Revelations

Contents:

• Editorial
• News
• From the (Alternative) Log
• Heriot-Watt Trip 1998
• More From the (Alternative) Log
• May Cruising
• Thought for the Quarter

EDITORIAL

Happy reading. Will

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NEWS

Tim writes.

These have been successful, though not necessarily easy miles.  Olly’s delivery trip to the Solent was a nightmare, with westerly gales all the way and Olly himself suffering an upset stomach (not seasickness).  Still, they got there on time and for two weeks we were guests of our friends at the London Sailing Project while we operated out of the river Hamble.  Colin, with Jamie Farnell’s group from Edinburgh took the boat to Dartmouth, where Adrian took over for the first visit in some years to the North Brittany coast.

Back in Dartmouth, The Tall Ships crew joined with Steve in charge.  After the usual fun and games in Falmouth (including something to do with the Princess Royal and flapjack, and some very silly antics led by Brandon), the fleet left for the race to Lisbon.  Many comments came back here as to how beautiful Morning Star looked as she sailed out.  The race was a tough one, with very strong unforecast headwinds springing up on more than one occasion.  Many vessels suffered damage or retired, but Steve and his team battled through to come second in their class.

A partial crew change in Lisbon, then Steve took the boat on to Vigo as part of the Tall Ships Cruise in Company.  By this time the bashing the boat was getting began to show, and Steve and Brandon were kept busy with repairs.  Our beloved generator began to play up, and the root broke off a main spreader.  The VHF radio had a holiday, eventually coming back when Steve hit it hard enough.  Despite all this, Morning Star was handed over to Mike Mac. in Vigo in good order.

The crew for the race to Dublin were a group from Oundle school, where Mike is a housemaster.  Yet again the conditions for the race were very tough.  Gale force headwinds were followed by frustrating calm, then more strong winds.  As in race one, many boats retired from the fray.  Of twelve starters in our class, only four finished.  Yet again, Morning Star was second in class.  They arrived a bit late for some of the Dublin festivities, but no doubt made the most of what was left.

Congratulations to Mike Ling’s crew of individuals who joined in Dublin on August 25.  They were instructed to join by 10am, and they were all there, many of them having been in Ireland since at least the day before.  Following the Tall Ships parade of sail they started on the first of three five day trips bringing the boat home to Chatham, with crew changes in Plymouth and the Hamble.  An elaborate system for warning if the ports had to change was not needed in the end, though the planned visits to France did not come off.  Coming out of Plymouth into a strong SE wind was bad news, but otherwise there was plenty of good sailing.  The final arrival here was complicated by force 8 in the river, preventing them getting on the pier and meaning that the skipper failed to say goodbye properly to his crew.  This was a shame, but did not take away too much from the undoubted success of the two week delivery home.

Through the whole summer has run the thread of the presence and provision of God in all our needs, and the quiet witness on board to his love and to the reality of knowing him.  Of course, the readiness of people to recognise this and move in response to it has been very variable, but there has been much to encourage us and for which we give thanks as we turn to the rest of this season and to planning for the next two years.

Looking ahead

This autumn we shall also launch our involvement in Tall Ships 2000 and begin planning an alternative programme for those who want to sail with us during the five months that Morning Star is away.  A major feature of this is likely to be the chartering of yachts around the country for a variety of very different activities, all under the Morning Star Trust banner and led by our own skippers and mates.  Watch this space.

All change again

Steve and Jemma are well stuck in to their sixteen months on the team.  Steve is giving the volunteers good value plus gripping various boat and IT related problems, and Jemma is tackling a whole range of matters, from fund raising to training via child protection policy and the like.

That just leaves Chris and myself as the old guard.  Chris has been away while Morning Star was away, but we hope to have the benefit of his skills once again this winter.

Money, money, money….

And finally…

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FROM THE (ALTERNATIVE) LOG:

HERIOT-WATT TRIP 1998 

Our journey started from Edinburgh, picking up various people on the way down to Hamble, including our skipper Colin.  We arrived on Sunday afternoon to be greeted by a very enthusiastic person who we were quickly informed was to be our first mate Brandon.

