For centuries thinkers have assumed that the uniquely human capacity for reasoning has existed to let people reach beyond mere perception and reflex in the search for truth. Rationality allowed a solitary thinker to blaze a path to philosophical, moral and scientific enlightenment.
Osbert Lancaster
consultant and facilitator for sustainability
exploring the waters on my doorstep by sail and oar
"we can not be separated from our context any more than a wave can be separated from the sea"
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Info
- changemaking for sustainabilityManagement Consulting | Edinburgh, United Kingdom, GBSummaryI work with organisations, including community groups, NGOs, professional associations, businesses and universities, that want to change things for the better – in the way they operate and in the world beyond.
People call it sustainability, social responsibility, climate action, social justice etc, but for me it all comes down to the same thing – helping create the conditions where we, and the planet on which we depend, can all flourish.Specialties: delivering and supporting change, sustainability review, social impact assessment, economic impact assessment, ethical procurement, carbon footprinting, ecological footprinting, customer and competitor analysis, fairtrade, social enterprise, ethical enterprise, sustainability strategies, corporate social responsibility (CSR), culture change, social return on investment, leadership, team development, evaluationExperience- Aug 2011 - PresentCourse Organiser / University of EdinburghCourse organiser of the postgraduate course: Human Dimensions of Environmental Change and Sustainability
- Feb 2011 - PresentDirector / Changemakingchangemaking: consulting & facilitation for sustainability
helping people, organisations & planet flourish - 2008 - PresentGrants Panel Member / Scottish Government Climate Challenge FundReview funding applications and make recommendations for approval to the Minister.
- 2008 - PresentAdvisory Council Member / WWF ScotlandProviding an independent, external perspective to inform strategy, policy and practice.
- Feb 2008 - Feb 2011Director / FootprintWe design and facilitate culture change programmes
for sustainability.
Through innovative wilderness courses, mentoring, strategic planning and project support, we engage personal values to catalyse organisational and cultural change.
Our unique approach combines ecology, psychology and 20 years of very diverse practical experience. - Sept 2005 - Sept 2009Course leader / University of StrathclydeCourse leader for 'Ethical Enterprise', option class in the MSc in Human Ecology and also available a certificate of professional development.
- Apr 2001 - Jan 2008Executive Director / Centre for Human EcologyCentre for Human Ecology is a network of professionals, activists and academics generating practical change and new thinking for ecological sustainability and social justice. Offering postgraduate courses for agents of change in partnership with the University of Strathclyde.
- Apr 1997 - Mar 2001Fellow / Centre for Human EcologyResearch, consultancy, teaching, training, project development and management relating to sustainable development and the business sector.
- Apr 1994 - Mar 1997Business Development Adviser / Midlothian Enterprise TrustAdvise and consultancy support to small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Apr 1991 - Mar 1994Managing Consultant / Development Options LtdConsultancy projects for public and private sector clients in the UK and Eastern Europe.
Education-
1990 - 1991Heriot-Watt UniversityMBA
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1980 - 1985The University of EdinburghBSc (Hons) in Agricultural Science
Additional Information-
Websites:
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Tweets
- Is Sustainable Unsustainable? http://t.co/OhMhhK97 #sustainability
- RT @Revolution_Ferg: Blog Update- So Called Revolution; http://t.co/vtuzIsW4 < wild adventurer whose plans didn't include riots in Romania
- RT @AlanAtKisson: Amazement of the day: decision to build a Great Green Wall across Africa : http://t.co/gHtKhWrX <last para v important tho
- Interesting, v simple, take on apple's digital textbooks http://t.co/HCaiOz8L #mscel < not sure I buy the hype in the main piece tho
- How nice to get an email from save NHS campaign, giving +ve update, not asking for clicks or cash! http://t.co/Y5ZTTWBb
- This morning Edinburgh Council @edinburghcc salts pavement; @The_Balmoral Hotel doorman sweeps it off! Weird
- RT @Revolution_Ferg: my favorite photo from this evening's riots http://t.co/YRk5df7q < riots in Bucharest apparently not news elsewhere
- @andywightman just a subplot, but his stuff is generally based on thoro research - great on the tensions between players in enclosures
- @andywightman Great fictional account in Patrick O'Brian's The Yellow Admiral http://t.co/NfAWA2bh
- @EdinburghGreens hopefully not in a trance? That would confirm worse caricatures! I'm too old, trance or no.
- MT @Pyramid2012: Only month left to Pyramid 2012 global workshop! <interesting workshop idea. One for #ccf & #transition grps?
- MT @David_Ritter rights and wrongs of booing KPMG at #fab2012 http://t.co/vdYwDgD2 with big nod to @RichardJMurphy <exactly PROBLEM! w #csr
- MT @David_Ritter rights and wrongs of booing KPMG at #fab2012 http://t.co/vdYwDgD2 with big nod to @RichardJMurphy <exactly probkem w #csr
- @ShadeGreener that's Scottish *Parliament* not *Govt*
- @gavincorbett congratulations!
- Vote Britain http://t.co/uqj7MRjz < one of the best things I've seen about the referendum, speaking as a Saxon-Scot.
- Hmm. Planned to work with iPad today. Left it at home. Let's see how I manage with borrowed PC, cloud & iPhone. Ridiculous amount of tech.
- What a gorgeous day. The temptation to go rowing instead of preparing presentation, writing a course, doing invoices, etc is huge
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Posts
- Dec 14, 11Great animation from psychologist Tim Kasser explaining why our relentless exposure to materialism actually effects how we feel and how we behave. And how to break out of materialism's embrace.Tim has been working with Tom Crompton and others on values and frames in the Common Cause project. I've been helping organise a series of events as part of Tim's visit to Scotland which have all been oversubscribed. It looks like there's an appetite to learn more about this work, and to explore how we can apply this to our work on sustainability and social justice. In the meantime, this video is a succinct introduction to one aspect of this approach.
