, Genie. I asked Ju to write a guest entry in Shoestring's log book, I've typed it up here for your reading.

Ju90 + Genie (Westie-terrier) + julie (with no cats).

Arrived 9.15. Boys arrived 9.45 -off buying more booze + a hat. Fortunately Ju had finally worked out how to get into marina loo.

Visitors denied coffee on grounds of tide + tardiness -Offered 12 diet cokes instead. Turned out the boys had not washed up, so no mugs available.

Michael looked great in the hat.

Set off to see industrial glories of West Wales from the water under motor. Tony worried about Irish Ferry, but in event had no problems spotting it. Genie eventually agreed to go into cabin, but displayed 'breed standard' of animosity eyes throughout voyage. King perfect gentleman + lived up to his breed standard by dozing all day, (mostly) trusting the boys to keep him safe.

By lunchtime in Dale, had all turned into Capn-Birdseye... a situation not improved by G+Ts/Rum and diet coke. Boys finally washed up b4 setting sail (yes really) for marina.

Perfect conditions ? wind+tide both heading straight for the marina -meant we sailed back at twice the speed of the outgoing trip, sails setting perfectly + boys beaming proudly. J+J competed with each other to photograph bouys + occasionally the boys. Genie looked to see if there was any place to hide before huddling into her bouyancy-aid + shutting her eyes until berthed, after which she cheered up slightly, helped by Michael feeding her posh dog biscuits.

Michael dropped his sunglasses into the marina as he tied up -as crew he inevitably works twice as hard as the helm -but otherwise it was the perfect day.

Ju90.02.08.08

You can visit Ju's website here.

I'll be posting my 'record' of our trip to dale, once I get back and get my camera lead! We're still at Shoestring, and the weather is still wet! She's currently covered in tarp thanks to a new leak in the roof!

The wrong lead!

I was just sitting down here, under our improvised boom canopy, (a tarp sheet with off cuts of rope), Rum and coke in hand, (Havana Club of course!), and thought, i'll put those great photos of us sailing, the sails up, the beautiful views of the upper reaches of the River Cleddau, of Shoestring heeling gracefully under canvas...

Got the laptop ready, got the camera out, then realised I had the wrong camera lead in my bag so can't connect the blasted thing!

I'll call into Mum tomorrow and ask her to post me a spare one... THEN i'll say how great our sailing went until we hit a sudden Force 7 with wind and hail! All fine, Julie and myself at the helm with sails down, motor on and a cup of tea in hand.

But i'll wait until I can download the photos!

Sailing!

Just to say hello from sunny-wet-sunny-WINDY-sunny-wet Pembrokeshire.

Now have wifi internet working aboard so will blog more later.  2 very successful day trips out sailing under our belt, and all technical problems fixed!

Photos on their way soon!

Tideway sailing

Last Sunday we met with Ju and Julie for an afternoon of dinghy sailing at Surrey Quays' Tideway Sail-ability center. Its a small and very welcoming sailing club with an emphasis on sailing with disabled people.

Out for fun on the dinghys was Shaun (helm), Michael (1st mate), Anne (new crew) and Myself (Skipper), together with Ju and Julie who are members of the club. King and Mum came along to watch. -King as always busied himself being a celebrity and demanding attention from everyone.


My experience in dinghy sailing was limited to my first sailing lessons in toppers, so 'down-sizing' looked like a fun option. Their boats are designed to be sailed with everything in reach and a joy-stick helm. -Being used to a Tiller it confused me completely.



After we had an initial talk through the sail controls and a quick sail-bending session, we were let loose. Within meters from leaving the pontoon we came from quite blustery to no wind at all. Sailing was reduced to snail pace. I did manage to heal once though, briefly.

Anne and I was challenged by Julie to a race around the buoys. After accepting, in very minimal wind, I waited a few minutes and then said "Let me know when you want to start". About ten minutes later we had drifted our first lap. Pleased to report we won, it was close and took a good half hour to get back to the pontoon, 50meters away.


After sailing we all headed off to a post-sail-pint at the Wibbly-Wobbly-Bar further down on Greenland Dock. -Great food, and even King was welcomed; he fell asleep in the middle of the floor.


Friday night, (tomorrow), we're off for two weeks at Shoestring to get some SAILING done on her, Ju and Julie are coming down for a week, so we'll show them some REAL sailing... hopefully, weather reports say 1mph winds! I'll try to post some articles on here later once we've got ourselves sorted at the Marina's wifi.

