REVELATIONS

Contents:

• Editorial
• News
• Revelations at Dovedale
• The Easter Cruise
• Thought for the quarter

EDITORIAL

Welcome to the December issue of Revelations. In this issue is the usual news from base, a recollection from the annual conference (hot off the press!) and an account of the Easter Cruise.

Thank you to those who have contributed to this issue. Please, do send any contributions for future issues (stories, pictures, poems, thoughts, etc) to the office, address on the front cover.

It is far to early to mention Christmas (it is over a month away as I write) but I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for this Christmas time.

Will

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NEWS

Tim writes...

Another Season comes to an end...

The rhythm of the years could be seen as monotonous (how many times have I written this end-of-season-piece) or, instead, as a comforting framework for the progress of our lives. This has actually been Morning Star's 21st full season under sail, our 21st participation in a Tall Ships series, the 21st year in which we have safely and happily taken around 300 young and not so young people to sea. For the 21st time we are grateful to God for every experience of the year and for His presence with us, symbolised, as we tell so many crews, by the silver dove buried under the heel of the main mast. I think we say every season was a good one, and so it seems to be, but this one was more "good" than some.

The Autumn period consisted of the usual mix of weekends and a few longer trips. The Late Season Cruise this year was a particularly happy time, though not all on board enjoyed the last night passage back to the Medway in a force 7 headwind. The very last outing of the season (apart from a run to Gillingham pier to top up the fuel tanks for the winter) was a day sail with the eight Medway young people who are doing Duke of Edinburgh's award expedition training with us. This was more of a drift (no wind) but they did learn parts of the boat, which was the point of the day.

...And another winter sets in...

Morning Star remains afloat at Thunderbolt Pier once again. This is largely because the Dockyard will no longer let us lay up ashore, but it does also save us money. We shall spend February in the dry dock at Gillingham Pier. What we shall do when the masts should next come out and be overhauled (due next winter) remains to be seen. Staying afloat does have advantages, for instance the "warm" river water will protect the boat and its systems from all but the hardest of frosts, and the management of which jobs to tackle when is decided for us.

Will and Kristina, our two one year volunteers, are learning the joys of winter in the Dockyard. They have made a start on repainting in the forecabin. It is two years since much redecorating was done, so this will be a big feature this time.

...And the 22nd season takes shape

2002 will be much the usual mixture. There will be a slight increase in activities offered to individuals, including the new "Small Ships" race, a kind of mini Tall Ships for class B and C vessels, with a smaller minimum size. This is from Weymouth to St Malo and happens in the Jubilee Holiday week in June. Interested? This could be an opportunity for a few of those outside the 25 age limit to experience the Tall Ships scene. The rules only require half those on board to be within the limit, and with many young people ruling themselves out because of exams, our own priorities could be adjusted this time. So, younger working people, how about it?

For more information about the 2002 programme, visit our website. Until the new brochure is published on it, you can see the new programme on the "2002 programme information" page. The brochure will be ready soon, indeed it may or may not accompany the mailing of this "Revelations".

Eagles Wings elsewhere

Following problems earlier this year when our surveyor found Eagles Wings not to be up to scratch, Steve and Jemma Morgan offered to take responsibility for her. As they live in Cambridge, the boat was moved up to Neptune Marina in Ipswich at the end of September, and she is spending the winter there. They are hoping that the large Cambridge MST contingent will help with the winter work on EW. Next year she will be available from March, based right in the middle of her favourite cruising ground. It is possible we may enter her in the new "Small Ships" race, she meets the reduced minimum size by some 7 inches! After June she will be back here in the Medway, as Steve and Jemma are moving to Scotland. She is going to be heavily involved in our DofE award expedition programme.

