Revelations

Contents:

NEWS FROM TIM

1998 - The Year Ahead

As this is written we are within a few days of the start of the new season. Indeed, Eagles Wings has already been out for one day (see later) and starts a five day RYA course on March 23. It looks like being as busy a season as any we have known. The level of confirmed group bookings is particularly encouraging, no on seems to be hanging on while they struggle to find a crew. If you want a weekend, we do have two in October, but that is about all. Meanwhile, some individuals activities are making slower progress, again see later in Revelations. 

Our Tall ships crews have been full since October. Before joining the fleet in Falmouth in July, Morning Star will have spent a month on the South Coast after delivery from Chatham to the Hamble by Oliver and crew. Remember his trip to Hartlepool (via Dogger and a force 9 gale)? Where will he get to this time? Fastnet? Anyway, we shall be based for two weeks in the Hamble at the same boatyard as our friends in the London Sailing Project. Then comes Jamie Farnell’s group from Edinburgh for a week, finally the Brittany cruise (just one or two places left) before the Tall Ships crew joins in Dartmouth. 

So we wish Morning Star and Eagles Wings fair winds for this year and really enjoyable times on board. We wait to see how God will protect and provide as we go about the business of giving people the opportunity to grow and develop, to learn about sailing, the sea, themselves, each other and the creator God. 
 

A mega refit

The culmination of several major projects means that the end of the refit period is busier and more pressured than in many other years. The masts have been out this winter and completely refurbished, mainly by Lucy. We also have all new standing rigging, so all that department looks very smart. The generator installation also looks good, thanks to Chris for all his hard work and expertise. And, yes, surprisingly, there is still room to move around in the engine room. The instrument panel at the chart table has been rebuilt to take several new instruments (some of the old ones were original from 1980). This includes a new radar (which does work despite Tim dropping it during installation), new echo sounder and log, and a car type stereo for radio broadcast reception in place of the old RDF set. The bowsprit had to be removed to repair a section at the front of the deck. Andy Rankin was mostly responsible for this, and has done a really good job, as well as being around full time since Christmas and a real tower of strength in these pressured final days. Peter has been involved in many areas, and has patiently got on with whatever has been thrown at him, including a further major rebuild of the steering. Meanwhile, Eagles Wings has not been neglected. Chris has repiped her fuel system, old seacocks have been replaced, and she is taking delivery of two new sails shortly. 
 

More work farmed out

We are gradually getting better at sending work out so that it is not all done in the office. Adrian is the expert on our new computer accounts system, he comes in regularly to update it. No more hours of work to get to a VAT return! Mike Ling organised our very successful conference in November, and will do so again. Heather Constance has taken on the administration of all the deeds of covenant. Sara Rettie writes the quarterly prayer diary. Steve and Jemma look after Eagles Wings, and Jemma is our caterer. Lucy Wynn still edits Revelations, though this task may soon pass to Will Haynes. Juliet and Paul are developing an ever more efficient chart correction service. Ian and Anita have been working on the first ever proper write up of the Morning Star manual. Stuart Tranter has done a great deal to produce a revised logo and a new leaflet (your copy enclosed). All in all, a growing demonstration that Morning Star is a genuinely voluntary organisation. 
 

The office story

If you have had any contact with the office in recent months you will know that Tim is currently the administrator as well as heading up the work overall. After Jane left at the end of August, this was seen as a short term arrangement. Just before Christmas we appointed a part time administrator, but she pulled out before actually starting in January. After this it seemed right to continue for the time being without office help. Watch this space for future developments, meanwhile if the office is not manned when you ring, our apologies. Please leave a message, or fax (same number) or email us (sailing@morningstar.org.uk). 
 

Friends across the water

We have a close link with Fellowship Afloat at Tollesbury. They are a Christian organisation who see things very much the way that we do. They sail dinghies in the Blackwater estuary and have a converted lightship moored out in the salt marshes as their magnificent accommodation vessel. Our team spent a day there in February, helping with their winter work, and generally being supportive, finishing with a time of Bible study and prayer together in the evening. The return match took place a couple of weeks ago, when their team found themselves applying antifouling to our boats and sail dressing to the sails. Lunch was a cultural experience as we all went to the Dockyard cafe (greasy spoon type). Returning to Rochester for evening meal (thanks, Jemma) and a time of fellowship and prayer, Robyn (volunteer from Texas) discovered the hard way that Lucy’s bike has poor brakes. The necessary reduction in momentum was achieved with the aid of a wall, not good for either the bike or Robyn, but she survived, and a happy evening was had by all. We value this link very much, and will work to continue it. 
 