The greatest ship on the sea.

Shoestring at Anchor outside Dunmore East harbour from Dominic

Since starting this site I've had some lovely emails from previous owners of Shoestring. Dominic whom I purchased her from sent me some photos and instructions on various aspects, and now reads this blog to check on her progress.

I've also had emails from Dr Ellis, who co-ownder her in 1980s with Dr Robinson, who's wife and daughter have been kind enough to send me some photocopies of her old ships logs.

Recently I've had Colin and Martin Hunt email in with stories of their exploits sailing on Shoestring and how much they admired her and are glad to see her still going.

Fortunately everyone approves of the new colour scheme and restoration work. -Note to all, still have the traditional Shoestring leaks in cabin roof! (Right above my bunk!)

It's great to get emails in from people whom sailed on her or owned her. Its something you don't get with a new yacht. There must be hundreds of little ships like Shoestring with their own histories and stories. Its probably my imagination but being a wooden yacht, and a Folkboat for that matter does lend itself to the belief that she's more unique than other boats.

Thank you to everyone that emailed in with your photos and stories. Please do keep in touch and please email more photographs if you have some. -I'll have to organise a 'get-together' cruise.

Best, Tony.

Pirates and cakes: last weekend in Wales

There be Pirates here!

We (Mum, Shaun. their pet dog, Coco and Myself) got down to Neyland last Friday morning at 4am, Shaun had not slept the whole way so was tired and grumpy. Nonetheless we decided to take Shoestring out on the morning high-tide.

Coco liked relaxing in the cockpit.

We untied and left her moorings very easily, edging out of the marina slowly, rounding the sharp bend at the entrance. Around this time the speed Log decided to give up and continually display 0Knots for the remainder of the trip... something else to fix...

We took her up river to Lawrenny under engine and a stuck mainsail -the batons got jammed in the lazy jack lines and refused to budge so we carried on. It was Shaun's first trip out on the yacht and at only five years old he took it very well getting quite excited and wanting to help with everything. Coco tied on her lead down below slept most of the time.

Shaun at the helm

Shaun proved to be a natural at steering and helm control as we passed quietly up river. We turned around and came back in after an hour so as not to get caught out by the tidal sill.

Docking was more fun, this time whacking the bow on the side of the pontoon, but no damage done.

This was before Shaun fell in after getting out the Canoe.

The rest of Friday was spent at the marina, where we had Lunch at the Brunel Café and took Shaun out for a paddle in the canoe tender, with other yacht owners asking where we got it and how we found it. We also drove out to Dale for lunch at a cafe there over looking the bay.

Paddling in the new Hudson canoe 'tender'

Saturday was spent driving in the car exploring Pembrokeshire a little, with nice warm weather on our side we went to Fishguard, a lovely little town where I picked up a 'Welsh Wool Jumper' and bought Shaun a model sailing yacht. Mum found a bakery where they had just made a fresh batch of welsh cakes, -they are much better when warm and fresh!

Fishguard lower harbour

We decided to explore nearby Solva, another little harbour, and former finishing village, now a bit of a tourist trap, but still a charming colourful village with brightly coloured buildings. One of the most senic places I've been I think.

Solva at low-tide.

Driving back to Shoestring, we also discovered Newgale Beach, a wonderful long expanse of sand with amazing views of Skomer and Ramsey islands.

Sunday and Monday the weather turned nasty, with wind, rain and cold hitting in from the North East.

We left for the LONG drive home, as always I don't like leaving Shoestring, and can't wait to get back, both to finish the refurbishment works on the deck, and to also get her out for a sail!!!

Away the weekend

I'm off to Shoestring this weekend, leaving tonight (Thursday) and returning Monday morning. If the weather is there we'll be finishing the aft-deck painting and maybe a trip up river to Lawrenny to spend Saturday night.

Michael's working on Saturday so it will be my Mum and Shaun visiting again. I'll post some photos of the trip and painting works when I get back.

Folkboats sailing in Christchurch Bay, UK

I came across this on YouTube, some great action shots of Folkboats racing in South England.

Planning for the Isles of Scilly

On the 11th August, we are planning to set sail to the Isle of Scilly for our summer break. There I've said it publicly, no going back now!

I've always been fascinated by these islands, not just with the romantic scenery but also the challenges presented in getting there. We stayed near Mousehole and Penzance last year on a camping holiday, and seeing the pretty boats in harbour and the Scillonian ferry leaving is where the idea for this years trip came from.