The crew was made up of students of all ages from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, and various friends of Jamie’s, (our second mate).  A mixed bunch; most of who went last year and a couple with little experience and some who had never sailed or set foot on a boat before.

We had a small practice sail that evening, getting to know the boat and one another!!?  We set off on Monday morning on what Colin informed us would be a leisurely easy sail of about six hours, around the south side of the Isle of Wight to Poole Harbour.   This soon was not to be, as the sea turned choppy and soon half the crew had turned green faced and had formed a row of people, leaning over the rail at rhythmic intervals.  So Colin’s six hour leisurely sail turned into a 20 hour nightmare.  We finally arrived in Poole Harbour exhausted at 6.30 am.  We all decided not to ask how long future voyages would take since his predictions seemed to be not always right.

Tuesday was spent washing, drying clothes and relaxing.  All together a very lazy day.  We found the local swimming pool, which some of us decided to take full advantage of the facilities available to us (eg jacuzzi, sauna).

Wednesday was a sunny day with light winds, a lazy day crossing the Channel, listening to the England vs Argentina match on a tiny radio.  Gavin keeping as still as possible trying to maintain a good reception.  England went out in style to a fantastic sunset.

Alderney was very small and after a cleaning session we set off again this time to Guernsey.  Guernsey was far more interesting.  Trav became very excited that we were moored-up to a French boat and tried his hardest to communicate by yelling, “Vive la France!!”   I’m not sure whether they thought he was taking the mickey or not.  After a lazy morning wandering around town, (Trav in the nearest Irish pup) we set off again after lunch in blustery winds around the south side of the Island and started the long bumpy ride back home to England.

The wind carried us all back safely and quickly staying on one tack, (only tacking to avoid tankers!!!).  We arrived in England early and went to find the nearest beach off which we anchored.  Some of us swam ashore, the others thought that the dingy was a far more sensible option.  After another lazy day, we sailed around the corner to our final destination, Dartmouth Harbour.  A long exciting week, our trip was over.

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MORE FROM THE (ALTERNATIVE) LOG:

MAY CRUISING

It is eight o’clock on a cool May morning and the pirate brig is creeping stealthily up the creek towards the little enemy vessel, lying at anchor, her crew all asleep and unaware.  On the brig, the first mate is issuing ‘Weapons of Vengeance’ to the crew and as they draw alongside, they inleash a broadside of ‘bomblettes’ at the foe.  Some explode harmlessly in the rigging, but a few find their way through the half open hatch and drench the occupants: the captain staggers up into the cockpit, only to be met by more ‘bomblettes’, she grabs a bucket and dipping it into the creek, attempts to splash the mate on the pirate vessel.  But by now, the brig is making good her escape and the Captain of the little boat is drenched and fuming and can only survey the soggy devastation around her.

So began the May Cruise, a trip which saw Morning Star travel as far as Lowestoft, but it was also quite varied.  There was the Racing Pigeon, which hitched a lift and got given a Competent Crew Certificate tied to its leg - the accompanying note gave the MST office address to contact for further information.  Then there was the following wind which we had both to and from Lowestoft, which was fine for speed, but bad on motion and made most of us feel a bit green.  The night passage was for me the best bit - Peter enlightened us with a lucid explanation of ‘Why the night sky is not bright’ at 11 pm, much to the chagrin of Anna, whose watch were trying to sleep.  But few things can compare to the tranquillity of The Swale at five in the morning as we sailed up to Harty Ferry, there to anchor and rest, before returning to the Medway.

A good time was had by all, some getting Competent Crew Certificates and some just enjoying a unique trip on a unique boat.

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THOUGHT FOR THE QUARTER

In the Bible, Jeremiah 29, verse 11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  I find this verse a great encouragement especially when wondering about the direction that my life is going in.  It is good to know that God has a plan and purpose for me. 

So why is it so hard to remember that God has our best interests to the fore so all we have to do is put our trust in him and let him guide us through life, but so easy to ignore him and try to go our own way?
 

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