Eagles Wings day out

Stuart Tranter gave us an unusual job. He wanted a video as a background during a conference his company were organising. This was to be an hour’s worth of the view forward of the horizon from a boat at sea. Mike Banner and Peter embarked Karl from PAi plus camera at 0700 on a cold but fine March morning. By early afternoon they were back, mission accomplished. Not sure what the video will come out like - Eagles Wings isn’t the most stable of camera platforms even in calm conditions! 
 

Tall Ships 2000 - To be or not to be?

We have given ourselves until June to decide whether it will be right to enter Morning Star for the major Tall Ships event in 2000. This starts in Southampton in April and visits Genoa before crossing the Atlantic to Bermuda. After that it cruises the US seaboard for a month, to Boston, then Halifax in Nova Scotia. Finally it returns across the pond to finish in Amsterdam in late August. There are plenty of reasons both for and against taking part, but the “feeling of the meeting” at the moment is that we want to do it. Again, Revelations will keep you posted, but if any readers have comments (or provisional bookings), do get in touch. The plan would be to start recruiting this year, giving plenty of time to build up and train a team, plus help them to raise the very necessary funding. 
 

Still no vols

We have still to recruit suitable volunteers for the year 1998/99. We are trusting God for his provision for our needs, but that does not mean there is no action to be taken. This is a reminder to all our readers, in case you know someone who should be put in touch with us. The ideal volunteer is already a keen sailor, perhaps with sail training experience (OYC or whatever). He or she is a committed Christian who would be just right to spend a year out working with boats and people. Practical skills (DIY or even more technical) are also important. If they can raise at least some of their own support (from a sending church, for instance), so much the better. 
 

WHAT YOU CAN STILL BOOK ON

As the days get warmer and the nights get shorter and the little lambs skip in the fields, you may contemplate summer and wish that you had booked earlier for a fabulous trip on Morning Star. Don’t despair! It is not too late time of going to press there is still space on the following: 
 

THE LONELY SEA AND THE SKYE.

Colin Rettie 12 August 1997 

Loch Scavaig is unbelievably well designed, with a sky line dominated by the Cuillins, a completely sheltered pool with mud bottom, lots of seals and an island loch just feet away from the landing. 

Most of us went swimming (not as well as the seals) and rowed down to the skerris to see the seals, only to be followed back by inquisitive black heads, popping up with an alarming sneeze! We got close enough to find that seals have VERY bad breath! 

The afternoon involved mountaineering with everybody climbing at least to a lookout over the bay and a view of the whole Cuillin ridge. Those with boots, Colin, Tim , Scott and Anna then carried on up the East Ridge of Garss Bheinn. Two hours later we were stopped a few yards short of the summit by an impossible vertical climb of at least Extreme grade. All right, honesty time, it was a scramble really, difficult or V. difficult at worst, but horribly exposed. Views, however, were worth all the effort, even just short of a Munroe peak. 

After the long trudge downhill, (well, T,S & C trudged, Anna leapt elegantly from boulder to boulder winning marks of 5.6 for artistic impression from the judges. Of course the dress helped). Yes, dress, Munroe bagging in a sundress. Totally mad. Anyway, after trudging (or bounding gracefully) down, we found a natural Jacuzzi in a waterfall and cooled of in style. That waterfall in that place was definitely one of the Creator’s best touches. 

NORTHERN ISLES CRUISE - THE LEAVING OF LERWICK

Mike Mac 

Time was short and we needed to leave earlyish next morning. 0900 hours was designated as the time when we would be on the fuel berth and half an hours shore leave was granted for those last minute purchases. With the tanks newly replenished, everyone leapt aboard (at least that was the idea) and Brandon took us off in great style. Half an hour later: 

Where’s Paul? 

In the heads? 
NO 

Buried in his pit? 
NOPE 

Stuffed in with the sail bags? 
NO WAY! 

Whoops! 
Oh Shute! 

Morning Star alters course 180 degrees. As we returned with all possible haste, we became aware of a fast picket boat (Dunter II) making its way down the sound. It seemed to be headed our way. Could it be that our wayward but ever resourceful crew member had hitched a lift? Indeed he had. A rapturous reunion following words were exchanged: 

Paul: I can’t believe you left without me! 

Neil: I can’t believe we went back for you! 

