Friday, October 30, 2009


Other Spanish sea life!!


sorting the boat in Spain








Leaving Eire

Moving On

I've had a rest from teaching and been pottering doing the odd sailing job. I've been working for Sailing West In Eire - Great school and I've done a few deliveries. I am also getting more interested in the Surveying side of things so I've been doing more engineering and surveying courses. I've been around boats for around about 30 yrs but the more I study the more I realise I don't know.

Recently a new job came up as the relief skipper on a sail training vessel working with the Oakmere Trust. I got the job!! The boat is an all steel Gaff Ketch of 78ft and around 50 tons. The boat is called Greate Manchester Challenge (GMC) - see her and the trust on their website - Oakmere Community Trust.

I now work with the trust helping to develop the project which is really all about getting young people sailing and diving. The young people we deal with are from the Liverpool area and may not normally get the chance to travel, sail or dive.

So far I've taken a party to the Isle of Man which was a great long weekend. I then took GMC from Eire back to Holyhead and then down to La Coruna across Biscay. It was an interesting trip with winds up to 57 knots.

There are no winches and everything is done by team work and hemp rope!! All went well until the Mizzen boom snapped in two but the crew coped well and we arrived in Coruna in good shape and on time. The Tapas were brilliant.

I've posted some of the pictures of the trip but its funny that there were no cameras out in the most interesting bits!! If you've sailed with me before and fancy volunteering some time to GMC and the trust apply to be a volunteer on their website - its very different to sailing a plastic boat but its very rewarding. All skills are required not just sailors. We are planning to paint the topsides in Lanzarote in the new year...... any offers ( must pass CRB checking with the trust.)