There were only 4 cruisers entered in the Summer Soltice Persuit Race, because of the bad weather forcast. All the boats had a good start and set off on the set times. By the time we reached the finnish line Jetwind and zoom were together beam on with RP9 not far behind ,but with the poor vis and heavy rain we cound not see The Other Woman. The final results are ; 1. Zoom 2. Jetwind 3. Rice Pudding 4. The Other Woman .
With the Storms forcast for Sunday Jetwind and the other woman returned back to Glasson . Rice Pudd and Zoom decided to sail past Piel Isle to Barrow for more shelter. At Barrow we found some good moorings. We then went for celebrations at the small sailing club (Once mentioned in an article by Brian Bristow ). What a smashing little club ,known as 'Seaweed Corner" On returning back to the dingy we had an unfortunate string of events. ( Later to be written as "lessons learned")
On Sunday we heard that 8 boats at Piel Isle had broke there Moorings.
Persuit Race Results And "Lessons Learned"
Persuit Race Results And "Lessons Learned"
Last edited by Big john on Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:58 am, edited 2 times in total.
Well done Zoom. We are all awaiting the "lessons learned" write up, believe you made BBC Cumbria news 
It was a good race John, think you got the adjusted times about right (though maybe you should have started about 20secs later 
I think there were only 8 boats moored at Piel does that mean they all came off the moorings, do you know if Florence was OK as it had been left there? Slippers became something of a hero on Sunday when he successfully berthed Jetwind on her berth in 50knot crosswinds, small crowds gathered around the marina as we locked in waiting to see the carnage, but he made it look very easy (I will put some photos and vids up later this week.) Lopuds struggling to find a new lift pump for her Volvo MD11 if anyone has 1 lying around!!!!.
It was a good race John, think you got the adjusted times about right (though maybe you should have started about 20secs later I think there were only 8 boats moored at Piel does that mean they all came off the moorings, do you know if Florence was OK as it had been left there? Slippers became something of a hero on Sunday when he successfully berthed Jetwind on her berth in 50knot crosswinds, small crowds gathered around the marina as we locked in waiting to see the carnage, but he made it look very easy (I will put some photos and vids up later this week.) Lopuds struggling to find a new lift pump for her Volvo MD11 if anyone has 1 lying around!!!!.Lessons Leared
After Rice Pudding and Zoom were moored secure in the Barrow channel preperations were made to go ashore for celebrations after the race. I blew up my Zodiac and radioed Rice Pudd who suggested we all go ashore in my dingy. I rowed across to Rice Pudd and then we paddled across to the nearby shore on Walney. We then carried the dingy up to the top of the bank and secured it and wandererd off towards the bridge across the Barrow channel.On the way to the bridge we encounted several gullies with deep mud but not to much trouble , the time now was 20.30 approx L.water. At the bridge we asked a chap if he new where the sailing club was , we were told it is next to the Ferry Inn ,just past the bridge. On arrival at the club 'Seaweed corner' we were made very welcome ,a small club with a real fire burnnig, Fine selection of Ales at half pub prices, home made patty and biccy's were laid on for us . We had made plans to leave the club no later than 22.00. What happened next I Do'nt know but when I looked at my watch and it was 23.00.We rushed to get our ollies on, outside it was now dark we made off quickly in the direction of the dingy ,some half mile away. We found the first gully part full of water,so we walked alongside this gully till it looked shallow enough to wade across. In the next 15 mins we had waded across 5 or 6 more wide gullies and the tide was starting to flood through them. At last I could see the garden light on the back of Zoom .I thought another 200 yards and we should find the dingy., but to our dismay there was a 50 yard wide gully full of water with the tide running ,between us and the dingy. Norman shouted lets get the hell out of here and we all agreed. We backtracked to the last gully we had crossed only to find it was running fast with water and some 40/50 yards across. We soon discovered that we were on a mud bank surrounded by fast flowing water in every direction . On the highest part of this mud bank we were approx 3 feet above the water ,the time was 23.45 . Swimming with ollies on was out of the question ,so we decided to call the coastguard. On my mobile phone I dialled 999 and asked for the coastguard please. A reply came Falmouth coast guard I told him of our situation and whereabouts , he told me to hang up and wait for a reply. It was only a min or so but now with time running out seemed much longer, the phone rang. It was Barrow coastguard, I told him our position and that the water was only 2-3 feet from covering the whole area. He said he had a good idea where we were,and not to move or panic,he said hang up the phone to save the batteries. He phoned 5 mins later and said the inshore lifeboat from Roa Island was been launched ,a coastguard rib from Barrow was been launched and a shore party was looking for us . Within 15 mins the RNLI and Coastguard rib was in sight. They sent up a Starlight Flare which lit up half of Barrow. Then with the help of torches and talking to the coastguard via phone they found the deep water to where we were stood . With handshakes and appologies for having to call them out they took us back to our boats and also recovered my dingy which was well afloat. After filling in the RNLI log book and placing a donation inside the book I waved goodbye ,and the ribs retuned to there bases. The time was now 00.30 I poured a large glass of Whiskey and sat in the cockpit just intime to see the last of the mudbanks disappear under water ,high water was still nearly 2 hours away. Lesson learned ; 1. Stick to your time scheduled. 2. When in unfamiliar areas Do'nt wander off in the dark.