DofE Award – a growth industry

For some years now we have regularly had in our crews young people completing the residential requirement for the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award. Indeed, our biggest single source of crew has been via our free classified advert that appears each quarter in the Award Journal. For two years now we have also had a group from Oundle School doing their gold Expedition with us. This involves a shore based Day Skipper course, an initial training week afloat, a Day Skipper practical course, a final practice and then the actual assessed expedition – not a small commitment. The sailing is all done on smaller boats (Tiger Moon and Eagles Wings) culminating in the group taking charge of the boat, unaccompanied on EW, the assessor goes too on TM, but does nothing. This winter, in addition to a third group from Oundle, we have eight Medway young people who will form two groups. I am doing the DS shorebased course with them on Monday evenings at a local youth centre, and working through the logistical nightmare needed to plan all that sailing with three groups and two boats. It does not help that two of the Medway people are off to Nepal in August! This expansion is a welcome way to be involved locally, and might even lead to MST acquiring a second smaller yacht in the fullness of time.

Staffing – the way ahead

I mentioned last time that we were currently without an administrator – and this is still the case. Will and Kristina and I are holding the fort on all fronts, but do not want or plan to do so for ever. However, we are proceeding cautiously while we consider the best way forward. It still seems right to think in terms of a full time appointment to provide continuity in 2004. The keys to this are the right person and the funding. So far neither is clearly in view, but neither are they totally invisible. We shall see. In the meantime please bear with us if you call and find the office not manned. Leave a message or try again.

Dovedale

Each year the Morning Star Trust "family" meets together for weekend in November – a very necessary exercise, since the nature of the work and the different volunteer teams means that only by doing this do we all get to meet in the course of the year. For many years now the venue has been Dovedale house at Ilam in the Peak District. This year's meeting has come and gone, it was great to see a good number of new faces. There was a very positive atmosphere as we discussed, shared, prayed and worshipped together. The traditional annual dinner was much enjoyed, and was followed by a showing of Clive Miller's old ciné film from 1988 – talk about memories! Oh, and the AGM of the MST also took place. It lasted all of four minutes, and resulted in the same committee being re-elected, except that Richard Peats will take the place of Anna Carter (née Dexter).

[See the article below for a fuller account of the weekend—Ed]

Take me to your leader

There follows a not-to-be-taken-too-seriously profile of that intrepid band, the Morning Star volunteer skippers:

Oliver H: Specialises in weekends and delivery trips in gale force headwinds to places like the Solent and Dogger bank. Remains fond of Sharfleet Creek, maybe he is pining for the anchor he left there.
Joly L.T.B: Has grown out of jumping off the main spreaders into the sea, and has recently fled the country. We are not sure why.
Mike L: Master of the wind up (watch those eyebrows carefully). Augments the leadership team with watch leaders, deputy watch leaders, assistant watch leaders – what does he have against ordinary crew members? Another gale headwind specialist.
Mike M: The laid back lateral thinker. Does not like jokes about pear tins, wine box bladders, or chairs. Purveyor extraordinaire of DofE exped. members.
Tim M: Yet another Ling/Maconochie/Hermes lookalike (is that why Olly shaved his beard off?). No longer seen very much at sea, retreating to the canals in his old age. Reputed to mutter about third class railway carriages, and that it was ever thus.
Steve M: Do what you like but be on time to the minute for breakfast and spend the rest of the day cleaning the ship.
Jemma M: Professional observer of the bigger picture. Currently largely engaged in piloting young Henry through his early years. (Henry the navigator?).
Andy R: Antarctic explorer and narrow boat dweller. Native of Scotland, but often migrates to the Essex and Suffolk marshes, where he is particularly fond of the mud.
Colin R: Pining for his life in submarines (I presume that is why he tried to turn MS into a sub in Biscay in 2000). Ensures the caterer still has a job to do.
Steve T: Released occasionally from the Isle of Wight (not sure which prison). Quiet observer of the scene and Tiger Moon specialist. Far more than just a bushy beard.
Chris W: Property dealer, marine engineer, sailor. Has seen the inside of a Portuguese prison. Adapts his gin palace skills well when slumming it on MS.
Adrian W: Controls the Fenland waterways, but less in control at sea. Shares Steve's feelings about cleaning, but does it all himself. Still a youthful **.