- Dec 11, 11
I've been rather quiet in the blog- and twitter-sphere recently as I've been very busy with two projects for the University of Edinburgh: teaching a postgrad course Human Dimensions of Environmental Change and Sustainability and helping develop a new online MSc in Global Challenges. More on the latter in due course.One of the side effects of this is spending a lot of time in academic journals, and they are not all as dry as one might imagine.
This letter to a leading journal, Nature, suggests Homo sapiens (wise man) "should be formally renamed to more accurately describe a species that is: exterminating thousands of others; releasing carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in amounts exceeding Earth's natural cycles; devoting 50 times more resources to making weapons than to sustaining the food supply; destroying forests; degrading soil; polluting water; pillaging the oceans; and damaging the atmosphere on a planetary scale".
(Note this is a short letter, there's not much more to see after logging in, so those of you without access to academic journals aren't missing much in this particular case.)
- Oct 19, 11
It was clear within a minute or so that he would fail – and for precisely the same reason that Debbie Morrison succeeded. He thought in terms of systems, KPIs, targets and guidelines. But he missed the one crucial ingredient that made the difference between success and failure. The human element, in other words.
This book is going on my wish list. But for goodness sake, why do we so often allow ourselves to fall into the trap of believing it's all about systems and not about people? Both are needed.
- Oct 03, 11
I recently trained as a facilitator of Carbon Conversations, a set of inspiring group discussions about and around climate change. The programme has been chosen by the Guardian as one of the twenty best solutions to climate change.Carbon Conversations was designed by psychologist Rosemary Randall for community settings. With Pam McLean, a leading Carbon Conversations practitioner, I'm exploring how Carbon Conversations can help organisations, their staff and their networks engage with and take action on climate change. Pam has piloted Carbon Conversations in several workplaces with encouraging results.
We believe Carbon Conversations can help public, private and third sector organisations develop, motivate and expand 'green teams'; involve staff with the implementation of sustainability and CSR strategies; and engage with local communities and other stakeholders on climate change.
We plan to launch more formally soon, but if you'd like to be in the first wave, or to discuss partnering with us, please let me know.
Carbon Conversations is supported by the Climate Outreach Information Centre. For background on the course visit carbonconversations.org.
- Oct 03, 11
This should be interesting:
The Scottish Government is organising a research conference on Values and Climate Change Behaviours on 14th December 2011. WWF Scotland has invited Professor Tim Kasser - http://www.knox.edu/tkasser.xml - to Edinburgh for a series of events, and our research conference is one of these.
A general invitation will be issued shortly. For now, however, we're issuing a call for papers for the conference. Anyone with research findings to communicate on climate change behaviours and values is welcome to submit an abstract / proposal, setting out what they would like to present. Please note that we probably won't be able to accept all proposals. Initial details of the event and how to submit an abstract are below.
Please feel free to circulate this call for papers to colleagues and around networks.
Background Information
Aims: To enable the audience to hear about and discuss research about values, and the importance of values in taking action on climate change.
Date and time: 14th December from 10am-4pm
Venue: Victoria Quay (Scottish Government building), Edinburgh. Main room holds 100, plus options for smaller sessions in adjacent rooms.
Likely audience: Mix of academics, doctoral students, environmental NGOs, Local Government staff, Scottish Government staff (policy-makers and analysts)
Format: Likely to be a mix of keynote presentations and smaller discussion groups. We might also have a panel session at the end of the day. We're not restricting the call to papers to particular themes at this stage, so the format of the event is still quite open.
How to submit an abstract: If you have relevant research findings to share, please prepare an abstract (short proposal) of no more than one page of A4, setting out the material you'd like to present. Please bear in mind that presentations in most cases will be 15 minutes long, although we might have flexibility for longer sessions in some cases (please indicate if you would need a longer slot). Please send your abstracts to paul.tyrer@scotland.gsi.gov.uk by Weds 19th October. We'll confirm by end October whether your paper's been selected for the event.
Dr Paul Tyrer
Principal Research Officer : Environment
RESAS
Scottish Government
Tel: (0131) 244 7331
- Aug 18, 11
…we have identified a set of values and beliefs which represent a fertile psychological orientation for ‘anti social behaviour’, particularly among the under 25s, those most in evidence during the riots.
We call this area the Danger Zone.
via cultdyn.co.ukInteresting analysis and perspective on the first 'consumer riots'. I've a lot of time for the approach of Cultural Dynamics.
- Aug 12, 11via greenbiz.com
We need more business leaders like Ray Anderson, the CEO of a successful multinational manufacturing company:
"He rediscovered a sacred earth with all its complexity, beauty and mystery, free from the constraints of this or that ideology, free from narrow-minded thinking, and he was freed to reimagine the relationship between humanity and nature with Interface as the model. No longer were there human systems and ecosystems. They were one system and he understood that the laws of physics and biology prevailed."
Sadly no longer with us. Click the link under the image for the full eulogy from Paul Hawken.
- Aug 04, 11
Recession Puts Babies on Hold
Tiny House Movement Thrives Amid Real Estate Bust
Home Production Falls as Economy Languishes
Global Coal Use Stagnates Despite Growing Chinese and Indian Markets
Total Municipal Waste Generation Dropped
Home Depot Calls a Halt to Rapid Expansion
European Union Carbon Pollution Drops
GM to Close Hummer
Gasoline Spike Fuels Surge in U.S.
Bicycle Sales Bottled Water Consumption Growth Slows
30-Year Growth Spurt Ends for Average American House Size
Ad Spending Down
Airlines Ground More Than 11% of Their Jets
Breast Implants are Deflating Along With the Economy
More Than 400 Meetings in Las Vegas Recently Cancelled
2nd Home Market Declined 30%Dave Gardner asks why alternative views on growth are not given airtime in coverage of the recession. Which is a good question given the presence of climate deniers to provide 'balance' on that subject.
http://steadystate.org/good-news-economic-recovery-stalls/ - Aug 03, 11
I vividly remember a young campaigner who was convinced that if only he could craft the perfect report, with impeccable evidence and flawless logic, it would change the minds of the people he wanted to influence. So often this seem to be the default position, but most of the time it's wrong - or at least not sufficient.