It will be a bit of a challenge, both in terms of planning, pilotage and navigation, but also in sailing, handling and anchoring. This is perhaps the longest voyage Shoestring has undertook for a while, and also the longest voyage I would have undertook as skipper.

I'll be using this site both for planning and recording of the voyage, so please keep checking back for details.

In preparation for the trip I've acquired a few extra pieces of equipment for Shoestring: a Second Anchor and rode, handheld VHF in case of emergencies and of course charts, pilot guides and other books.

Planning
The route currently looks like this:

• Day 1 - Neyland to Dale anchorage
• Day 2 - Dale to Lundy Island ( I may decided to skip this depending on weather)
• Day 3 - Lundy to Padstow
• Day 4 - Padstow to St Ives
• (Possibly collecting a friend for the trip)
• Day 5 - St Ives to Scilly (Hugh Town)
• Day 6 to 10 - Exploring Scilly
• Day 11 - Scilly to St Ives
  
• Day 12 - St Ives to Dale (optimistic distance maybe)
• Day 13 - Dale to Neyland

I'm also looking at Penzance and Mousehole as a bolt-hole in case the weather for the Scilly trip is not in our favour.

Pilot guides and charts:
Full reviews of these will follow on later entires on this site.

• Imray C7, C58 and C60
• A closer detailed Admiralty chart. (Still looking into this)
  
• West country pilot, 2008, £24.99 (Amazon £17.95)
• A sailors guide to the Isle of Scilly, Sent via the author direct in Scilly (thank you!)
  

As free as the wind?

I was reading an article at Cruising on the Thames about the costs associated with owning an inland water-ways boat. Its interesting to compare this to our own costs for a 'coastal' boat.

Below is approximately what we currently spend a year (quite literally a shoestring budget)

For our 27(ish) ft Folkboat:

£1440 Mooring costs (8 meters)
£115 Insurance (Third party only)
£500 Servicing and repairs budget
£150 Fuel (for inboard diesel)
£1000 One off equipment (GPS, new sail, etc.)
£250 Lift out/in and anti-fouling

Total annual budget: £3,455

There are of course other costs, petrol to and from Neyland, visiting dues if we stay in another marina for harbour while cruising, books, pilot guides and charts, food and drink, clothing and other smaller costs that are hard to account for.

On the whole the largest dent in our shoestring budget is the marina, yes we could move somewhere cheaper or switch to a swing mooring somewhere, but we are simply happier to swallow the extra expense for what we get in return. (Hot showers and friendly neighbors.)

This will give us, minus petrol costs for the car (around £80 return from London to Neyland and back), a good years worth of sailing, with an average of 4-5 days each month spent with our little yacht and the odd 1 or 2 week cruise.

As we really see this as 'holiday' or enjoyment time, that £3,455 per year to keep her starts to make a lot of sense, its cheaper than the equivalent in weekends away.

But what does money matter, having a yacht like Shoestring is not a fashion statement or status symbol, its a feeling that you could sail anywhere, a sense of freedom and fun.

I would also mention the last look over your shoulder and "I love my yacht" feeling, but that would just be too smug.

Sea Fair 2008 at Milford Haven

18-22nd June 2008
Shoestring has been invited to attend the Sea Fair 2008 at Milford Haven. Sadly 'MW' is working at the Royal Opera House that weekend, (His day-job) so I'm calling on Terry, to act as first mate and we're taking Jayne and Shaun along as crew. I'll post more about our preparation for the event, and also reviews and photographs during the event nearer the time.

Preparations have started already with a full set of 'dress colours' for the yacht ordered.

For more information:
SeaFair 2008 official website
Pages from this site about the Sea Fair

(image courtesy of SeaFair organisers.)

Actually sailing ?

I'm getting restless. Its nearly the end of March and the weather is still yet to become "properly spring". We're taking my Mum and 5 year old brother, Shaun, with us to Neyland tomorrow, we'll hoping that Sunday the weather will be there to take Shoestring out for a sail... yes really with sails up and everything!

We will be back on Monday/Tuesday next week so i'll make sure that photos go up this time, no doubt with a few more stories of our adventures.

You may also notice i've added a few more links in the side bar to other sailor's websites and blogs, naturally with a Folkboat slant, but ones I think are entertaining and interesting to read. If you have time please do check them out.

Milford Haven to Neyland under engine.

Friday:
We arrived mid-afternoon on Friday, with warnings of gales and storms on the way over the radio. We found around 6" of water in her bilge over the week, which was solved by switching on the bilge pump!!!