Seriously, folks... Before any of the above pursue me for libel, I want to put on record that they are the most loyal and supportive crowd anyone could want, the assembled company are the backbone of the Trust without which we could not operate. Thank God for them and for the vast store of accumulated wisdom and experience that they represent.

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Revelations at Dovedale

An account of the Morning Star Trust Annual Conference

(16-18 November 2001) by Mike Cawthorne

Why go to "Dovedale"? Last year I did not go: it meant little to me, what was it anyway - the talking shop of a Trust behind Morning Star? Not for me, I would rather be sailing or working on my own boat. So I found an excuse and did not attend. Perhaps others too have this attitude to live only with what we know and to miss-out on new things just because we are too happy to stay as we are and do not want to enlarge the place of our tent. [Is 54v2] Now I know that I missed out on a great blessing because everyone who comes to "Dovedale" brings with them the desire to love and serve: one can feel it there.

Dovedale House is also beautiful for its peace and quiet, good food, fellowship and magnificent countryside. It was worth the long journey there and back, including the great fellowship and most interesting detours I enjoyed with my passengers.

Arriving at the Conference in the dark in this strange house, I thought it was just a talking-shop that first evening as the "family" met and caught up with its news and history!

This Morning Star family met again in the morning to give thanks in the Chapel, it was then that I realised that we were all seeking the Right directions and I sensed the presence of the Father and the Eldest Son of the family being with us to bless us and guide us. That session highlighted the need for us to offer up our "loaves and fishes", in love to proclaim joyfully our Lord, and to live holy lives as good witnesses to Him. My thought was that the "Thought of the day" could also be the "Question of the day"; that the sailing should be the magnifier to bring Our Lord Jesus into serious focus; He will provide the Light if we truly let Him show His Love and Hospitality through us. Just as going to Dovedale was like "heaving-to" in the voyage of life, so we might heave-to for our "thoughts" from time to time.

"Have we made progress?" was the next question. It seemed so, as I discovered that Morning Star has to have not two but three masts (my hearing was at fault perhaps). Firstly, we must make Opportunities to serve and to minister His love. Secondly, we must have the Competence to drive the ship, where every hand needs qualifications and experience, so in sailing they always need more; in maintenance great care; in administration every help and information; in leadership the Indians to pray for the Chiefs; in spiritual matters always to be holy and ready for His use before, onboard and afterwards. Thirdly, we need Commitment; as volunteers planning to be available; in prayer, regular and fervent; in finance giving properly; in follow-up persevering in love.

Praise God the Spiritual "check-up" showed progress too. The Spiritual Policy was prayerfully and well accepted and launched but without Champagne. After the launch we had Sea-trials all over Dovedale before returning for tea, a few thoughts, a very‚ very brief AGM and then drinks followed by the Dinner; a bogus maintenance schedule got us all mixed up but ready for a Sea-training film to muddle us further, even more than my readers will now be!

The best was yet to come as we all awoke to a new day of deeper friendship, love and corporate awareness. We prayed together, consolidated our thoughts and remembered Our Lord who so loves us and has called us together as co-workers in His wonderful service.

Can you see how important Dovedale really is?

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The Easter Cruise

By Stuart Lord

About an hour after I had arrived at the dockyard, we slipped our moorings and set off under the command of Cap'n Morgan, we his merry crew of sea dogs led by Clive and Mike M. That evening we anchored, as always, in Stangate Creek, having motor sailed down the Medway.

The following day we set sail for Ramsgate, intending ultimately to make a French port. We ran all the way until North Foreland in moderate conditions, but had to motor into port as time and tide conspired against us. I found it satisfying to helm Morning Star on this last leg - I hadn't sailed throughout 2000 and was beginning to lose the old skills. Come Ramsgate, we moored up, tidied up, had supper and then some of us headed for the pub. We were accompanied by 2 of Cecily's friends, who lived in Ramsgate and who knew which pubs were best. After a good drink and a bit of fun (aerial ice cubes, etc.), we returned (without my scarf). It had rained all through the evening and was still belting down as we got back onboard and into bed.