The Common Cause Handbook explains why, and outlines clearly how understanding and engaging with people's values is not only helpful, but almost certainly essential to bring about the sort of change that's needed in the world - and in our communities and organisations.
The Handbook is a superb and very readable summary of a large body of psychological research, so I wont waste time summarising the summary here. However, for me the most powerful insights are:
- Our values are connected - if we hold certain values, we are likely to hold certain other, related values;
- Appealing to particular values reinforces not only those values, but also related values;
- If, in promoting environmental or social behaviour change, we appeal to values like material success or social status, we are actually undermining the very changes we are seeking.
I could urge you to read the Handbook because it will help you earn higher consultancy fees, or to gain status in your organisation. But that would be reinforcing exactly the sort of values that got us into this environmental and social mess in the first place.
So I wont say that. Instead, read it to be inspired by it's potential to get us out of that mess and help people, organisations and planet to flourish.
Common Cause Handbook: online; download
- Jul 25, 11
Addressing climate change requires us to create "an alternative set of cultural meanings that don’t variously affirm and threaten different groups’ identities". Gore is wrong: climate change does not require, a "battle for people's souls".
Spot on!
- Jul 21, 11
Wise words from Alan - though as I comment on his blog - I'd go further.
Edit: click the link for the wise words - the image is really just decorative!
- Jul 20, 11
Got an email yesterday from someone looking for a copy of a report I wrote back in 2008, about the social return on investment from East Ayrshire Council's healthy, unprocessed, local and organic school meals. I thought it would be useful to repost the blog and report that were previously on our now-closed Footprint Consulting website.
I wrote:
There aren't many opportunities for a 6:1 return on your money at the moment, but East Ayrshire's school meals programme is one of them. East Ayrshire Council's healthy, unprocessed, local and organic school meals have won many awards, and now our study demonstrates the benefits in financial terms.I worked with Haldane Associates and used Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology to calculate that the extra £71,000 spent on East Ayrshire's 'Food for Life' school meals last year (compared with 'normal' school meals), created over £500,000 of economic, social and environmental benefit for stakeholders.The £500,000 worth of benefits from the Food for Life school meals are in line with the objectives of East Ayrshire Council and other stakeholders, and contribute to the achievement of East Ayrshire's Single Outcome Agreement.Any study that aims to put financial value on non-financial benefits like a better health and a greener environment has to make many assumptions. Varying these assumptions - sensitivity analysis - suggests the value of the return is unlikely to be below £3 for every £1 invested.
I haven't worked with SROI for a while, and while it may seem a little removed from my current focus on supporting organisational and social change for sustainability, it's actually a very useful tool for engaging with some audiences. As I wrote in 2008:Calculating the social (and environmental) return on investment can help you: understand how your project is delivering benefit to society and the planet; communicate those benefits effectively; and plan future developments to get the best from limited resources. It's not the only tool, and it's not right for every situation, but I think it's pretty useful. Get in touch if you'd like to find out more.
And if anyone knows what's happened with the EAC school meals programme since then, I'd be interested to hear about it.
That invitation still stands! - Jul 19, 11
With support from Oxfam, WWF and Action for Children, the Public Interest Research Centre wrote the Common Cause handbook to summarise the relevant research on values and frames and its implications in a clear, concise and easily-digestible form. The Handbook outlines what values are; how they relate to frames; why they are important in addressing major national and international problems; and how they change over time. It argues for more involving and participatory groups and organisations, and emphasises the importance of working together across different organisations to help foster more 'intrinsic' values in society.
How come I missed the launch of this until now?
I've always been a huge admirer of Tom Crompton's work, but he deals with complex stuff and it's not always easy to grasp or get into. At a quick glance this handbook seems to live up to the claim to be 'clear, concise and easily-digestible'.
- Jul 19, 11
An interesting tool from the Transition movement to explore the 'ingredients' needed to develop initiatives for the transition to a sustainable society.
I can also see ways of developing this approach in other contexts.
- Jul 18, 11
The Low Carbon Route Maps "were a clear success" according to the review of the Climate Challenge Fund for the Scottish Government (chapter 6). I'm particularly pleased that we - me and my co-authors - met our aim and "struck a good balance between robust data and ease of data collection".The Low Carbon Route Maps were well received by most of those projects that were aware of them, though there was one comment about the food Route Map being too simplistic. In general, though, the Route Maps would appear to help strike a balance between obtaining robust data and not detracting from project delivery. They also appealed to those who struggled with evaluation and seemed to want to be told how to do it. Not all project managers were aware of the Route Maps, however, and increasing their awareness of these could be beneficial.
On a less self congratulatory note, the review has many important lessons for anyone developing a community climate change or sustainability project, and for agencies looking to encourage and support community action in these areas. The review was conducted by Brook Lyndhurst and Ecometrica: full report (114 pp), summary report (6 pp).
I led the production of the Route Maps working with Evan Williams and Alan Speedie. The Route Maps are on the Climate Challenge Fund site, but easier to find here.
If you need to communicate complex ideas about sustainability in ways which are relevant and engaging for the audience, contact me because it seems to be one of the things people say I do rather well. - Jul 15, 11
"We will not transition successfully to a restorative economy until systems thinking becomes as natural, for millions of people, as riding a bike. That's a big ask. How do we get from here, to there?" asked John Thackera.
Here are his suggestions, from his keynote at the Buckminster Fuller Challenge Awards, a $100,000 prize to support the development and implementation of a strategy that has significant potential to solve humanity’s most pressing problems.
Stay niche
The world needs a new kind of design based on an ethical framework in which life is the ultimate source of value; that re-conceives mainstream notions of "development"; and that drives the transition from an extractive economy (minerals and hydrocarbons) to a restorative economy. That framework may be niche now, but it's the way of the future. And besides, there's a ton of work to be done re-imagining the kinds of value that design can create. The Buckminster Fuller Challenge (BFC) is one of the few platforms for this essential work - and many many people are waiting for someone to take a lead here.
