Roughs Tower, A Barge Match & Thoughts on Self-Sufficiency

11^th July

We have just returned to the marina from a sail to Roughs Tower and back.

Winds were a constant north easterly F5, it was overcast and by the time we cleared Languard the sea state was moderate with visibility fair.

Very quickly we were down to a second reef in the main and flying the stay sail.  Rounding the Cork SC we were to windward on port to Roughs Tower before tacking on to starboard to sail to the Cork Sand Yacht Beacon.  The seas with the ebb tide were steep and sharp.  It’s rare to get some wet landing in the cockpit of ‘Talisker 1’.

And then joy of joys … the skies cleared on the approaches to Languard and we joined some traffic inbound to the Port of Felixstowe including, what must be, a Barge Match.  And in their midst … there was the ‘Edme’ too.

I’ve just been online to find out and … yes … it’s the 64^th annual Pin Mill Thames Barge Match this week end.  Lovely.  The ‘Will’ followed us in to the approaches to the Orwell, closely followed by the ‘Edme’, both under full sail.  We all struggled to round Fagbury Point with large Container Ships shadowing the wind.  The ‘Thistle’, not to be trifled with such things, and with many guests aboard, passed us under engine on our port side.  I could have reached over and shaken the skipper’s hand who gave me a cheery wave.  I’ve been at the helm of both ‘Edme’ and ‘Thistle’.

See my posts from lovely days spent on the ‘Edme’ …

https://www.samingosailing.com/thames-barge-edme/

https://www.samingosailing.com/thames-barge-the-edme/

14^th July

A final thought on self sufficiency.

I’m reminded of a spat I had with a Norwegian a few years ago who proudly proclaimed he was sailing to Shetland in the middle of winter and had picked a stormy night to do so.  I have no issue with the desire to do it.  My argument was that the individual told his viewers that he had filed a passage plan with the Norwegian Coast Guard and that if he failed to show up in Shetland, they would do a search.  He’d also published this on social media for the thrill seekers!  No idiot needs much encouragement and inspiration from, in my opinion, the wrong source, to think they can do it too.

A search and rescue attempt would almost certainly involve our own RNLI this side of the Norwegian Sea.  He argued that search and rescue would not risk their lives.  Oh yes they would and do!  The number of lives lost by those serving in the RNLI alone is huge.

The brave souls of the Shetland Bus HAD to put to sea in winter in World War 2.  They were not only at the mercy of the inevitable appalling conditions at sea but also risked death from the enemy.  The long winter nights were their only defence against discovery.  The Norwegian Sea is a tricky stretch of water in the summer, let alone the winter.  I wondered what they would think today of a fellow countryman taking on the Norwegian Sea when he did not have to?

Looking at weather forecasts only recently Doc had said “You don’t have to! It’s not wartime.”

I’ve always felt if you can’t cope you should not be out there.  If you really push boundaries, you should not expect or seek help.

I should have mentioned David Lewis several posts ago, but Lewis explains self sufficiancy beautifully in my newly arrived (1975 hardback) copy of ‘Ice Bird’.  Thanks Doc for recommending the book!

Lewis writes that it is paramount sailors need to be:

“Morally and physically self-reliant.  When we voluntarily step off the pavements we have no right to expect others to pull us back: we ought to be well enough equipped with know-how, tools and spares to be wholly self-sufficient.  Once embarked, we are on our own.  In the past I have requested that no search or rescue operations be launched on my behalf and would reiterate the sentiment.”

Know your limits!!!  More and more people put to sea who don’t’!