Monday dawned, but only just as I recall. At this point it also dawned on me that a certain green scarf was not were it should be. Consternation reigned, followed by resignation - it was left in the pub and we weren't coming back - or so we thought. We set off for Dunkerque and arrived there by mid-afternoon, the crossing being slightly rough, but nothing to speak of. We then explored the town, which is a mixture of an industrial port with 'historical bits' thrown in. They seem to like statues there and that combined with the historic role that it played in World War 2 made it an interesting place to visit. In the evening after supper we visited the Seamen's Mission, which was quite close to the marina where we were moored. We spent a pleasant hour or so getting to know the staff, playing table football, table tennis and pool - on a particularly decrepit pool table.

The following day, Tuesday, was the central point in the cruise and the defining moment as well. We knew that it would be rough when we set off, a strong northerly wind was coming from were we wanted to go - North Foreland. So we set off and proceeded to motor sail, close hauled, so as to be able to point up into the wind and hold our course. By 4pm we had reached the shipping lanes and it was very rough. Down below was no place to be, but up above was barely better, with freezing winds, salt spray and waves invading the cockpit. At times squalls measured 46 knots and those on watch, not at the helm, could only sit inert, feeling frozen through and keeping a look out. By 6pm, several of us had been sick and it was decided that perhaps the Thames Estuary wasn't such a good idea - at least not in these winds and swell! So back we scurried to Ramsgate and arrived in port feeling very relieved and glad to not to have endure a very, very uncomfortable night passage. We ate baked potatoes with cheese and baked beans and then I made my way back to the pub, to see if I could retrieve my scarf. On getting there, I asked the Barmaid, who looked and said 'No,' but then she looked again on a hook and there it was. Never was I more relieved (or so it seemed); but then it occurred to me - was the change of plan, really devised by God for this? Does he control the sea, wind and waves, so as to help us find things that are lost? The answer had to be 'Yes' and if so, he can surely engineer events so that people who are lost can find him. I returned to the boat in a very grateful frame of mind - the shower that I had was much appreciated, especially since the new modern shower block in the harbour has a heated floor.

On Wednesday we set off again into biting North Easterly winds, but this only lasted for about 2 hours or so. Having 'rounded the corner' the wind was on the beam and it was much gentler going. We reached the Swale and anchored close to Harty Ferry; that evening we ate pizza and Clive and Sandra announced their engagement to the delight of us all. We had a group photo taken using Clive's digital camera and festivities continued well into the night. The following day - our last day - we set off for Chatham round the outside of Sheppey. The 'flubber' dinghy was inflated and towed behind us, so that we could practice rowing and use its outboard, however it had other plans and managed to escape! I was shaving at the time and we were all called on deck to assist. It was recovered intact and I returned to my shave. After packing bags and generally getting ready to go, we reached the Dockyard, having had an excellent lunch. At about 3pm we moored up and after a final summary talk, in which Steve - our skipper - showed us where we had been, we went our separate ways. It had been a good cruise, although at times whilst sea sick, I seriously contemplated giving up sailing altogether - but then who wouldn't in the conditions that we had had on the Tuesday? As Mike M reminded us - not many can claim to have sailed in a force 8 gale - so this trip was memorable if only for that distinction. Of course Clive and Sandra will remember it for a far more important reason.

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Thought for the quarter

By Sara Rettie

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth." --(Genesis 9 v13 NIV)

During the Tall Ships Race in the summer the rainbow became a recurring theme. I always think of the rainbow as being a visual aid to remind me that God keeps his promises. As we began the race the rainbow appeared in the sky and I commented that we would have a good time because God does keep his promises. I followed this up by sharing with the crew some examples of times when I have been reassured by this in my own life. Well, we did have a good time and on our last evening together as a crew the rainbow appeared again. It was a reminder to us all that not only does God keep his promise to the whole world with the promise of his covenant and the salvation we have in Jesus Christ, but he is faithful to us as individuals. The rainbow is a very big visual aid from God to remind us of his great love and care for us. His promise was not just to Noah but to every generation to come and that includes us all.