Embrace wickedness
The discontinuities we face - in terms of climate change, financial systems, and resource flows - are all so-called ‘wicked problems’ that do not lend themselves to a single-vision, top down, design approach. Fuller anticipated this uncertainty and counselled people to accept that life always tends to unfold in unexpected ways. Just as one cannot step into the same river twice, each and every design project - and the people, land, and context - are, or should be, unique. I'm sure many people really don't want to hear more solutions from on-high who can't possible know what will happen; what they want is more thougthful conversation about open ended questions. BFC is the place for these interactions.
Edit out the genius stuff
Peter Drucker famously warned that "no institution can possibly survive if it needs geniuses or supermen to manage it". The same goes for systems thinking, and systems design. Fuller was a genius who could see what needed to be done - but much of his language is hard for most of us mere mortals to grasp: "reductionist thinking"…"reflexive default"…"design science revolution"…."preferred state" …."whole systems approach"…."replicable" and so on. By all means use those words backstage - but not in the main hall.
Be a breathing space
In 1970 Bucky Fuller wrote, "I don't know what I am. I don't fit into a category. I seem to be a verb". Many people involved in today's sustainable alternatives - design's ‘outliers’ - feel the same. They - we - often plough lonely furrows and need to to support each other more. The BFC can help to meet that need - just as we are doing here this evening: breathing the same air.
Prepare to get political
David Orr wisely alerted us to this at this year's prize giving event. All things bottom-up, spontaneous and emergent are fine - up to a point. But here we are, a generation into all of that, and our overall position continues to decline. As Charlotte du Cann wrote recently, 'Transition is changing tempo..history is coming into our streets and into our lives and we need to know how to act.'
Read the full article here.
- Jul 11, 11
In time, these companies [with a more effective corporate form] will push aside the kind of corporate dinosaurs that minimise the pay of their lowest and maximise the pay of their highest echelons, a sign of fatal inflexibility and short-term thinking.
They will do so because these companies will earn more money, waste less on leadership fantasies and will be more successful.
via neweconomics.orgI'd like to believe this isn't just wishful thinking. - Jul 08, 11
Now some researchers are suggesting that reason evolved for a completely different purpose: to win arguments. Rationality, by this yardstick (and irrationality too, but we’ll get to that) is nothing more or less than a servant of the hard-wired compulsion to triumph in the debating arena. According to this view, bias, lack of logic and other supposed flaws that pollute the stream of reason are instead social adaptations that enable one group to persuade (and defeat) another. Certitude works, however sharply it may depart from the truth.
via nytimes.comRegardless of the 'truth' of this idea, the issues here illustrates why relying on rational argument alone to change people's attitudes and behaviours is not a good idea.
- Jun 30, 11
The Masters in Environment and Development explores the links between environmental change and the well-being and dignity of people living in poverty.
via ed.ac.ukI'm helping facilitate a short field trip for students on Edinburgh University's MSc in Environment and Development. We'll be exploring the transition as students finish their studies and prepare to put their new expertise and insights into practice in the world.
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Posts
- Aug 27, 11
An imagination approach to tacking in heavy weather without a mizzen from Ben:
http://theinvisibleworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/08/ssummer-cruise-part-6-sudden... - Aug 01, 11
A couple of months ago I was invited to talk at Nights of Adventure to raise funds and awareness for Hope and Homes for Children.
I was one of "an eclectic group of adventurous souls came together to give an evening of Pecha Kucha style talks". Each talk consists of 20 slides which scroll automatically after just 20 seconds.
Organiser Alastair Humphreys said: "It is an unusual, challenging presentation format" - damn right it is, especially when you know there are 400 people in the audience, but you can't see any of them as you're blinded by the spotlights!
You can watch videos of other presenters here - most of them are real adventurers who run across the Sahara, walk to the Poles etc. You can make a donation here.
Image by Gary Troughton via Flickr
- Aug 01, 11
Even if the wind is fitful and the weather changeable, it's good to be on the water.I launched late morning from Portobello beach and spent the day on the Firth of Forth, sailing, rowing and fishing.
I'm in the early stages of getting to grips with video and I'm discovering it's not as easy at it looks - and realising the amount of time it takes to produce even a short video.
As a result I'm increasingly appreciating the skill - and commitment - of Dylan Winter with his Keep Turning Left series. His sailing videos are superb, but then he is a professional video maker!
- Jul 10, 11
I've known for long time I ought to practice capsizing, but I've never quite got around to it. On Sail Caledonia, the evening at Loch Oich is scheduled for capsize practice. After initial reluctance, in view of the cold weather, I decided it was too good an opportunity to miss and climbed into my drysuit.
The only other boat to go for it was Elsie, a Caledonian Yawl, seen here bailing out.
Over we go. I capsized by sailing a beam reach, pulling the boom into the centre line and moving myself to the leeward gunwale.
With bouyancy tanks fore and aft, and forming the side benches, the Walkabout floats high.
Floating high, and the wind on her hull, she's turned turtle.
The bungie which holds the daggerboard down did its job even while inverted. It was easy enough to grab the board, and pull Scratch back onto her side.
Keep pulling. I can't remember if I actually had to climb onto the board, but she certainly came up very easily.
And up she came. I was easily able to boost myself over the gunwale without needing a strop for my foot.
Once aboard I discovered the water came to just below the seat tops, and - at least in these calm conditions - she was stable enough for me to stand up to bail her out.Martin Balcombe, chair of Sail Caledonia, and an experienced dinghy cruiser and sailing instructor, was very impressed with Scratch's performance in the capsize practice, a testament to John Welsford's excellent design.
A couple of days later I capsized for real (at the bottom of this post) and was grateful I'd taken this opportunity.
Lessons learned - and stuff to think about:
- Capsize practice is important. If you haven't already done it, do it!
- Keep everything secure so it can't float away. For the practice I'd taken all my kit out. I had already been securing it all with lanyards, but the test reinforced the importance of this.