Thus it was that we left the Shetlands! 
 

MARITIME EMANCIPATION

Peter Brooks 

Entropy does not apply to the Morning Star Trust. As time increases the amount of disorder does not increase. Like most things dreamt of in my feeble philosophy, this is relative and depends on the skipper. Launch day, to the delight of all not trapped by the written word, was also defiant of the second law of thermodynamics. This was apparent to such an extent that it could be claimed that God himself helped by intervening in His very own creative laws of physics. If, of course, that is possible. 

Although all present, except the volunteers, were skippers, and as a result, used to being in charge, Tim still managed to give the impression he was exercising absolute authority over all within striking distance. 

The mizzen, after being frantically rigged, was the first to go. This, sadly, went without mishap. Eagles Wings joined the same school of dull efficiency. 

All winter Morning Star has been sandwiched between the baby sister, Eagles Wings and an intruder called 44-001; a floating member of the Lifeboat Institution. It must be mentioned that Morning Star was the most impressive, appearing as the central bastion of amateur nautical excellence. The distance between Morning Star and the Lifeboat, when aground, was crossed by a gigantic leap, if the leap was about a metre. This small step for mankind was reduced significantly when the almost overly confident crane driver lifted the Lifeboat, with the arm of the crane at full stretch. Had there been a localised fluctuation in space-time, then the Lifeboat could have been gently raised, relative to Morning Star, and all would have been well. God, however, was not this obliging and left the intricately woven laws of nature alone. Due to this lack of communication, the Lifeboat had to be zealously thrust away from the transom, with the crane weight limit alarm piercing the tranquil Medway. 

Revenge, however, was sweet. As the Lifeboat was placed in the water a rumour, which did not inspire absolute confidence in English maritime safety, was entertained that the Lifeboat was taking on water. Non Governmental Organisations were meant, in theory, to be competitive and, therefore, more productive. So much so, that Thatcher herself tried to unsuccessfully introduce that type of efficiency into Whitehall. Unlike Whitehall, however, confidence was restored in the RNLI when the leaks were stopped. 

Morning Star went unto the blue (or grey) yonder smoothly, and the mast was placed in the deck with a fluidity usually only associated with world class ice-skaters, after, of course, a discussion about whether it was aligned perpendicular to the direction of travel or not. 

The amount of work done was incredible, and unusually, humour was extracted from the abyss to almost take part in the day's proceedings. 

Heaven forbid. 
 

THOUGHT FOR THE QUARTER

Mike Ling

Last year I went on holiday with Maureen and youngest son Benjamin. We went boating, but boating with a difference - we borrowed a narrow boat from a friend and we navigated parts of the Grand Union and parts of the Oxford canals. 

When no-one was looking we sped along at nearly 4 miles an hour. At times it was difficult for anyone walking to keep up. When others were passing or moored we slowed down to 2 miles per hour. A canalside village of nearly a mile sometimes took over half an hour to pass. 

This holiday was just what I needed. Life has been conducted at a hectic pace recently that I needed to stop. 2 miles an hour all day is a very good way to stop. No-one rushed, none bothered about the time. At one lock there was a sign requesting that we waited for up to 30 minutes for someone else to share the lock in order to conserve water. So we waited for 30 minutes. 

The world around me is so full of people who are pressured, stressed, frantic to keep up or to get ahead. So many people seem to becoming casualties of this stress and pressure and I would love to tell them all to get on a boat and travel at 2 miles an hour for a bit. 

The trouble is that for most people, canal boating is extraordinarily expensive. There must be a better and easier way. 

Jesus knew all of this - he anticipated the stress and pressure that no doubt people have been under ever since creation. In Matthew, Chapter 11, vs. 28 we read that Jesus said to his followers: "come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." 

Hands up those who are not weary and burdened! 
 

More Thought

I read this poem recently: 

I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day. 
I had so much to accomplish that I didn't have time to pray. 
Problems came tumbling about me, and heavier came each task. 
"Why doesn't God help me" I wondered. 
He answered "You didn't ask". 
I wanted to see joy and beauty but the day toiled on, grey and bleak; 
I wondered why God didn't show me: He said "But you didn't speak". 
I tried to come into God's presence, I used all my keys at the lock; 
God kindly and lovingly chided, "My child, you didn't knock". 

I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day; 
I had so much to accomplish that I had to make time to pray.

Spending time with Jesus is a good way to stop! Perhaps we should try it more often.