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.)

Borrowing 250 litres of Diesel in Mid Atlantic - hard work but gratefully received

Taking a deep water dip 4500metres and as warm as a bathtub






















Getting nearer Bermuda - bit by bit!


















Please sir can we borrow some diesel??
They kindly donated 250 litres to us Thanks guys - we would have been another week getting to Bermuda without your help

Mid Atlantic with no wind

Interesting skies!!



Resting in the Azores - the other Cat is also being delivered by the same firm but its skipper had to return home and leave it there

This was a fifty seven ft cat we moved from Bordeaux to Annapolis. Big and a bit like sailing a brick.

These picture are in Bordeaux just before leaving down river to the sea - about 60miles




















































This cat was from LaRochelle to Zeebrugge. Here we're stuck in St Peters Port Guernsey with a net round the prop. Coincidently we also got fishing gear round the prop on the Cat we took to the US.
We cleared the one in the Atlantic - no cost. The one in St peters cost £180 for divers ( Health and Safety - we weren't allowed to dive to clear it!)

Surviving the Aegean with Ian.

It’s the end of my second year with Aegean Sailing and I am happy to say it seems to have been another successful season - with many happy crews who are ascending the RYA training ladder in both sail and power. My crews over the year have included: the very young; the young; and, the more mature – all of whom seem to have had tremendous stamina. After long sunny days sailing, the evenings have included: Salsa Dancing with Romanians; Pilates with Canadians; Running with Australians; Music lessons with Americans; and, Art lessons with French and English Artists. I’ve also not forgotten the extended social evenings with the Irish and Russians and the occasional running repairs to both boats and my aching frame!

The people that I have met when sailing are the greatest part of the job, each usually has a story to tell and the main entertainment is often just listening to those stories. My crews have ranged from families with inquisitive and talented young sailors, to mixed crews of: Lawyers; Merchant Bankers; Pilots; and back packing Aussies on tour. My favourite story is the life of a Palestinian American business man who lives in the Lebanon (middle name Vladimir!!). He simply refuses to give up, or grow old and has lived through civil wars, unrest and business crashes but he is one of the most positive individuals I’ve ever met. You may meet him on one of next year’s courses as he clearly intends to return. This doesn’t surprise me as we seem to become friends with most of our crews and I am still in touch with most of mine. Thanks to those who have sent me photos of our exploits, a selection of which Mel has placed on this web site to remind you of sailing in Greece. If you have other interesting photos send them to us as it’s a memory for us too.

Hopefully we’ll meet next year as the company is planning to expand – watch this space for news.