A big thankyou to the 3 Lifeboat men, the Barrow Coastguard, The Barrow coastguard Rib Crew. and anyone else behind the scene.
Without these poeple to help us, the Longest Day nearly turned into the longest night, at the best we would have been stood in 3-4 feet of water for 2-3 hours. Please continue to give generously to the RNLI.
After the storms of Sunday we returned to 'Seaweed Corner' ,But thats another story. Big John.
A big thankyou to the 3 Lifeboat men, the Barrow Coastguard, The Barrow coastguard Rib Crew. and anyone else behind the scene.
Without these poeple to help us, the Longest Day nearly turned into the longest night, at the best we would have been stood in 3-4 feet of water for 2-3 hours. Please continue to give generously to the RNLI.
After the storms of Sunday we returned to 'Seaweed Corner' ,But thats another story. Big John.
Last edited by Big john on Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:50 pm, edited 2 times in total.
White Flares in the night sky
That's what it was all about.
We saw the flare from Bolton-le-Sands and wondered what was going on.
Glad you are all safe and sound.
. . . . Well safe!
We saw the flare from Bolton-le-Sands and wondered what was going on.
Glad you are all safe and sound.
. . . . Well safe!
thanks for sharing
thanks for sharing your experience.
i think sometimes it can be embarrassing to admit to mistakes, certainly for me!
but the warnings and lessons we learn the hard way, or that other people learn and share, are invaluable to help us less experienced people.
your openness is something that i (and maybe others) need to develop.
it is really encouraging to me when people share their experiences.
thank you again,
i think sometimes it can be embarrassing to admit to mistakes, certainly for me!
but the warnings and lessons we learn the hard way, or that other people learn and share, are invaluable to help us less experienced people.
your openness is something that i (and maybe others) need to develop.
it is really encouraging to me when people share their experiences.
thank you again,
austin
a mirror dinghy!
a mirror dinghy!
I don't know!, it's the first time I have heard of anyone calling out the RNLI to get them home from the pub.
Joking aside, it shows how these things quickly develop. I bet we all carry a mobile from now on, I always carry an oar when I ventured away from the Wayfarer out on the sands, but with the L17 I'll have to find something else, and like Austen said we can all learn from others experiences good or bad.
Joking aside, it shows how these things quickly develop. I bet we all carry a mobile from now on, I always carry an oar when I ventured away from the Wayfarer out on the sands, but with the L17 I'll have to find something else, and like Austen said we can all learn from others experiences good or bad.
I know I am an adrenaline junkie, but my goodness, you must of had buckets full. Been there with the gullies filling in the dee estuary but it was light must of been terrifying in the dark.
Glad you had the presence of mind to phone those great guys and girls from the RNLI (Coastguard) and let them do what they love, I would have probably striped and swam like an idiot. Plus don't forget your actions made a great rescue for both you and those who volunteer to safe life's, so well done.
Big enough to call for help,
Big enough to share the story
Big in his prescence
Big in his choice of boat
I give you Big John "
Thanks for sharing the story in detail lots to learn from.
from little John, Little Hog.
PS did you have your BAs on with your ollies???
What did the RNLI people say when they arrived??? Beer Gardens that way??
Glad you had the presence of mind to phone those great guys and girls from the RNLI (Coastguard) and let them do what they love, I would have probably striped and swam like an idiot. Plus don't forget your actions made a great rescue for both you and those who volunteer to safe life's, so well done.
Big enough to call for help,
Big enough to share the story
Big in his prescence
Big in his choice of boat
I give you Big John "
Thanks for sharing the story in detail lots to learn from.
from little John, Little Hog.
PS did you have your BAs on with your ollies???
What did the RNLI people say when they arrived??? Beer Gardens that way??