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Cruising |
What does cruising mean to you?
When we think of cruising we might almost automatically think of bigger yachts setting sail, generally across the channel, for a few days or weeks. Is this really the case; that cruising is the province of the owners of bigger boats? If so, fair enough, but what about smaller keelboats that don’t have the range? As far as I know and can remember, organised cruises are not well attended, the weather gets in the way of advanced planning and people may prefer to go cruising alone. So what opportunities have we got for local cruising and for smaller boat cruising?
Similar factors apply to dinghies. Can you cruise a dingy? The answer is yes but where do you go and how do you enjoy it?
Even if Castle Cove doesn’t involve itself in cruising, will cruising come to Castle Cove. What effect will the Sailing Academy have on Portland Harbour in terms of visiting boats?
What is it about cruising that is so enjoyable and how can this enjoyment be enhanced. Are there factors over and above boat handling, navigation and planning. Perhaps there’s something more intrinsic, perhaps more satisfying. What makes a good cruising skipper and a good crew? How do people get on together in a small boat for a few days, how do you cook, wash and keep warm? How much gear should you take and where is it all kept? Above all what makes cruising satisfying and enjoyable? What do you think?
One thing that sailors do, and this happens in all boats from warships, bulk carriers, tramp steamers, fishing boats and sailing boats, is they tell stories or yarns about past experiences. What stories have you got?
Here’s one of mine…
First time through the Swinge.
We were sailing back from Brittany towards Alderney and the Skipper, Norman Jefferies, had set what to me seemed an unusual course. As we approached the Casquets he asked the crew, all of whom except me were very experienced sailors, if we should go up the Swinge. Bearing in mind my family are from the Channel Islands I had heard a lot about the Swinge. I said OK but can I steer?
It wasn’t long before we were committed because the tide had increased to the extent that we couldn’t sail against it and rocks encircling Alderney made it too dangerous to steer a North West course into the Channel. The noise of the Swinge can be heard a long way off. As the noise got louder the skipper said we were only about half an hour from Bray Harbour and he would start getting the dinner ready. He went inside the cabin and started peeling some potatoes. One by one the other two crew found reasons to go inside and I was left at the wheel. As Harry Brinsden went inside he turned and nonchalantly said “Don’t worry Graham the tide’ll take us through”. And it did.
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Snow Goose Summer Cruise 2005 – A Normandy idyll