- When I capsized for real, I didn't have the daggerboard down - but I knew I'd need it so it was the first thing I grabbed to prevent it floating away. Not sure I'd want to tie it in with a lanyard though. Anyway, I'm almost sure I'm going to change to a swinging off--centreboard over the winter.
- My anchor lives in chocks under the foredeck and is held in place with bungie. It was fine in the test, but did shift in the real capsize test, although it didn't actually come loose. I think I'll replace the bungie with lashings.
- Capsizing for real, there was a lot of stuff floating around attached with light lanyards, including the oars. There's a real risk of getting tangled in the lines. I plan to keep lanyards as short as possible to minimise the risk.
All images © John Macpherson)
- Jul 05, 11
Michael Storer's Goat Island Skiff has the same sail configuration as my Walkabout. Some useful advice about downwind sailing - would have come in useful on my recent trip along the Great Glen. (click the link under the photo)
- Jul 04, 11
On my recent trip along the Great Glen, I slept for six nights in my boat tent. I only finished making the tent the day before I left and hadn't even had time to put it up, let alone test it. Luckily it worked, but I'm not sure the boat tent is going to be my favourite overnight accommodation. (Image © John Macpherson) Making the tent I - more or less - followed the plans that John Welsford supplied with the boat plans. Wooden blocks to hold the ends of the poles. I had hoped to use the rowlock sockets, but they weren't in the right place, at least not forward, and the angle of them put too much curve on the poles. Gelert tent poles seem to be the only poles readily available on the internet. They do the job, but the curve is pretty much near the limit of their flexibility, and the elastic for threading them doesn't last long. I used polythene dust-sheets to make the pattern. Medium duty from B&Q is tissue-thin, if I was doing this again I'd use something heavier. Adjusting to get a good fit was tricky, especially as the poles keep flexing.I bought all my supplies from Point North who were very helpful. I could have used a breathable fabric, but settled on coated nylon (D4 at Points North) as it was much cheaper.
I sewed and fitted the body of the the tent before fitting the doors. The doors I finally completed the day before I set off.
First night in the boat tent. One thing I hadn't thought about was getting in and out of the tent when moored against the lock wall like this! It can be done with care.In addition to the wide doors on either side, as specified by JohnW, I also made small openings either end so I could adjust the mooring lines.
I choose a dark colour because of the short nights in Scotland, I didn't want the light wakening me. As we had little sun on the trip I couldn't test this feature too well.
Looking aft. The camera is on the part of the foredeck inside the coaming, the grey thing is my shoulder, my head's under the camera. While there's quite a lot of room, there's also quite a lot of stuff - two pairs of oars, buckets, daggerboard, tiller etc, let alone my bags, sleeping bag and so on. I didn't have any food or cooking equipment as catering was provided on the barge, Fingal of Caldeonia, I slept on two Thermarest self inflating mattresses; very comfortable.
So how was it?
In a word - damp. Not any fault of the design, but the weather. It rained heavily at the start of the trip, it was windy and pretty cold.
Putting up the tent was easy so long as I started at the windward end. The next step was to wipe the entire inside of the boat down with a sponge to remove the rain and mud. I could then put down the sleeping mats and get into my sleeping bag.
But with the combination of rain and condensation, the inside of the tent was soon covered in droplets of water. Some of this was from the seams, but I think it was mainly condensation, despite the vent I'd included at the suggestion of the helpful woman at PointNorth. And then the drops ran down the inside of the tent, and if the rain was heavy and it was windy, water dropped onto to me too. This was partly I think due to the tunnel design which means the 'roof' is fairly flat - with a ridge pole tent the water is more likely to run down the walls.Getting into and out of the tent without creating a shower of water from the fabric was impossible. I slept with my oilskins over my sleeping bag. A couple of times I had to sponge the floor dry when I woke up in the night. Fitting guylines at each end running to the masts might help keep the fabric tight and avoid so much dripping.
Having said all this, I'm not sure I'd have been much better off camping on land in a small tent - on one bad night several of the people camping on land had their tents blow down, or at least had the walls pushed against them by the strong winds.The tent packs up small and takes very little room, so I think it's worth taking on any trip for emergencies or for when camping ashore is not possible. However, if I was cruising where wild camping was legal (Scotland) I think I'd take a normal tent and try and find a pleasant on shore campsite if I could.
Of course, if we'd been blest with great weather, I might be singing the praises of my boat tent!
- Jun 27, 11
My recent week-long trip along the Great Glen, as part of Sail Caledonia, was a great opportunity to really get to know Scratch, my Walkabout (kind comments from designer John Welsford), and to improve my sailing skills. Here are some of the things I discovered. (Image © Dimitris Prokakis)
My normal sailing area is the Firth of Forth. I usually only have a couple of hours on the water, so I rarely sail to anywhere in particular. Depending on the wind direction, I tend to either tack upwind for a while and then return, or reach back and forward. I rarely have to worry about my upwind sailing ability - or have the chance to test it against other boats.
Gaining on Oughted Whilly Boat Storyteller (Image © John Macpherson)Sail Caledonia was a different story. Narrow lochs and a specific destination to head for - either the race course or supper, or both! I soon discovered my upwind sailing skills were not great. Thanks to the iPhone, an email to the Welsford Builders Forum soon resulted in some useful advice. The only piece of advice I could act on at the time was to keep the luff very tight. I knew that, but for some reason had allowed things to get a bit slack. I was also given useful advice to add, and use, telltales, and ways of lacing the sail to improve tension. I'll explore these in due course.
Medusa and Lapsus racing in the driving rain. I'm crewing in Lapsus where I learnt a few tricks (Image © John Macpherson)After this, rather annoyingly, I only had one opportunity for upwind sailing! That's slightly unfair; I could have entered a race at the south end of Loch Ness on the day we were waiting at Fort Augustus for the wind to ease. However, I decided to crew for Bart in Lapsus rather than risk struggling in rather wild conditions - more of this in a later post.