We paid a whole £54.60 for a week's mooring at Milford Marina, then waited for the 16.09 freeflow through the lock to start. Knowing gales and bad weather were forecast we decided to stay under engine down to Neyland, -with mainsail on standby incase that failed.

We radioed into get an exit slot, eventually being granted permission at 16.30, another nightmare undocking from Milford. This time we got caught by a cross wind and scratched the side of Shoestring on the pontoon. -more on that later.

So off and through the lock, clearing it we caught for a little in a cross current rocking her quite a lot, but this all cleared as we passed by the Petrol terminals, and around past the Weir Spit buoy.

Suddenly all calm, light winds, no waves to speak of, and lovely sunset sky. We quite enjoyed the short 4 mile cruise, MW taking the helm most of the way while I checked position and pilot guide for the approaches to Neyland Marina.

We were very tempted to cruise on further -maybe even sail in the wonderful weather, but after the radio warnings and listening to other ships talking about oncoming storms on the VHF we decided to head into Shoestrings new home.

Instantly we felt happier, no locks, no tankers or commercial vessels, just a few tight maneuvers around the bend, and waiting for a motorcrusier to dock ahead of us.

We found our mooring, tied up and MW put the Taylors Cooker on. -He's had fun with that this weekend.

We settled down, explored the new marina and had a drink (or two). Feeling quite happy with our first 'proper' cruise.

Sadly although I brought the camera, the battery was dead. Sorry!

The first weekend. Featuring a pirouette in Milford lock.

After arriving late Friday night we set loaded ourselves up and walked along the pontoons at Milford Marina to Shoestring.

Our next course of action was to get the stove on, both to heat the cabin and to make a cup of tea. Packed (or stowed) eveything and then set the front bunks up for sleeping.

Saturday morning we spent going over the yacht, checking systems, equipment and all the other associated parts that make us move, stop, turn, or simply stay still.

We checked in at the Marina to sort our mooring out for the week, then decided to test the freeflow through the port's lock to head out.

Checked over once more, hanked on the headsail, uncovered the main, made ready all sheet lines and equipment. Engines on.

We radioed out for permission to depart. Granted quickly by the Pierhead control. Then had the fun of un-docking. -Shoestring, does not like reversing under engine at all!!!

Then after rounding the marina (and missing another boat moored up opposite), we headed out through the lock.

We didn't expect the tide and current to be quite so against each other, and we had a lot of fun side onto both and being thrown around.

Wind picked up quickly, and with both an unfamiliar yacht, a 'rusty' skipper, and beginner crew, I decided to head back to port after 1/2 hour. -Also a jammed mainsail.

Radioed in for permission to re-enter the lock. Granted after a tug left, so we proceeded.

Upon entering we were told there would be a 1 and a half hour wait for the next lock, no problem.

Halfway through sluicing the lock the jammed and we were stuck there until the next freeflow at 10.30ish that night.

Moored up in the lock we spoke to the Skipper of a Dive charter moored up behind us, who seemed to like the look of the old girl. (shoestring).

After a trip to Tesco, involving a climb up a very precarious ladder from the lock pontoon, and the trip back down we made dinner, and waited until the lock opening.

At last after the an out going tug, we made ready to enter the Marina. Got permission, then left, almost... Classic schoolboy error... We let off the bow mooring line, into the wind before the stern.

A pirouette performed in lock under wind and power followed, without incident, then we headed in for a thankfully uneventful mooring on our birth.

The following day we spent sorting and servicing. We drove to Neyland Yacht Haven in the morning to use the Brunel chandlery, we met Mrs Haynes there, who was both very helpful (showing us which deck cleaners to use, and advising on charts), then we used the lovely café there for a coffee and cake.

We then drove off to Haverfordwest, for the nearest DIY store to buy more paraffin and other equipment. When we returned I fitted our new Standard Horizon Chartplotter, while MW gave her a good clean and scrub down.

We spent sunday night relaxing onboard after quite a busy day, MW cooked us Steak and vegetables on the Taylors cooker, (I believe he is going to post full instructions on this soon.), and we laid down to read and rest as a small gale blew up outside pounding the deck with rain, but stopping quickly.

Monday morning we secured all the sea cocks, isolated the battery supply, and then got ready for the journey home to London. One nice surprise was that the amazing team at BoatShed Wales, had managed (with a bit of wrangling), to get us a birth at Neyland Yacht Haven. We simply need to move her there this week.