Apparently, whatever the wind direction across the country, the wind in the Great Glen is always either up or down the Glen. As the wind was generally south westerly, between F3 and F6, we were blown up Glen like peas in a peashooter. A great opportunity to test the Walkabout's downwind sailing ability. In a word - superb.
Oughtred Caledonian Yawl Elsie on a run (Image © John Macpherson)In two races, all running or broad reaching Scratch steadily gained on and overtook most of the boats in her class. The only boat that we couldn't catch was the much larger Caledonian Yawl, Elsie. To achieve this performance we needed the stronger winds, in lighter airs some of the other boats gained ground.
Looking north east up Loch Ness (Image from Nasa)
Loch Ness is a big body of water - 27 miles long - and with the wind pushing up the glen, waves build up quite strongly. On the Thursday we were to sail the whole length of the loch in two races, before and after lunch. The wind was very light at the start, although forecast to rise later, so I set off without a reef. I sailed off the pontoon and the short distance down the canal onto the loch, rather than rowing which is my normal way of leaving dry land. In the event the wind was so light, I drifted very slowly towards the start line and, even with lots of tiller waggling, got there after everyone else had left.
The wind soon rose and we made good progress down the loch, steadily gaining on the rest of the fleet - except the three boats Lapsus, Medusa and Somervind, which had chosen to do the 'Loch Ness Challenge' - a longer race to the head of the loch, back into the wind, and then up to the head again. (Only Medusa completed that race, the others found beating back down the loch too much for more than a short time.)
Scratch, downwind under full sail. Given the forecast, and the fact no rowing was planned, I was in my drysuit. (Image © John Macpherson)The course was a zigzag up the loch, running and broad reaching, finishing at Urquhart Castle. I felt pretty good about my performance here - the wind by now was F5 with gusts, and a swell of 3 feet or so had got up. Broad reaching towards the castle with full sail was exhilarating. If I'd been sailing alone I'd certainly have reefed by now, but I was racing and in second place - and there were safety boats out with us.
Hurley, a Drascombe Longboat, heading toward the finish line below Castle Urquhart (Image © Steve Sim)The finish line was beyond the castle in the bay, after crossing it I had to tack up to the beach below the castle. With the castle, promontory and trees the wind was very flukely, and I had to sail back out into the loch into the full force of the wind as I tacked in. After racing with Lapsus the day before, I was confidently sitting up on the side deck with the tiller extension (hiking stick) in hand. I made it on to the beach, managing to keep the mast out of the trees. Despite the perhaps more extreme sailing to come later that day, this part - the last broad reach, over the line and up to the beach, is the bit of sailing in the whole trip of which I feel most proud.
Lunch below Urquhart Castle (Image © John Macpherson)After lunch, Martin, Sail Caledonia's head honcho, briefed us about the change of plan. The wind wasn't now forecast to ease in the afternoon, the waves at the north end were 3 - 4 feet and choppy. The final leg of the race was cancelled. Instead we were to sail up the loch keeping together and close by the safety boats.
I furled the mizzen and reefed the main. I also shifted my bags to bring the weight a bit further aft and made sure my drogue (sea-anchor) was ready to deploy in case I needed to get the sail fully down. The drogue would not only stop us drifting to fast, but also keep us head to wind, and waves, while I got the sail down.
The Loch Ness sleigh ride (Image © Derek Wales)
As soon as I left the shelter of the castle we were hurling up the loch as a great pace, heading for the southern side as the waves were reportedly less severe over there. The instruction to keep close to the rest of the fleet was impossible to follow - we were flying and I was already fully reefed. I think most others were under jib or jib and mizzen.
Scratch from Hurley as I overtook. I don't remember quite so much whitewater. (Image © Derek Wales)
The swell was quite impressive, but Scratch handled it beautifully so long as I kept my weight right back. One time, I can't remember why, I moved forward a bit, and the bow was buried in the back of the wave ahead of us - but even so the surface of the wave remained below the level of the deck.
It was never actually alarming, but I felt I was right on the edge of my ability here, this was definitely learning by doing. But after a while, I started to feel more on top of things, especially as Scratch's seaworthiness became more and more evident.
I think another set of reef points would help keep the speed down. (Image © Derek Wales)Given the speed we were traveling it wasn't long - either that or time was flying - before I needed to broad reach across to the northern side to avoid getting trapped in the bay at Dores. We then continued towards the narrows which lead into Loch Dochfour. I spotted one of the big sightseeing boats heading out of the narrows. Not wanting to find out how much space we both needed, I reached across towards Lochend.Despite the intense concentration I was enjoying this immensely. (Image © Derek Wales)Once the cruiser had moved on, I decided to head back towards the narrows. The wind was F5/6, the waves 3 - 4 ft and very choppy as we were getting near the head of the loch. Tack or gybe? Tack or gybe? I saw one of the safety had headed over to check on me. No standing rigging, let the mainsheet go all the way out - a gybe will be fine. I gybed. As the boom went across, the tiller caught on my body as I passed it behind me, and - over we went.Thanks to the capsize test a couple of days before I was not alarmed - especially as the safety boat was nearby. They soon gave me a line and made sure nothing important was floating away, took me on board and gently towed Scratch, floating on her side to the shallows. Given the waves, and the lee shore, they felt that would be more sensible than me trying to right and bail out Scratch. I think I could have, especially with the drogue to slow the drift and keep her head to wind, but I was happy to rest.The fleet at Loch Dochfour (Image © John Macpherson)Once in the shallows, in a little sheltered bay, we took a line to the trees, and I bailed her out, raised the sail, and sailed on to another little bay at the head of Loch Doch Four where the fleet were gathering.Even as I was surfing Loch Ness, feeling very pleased at how well I was doing in these pretty wild conditions, I thought to myself……pride comes before a fall. Indeed it does, and before a capsize. (Image © Derek Wales)Lessons learnt - and things to think about- Scratch is powerful and fast downwind, especially in stronger winds. Keep weight aft.
- Perhaps too fast in F5/6, I was in control all the time, but near the edge. A second set of reef points perhaps.
- Keep the luff really tight for upwind sailing. I've since re-arrange the downhaul cleat to make this easier.
- Consider fitting telltales.
- The gap between the end of the boom and the tiller was too tight, making it difficult to put the tiller across when keeping out of the way of the boom when gybing. I've since shortened the tiller by 6 inches of so, a definite improvement.
- I've since been quite strongly advised that the Fleecy Buff and Tilley Hat combo is not a good look.
- Jun 17, 11From west to east across Scotland by sail and oar, along the Great Glen, is surely one of the world's great journeys. The stunning scenery, the magnificent engineering of the Caledonian Canal, and a superb opportunity to test oneself, and ones boat, is challenging conditions, while being supported by a professional team.I did this voyage as part of Sail Caledonia, a 'raid' organised by the Great Glen Boating Club. This was the first time I've taken part, but I doubt it will be the last. I had a great time, gained valuable experience and enjoyed lots of time on the water. I'll be writing later about the experience and some of the lessons I've learnt, but for now, here's a few photos.Launching, Lochaber Yacht Club, Fort William © Bart MullerAuk and Scratch waiting to enter the sea lock at Corpach © John Macpherson
Coming into the sea lock at Corpach © John Macpherson
Scratch with tent © John Macpherson. It wasn't all hardship. Fingal of Caledonia, the barge in the background, provided supper and bar every night - as well as breakfast and packed lunches.Lunch time, Loch Lochy
Lapsus at anchorRowing along the canal to Laggan Bridge © Bart MullerScratch and Storyteller, an Oughtred Whilly BoatEnjoying a tow from Hurley, Drascombe Longboat
Bart Muller, Lapsus. Racing on Loch Ness, crewing for Bart in Lapsus. F4/5 and heavy rain. Learnt a few tricks from Bart.
Capsize practice: over we go © John MacphersonComing up © John Macpherson
Evidence of sun on Loch Ness in the morning.
Running up Loch Ness © Dimitris Prokakis. The wind had been light earlier, but had now risen F5. I hadn't reefed, I was doing well in the race and wanted to keep it that way.Hurley arrives at Urquhart Castle © Steve Sim. No photo of Scratch arriving - we were already here having finished second. Ha!
Loch Oich © John Macpherson
Scratch and Storyteller © John Macpherson
Running on Loch Oich © John Macpherson
Running on Loch Ness © Dimitris Prokakis. Before setting off after lunch I'd reefed as far as I could. Reef in the main and the mizzen furled.
Surfing on Loch Ness. Glad of those reefs. F5/6, 1m waves at this end of Loch Ness.
Resting after the hard sailing on Loch Ness. The flotilla gathered together before heading up Loch Dochfour and into the canal to Dochgarroch.
The swing bridge carrying the A862 opens for us at Muirton © Steve Sim
Waiting for the locks at Muirton © John Macpherson
Scratch at N Kessock by Chris Perkins
End of the voyage © Chris Perkins. On the slip way at North Kessock on the Beauly Firth.One of the great side benefits of sailing in company, is that I at last have some good photos of Scratch sailing. Thanks to all the various photographers. Links to some of the original photos - and many more - on the Sail Caledonia Facebook page and the Sail Caledonia Galleries. All images here are © the photographer as noted. Those unattributed are either mine, or from someone else - and I forgot who - but can find out if you want to use the images.I plan to write up different aspects of this wonderful week in the future, in particular focussing on what I learnt about my boat and my sailing skills.
- Jun 07, 11
- Jun 05, 11
Home yesterday after a tremendous journey by sail and oar across Scotland from west to east as part of Sail Caledonia - across a sea loch, the Caledonian Canal, Loch Ness and on to the Beauly Firth. Over 50 nm as the crow flies.
One thing I learnt is that sailing singlehanded, it's difficult to take photographs, especially in more exciting conditions. There's a lot I want to write about, but I'll wait until I have access to other people's photographs.
Over the next few weeks, I plan to share my experience of long distance cruising in the Welsford Walkabout, including sleeping on board under the boat tent. This will include the news that not only is it possible to surf in the Walkabout, but also that you can travel most of the length of Loch Ness that way. I'll also tell how I went swimming with Nessie.
- May 29, 11
Arrived at Lochaber Yacht Club yesterday and met up with the rest of the Sail Caledonia fleet. Launched and sailed to the entrance to the Caledonian Canal at Corpach. The wind was F5/6, so it was quite a sleigh ride under reefed main and no mizzen. Tried out my new boat tent for the first time last night. It stayed up and didn't leak too much in the heavy wind and rain. Bit saggy in middle, could probably do with guy ropes to the top of the hoops. This morning drove the car and trailer to Inverness while the boats went up Neptunes Staircase - a sequence of eight locks. The raid organisers kindly took Scratch through while I was away.After lunch, a rowing race along the canal. Fast with a strong following wind, but very difficult to keep the boat straight. Apparently a chop on the canal is unusual. Eventually I was unable to keep the boat straight in a gust, touched the bank and leapt out with a line. Safety boat was on hand, and one of the guys offered to come and take the tiller. I decided this was no time to be proud. Having the extra weight at the stern, and most importantly having the rudder down, made a huge difference - like rowing a different boat. Might try lashing the tiller if I'm rowing in those conditions again. Racing on Loch Lochy is scheduled for tomorrow. Hoping the weather improves. This morning Loch Ness had a four foot swell and lots of white horses. Blowing right up the loch.
Photo © Bart Muller
- May 28, 11
It seemed like a great idea all those months ago when I signed up for Sail Caledonia. Looks more like madness from the cafe in Tyndrum in the Highlands, sheets of rain falling outside, and news on the radio that bridges are closed due to high winds.I'm on the road to Fort William for the start of the week long raid by sail and oar, from one side of Scotland to the other, along the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness to Inverness.
The sun is shining now, time for a dash to the car, and onwards to the launch point. I just wish we didn't have a week of wind force 5 and rain forecast. At least the wind is south westerly.
- Jan 28, 11
20+ knots from the cockpit of an openboat at sea looks something like this... David Perillo's Navigator Jaunty
Over on the John Welsford Builders forum there's been a discussion about the differences between some of his boats as people decide which one to build.In the process, John reveals some more information about Walkabout:
On 25/01/2011 4:38 AM, John Welsford wrote
Walkabout, as someone pointed out, was designed for the Maine Island Trail, or more exactly a trip from North Carolina to northern Maine which involved rivers, canals, wide stretches of tidal shallows with potentially strong winds, (very choppy) and wide open ocean spaces of up to 50 miles in the North Atlantic, she's without a doubt the most seaworthy of all my open boats, and some of the other designs have completed some astounding journeys.
Alan followed up with:
Hello John
Would you care to elaborate further on how & why you regard Walkabout as your most seaworthy open boat?
On 25 January 2011 18:43, John Welsford wrote:That's about a half hour lecture Alan. But it has to do with a hull shape that has a particular righting moment curve, that is of a shape that will ride heavy seas without rolling heavily, a rig that can be struck and is of very moderate area, built in bouyancy enough to sail the boat when swamped, decked in ends, fine ended shape and on and on.She is a boat that is primarily a rowing boat with some concession to sailing, sails well but does not have the wide beam and high initial stability of the others which are sailing boats first and foremost. They will sail better, but for ultimate survival the Walkabout has an edge on the others.Mind you we are talking about conditions here that no reasonable person would consider taking an open boat out in, and David Perillo will tell you that midnight in 35 knots of wind and cresting 3 metre waves 20 miles off shore was a good trial for his Navigator and he's still here to tell the tale.John WelsfordI've no plans to go out in anything like those conditions, but it's reassuring to know Scratch could cope, so long as I develop the necessary skills - and enough sea room. She certainly handled beautifully in my first experience of bad weather - on Scatch's first voyage.Here's a video of David Perillo in his Navigator in less extreme weather:I've just ordered a waterproof camera, so I should soon be able to post more pictures and videos of Scratch on the water. But I doubt I'll have enough spare hands for filming in very rough seas!
- Dec 05, 10
You may have heard we've had more snow than we usually do here in Scotland. Today I decided that walks on the beach are really no substitute for rowing. Clear blue sky, slight sea and a light westerly - time to row.I set off down the road to the sailing club mid-morning, but it wasn't quite a straightforward as expected.
First task. Clear the snow and ice of Scratch.
Then discover the quad bike battery is flat. Work out how remove seat to get at battery. Find tool kit and remove leads. Discover battery is jammed in place with straw and muck. Get light cord from boat. Fix to terminals and use it as a handle to lift the battery out. Take battery home, find charger...
Back to the beach where the council have left a huge pile of snow at the top of the access ramp. Luckily I'd spotted this yesterday and brought my shovel. Shift snow and spread some sand off the beach on the ramp.
Back home, quick early lunch. Remove battery from charger, take battery back to the sailing club, put quad back together.
Quad starts! Tow Scratch down to the beach. Return quad to yard. Launch Scratch leaving trolley on the beach.
The eagle-eyed viewer will have noticed the foremast is still in the boat. Frozen into the mast step.
And we're off. Rowed eastward to the end of the beach and then returned westward, past the end of the beach, past the cat and dog home and then into a minute bay next to the sewage works. The wind had risen a bit and a wanted a bit of shelter to eat my flapjack and drink my coffee.
It was amazing how much clearer the air is in this weather. I don't think I've ever seen so much detail in Fife across the water - I could see the layout of the streets in the towns. Unfortunately my camera phone was unable to do justice to the scene.
As I headed home around half three the sun was starting to set behind a snow covered Arthurs Seat.
- Nov 28, 10
No sailing or rowing today. At times the air has been completely still, but the sea is rough and higher winds are forecast. So just a walk on the beach with the camera.A contrast to Friday when an urban sprawl of sandcastles was being washed away by the incoming tide.
- Oct 31, 10
According the forecast today was to be heavy rain all day. So I'd squeezed in a couple of hours sailing yesterday - great fun in a brisk southerly.Despite the forecast today started fine and continued that way after lunch - and given it's late in the year, it seemed too good a chance to miss.
Hardly a breath of wind so I rowed steadily towards Inchkeith - the island that is tantalisingly in sight whenever I launch from Portobello. (In fact, it's in sight from everywhere in the eastern firth.) I didn't make it all the way before it was time to turn back as the sun sets today at 4.20.
On the way back I let the boat drift for a while as I enjoyed the scene.
The two sunsets are looking south over Edinburgh. The third photo is to the west - if my phone had a decent camera, you'd see the Forth road and rail bridges in the distance. The last is Inchkeith to the north.
- Oct 24, 10
I crawled out of bed on Saturday and dressed warmly before heading out into a overcast day with a cold wind blowing.
I was scheduled to be rowing with RowPorty from 9 till 12, and while I fancied the exercise, the weather was not conducive:
The strong north easterly was blowing right onto the beach kicking up big breakers. We could have rowed through them, but beyond there were white horses and frequent breaking waves as far as the eye could see. We decided to give rowing a miss.
In the afternoon I visited North Berwick (by car!). The north-easterly was blowing right into the east bay - photo above. The west bay, and the entrance to the harbour, was remarkably calm in comparison. I can see how, if you kept to the channel, you could have found safety in the harbour if you were unlucky enough to have been caught out.
So when Sunday morning, despite the forecast, was bright, with force 3 or so from the north west, it was too good a chance to miss - after a wet and windy week.
I went down to the shore half expecting the sea to be too choppy to make sailing fun - but it wasn't too bad, so I decided to give it a go. I rowed Scratch out through the breakers, taking not a drop on board, and once a good bit beyond the breakers, it was up with the sails.
There was still quite a swell, but not too short and choppy. We had a great time just sailing around off the beach for an hour or so. Unfortunately I needed to go to a meeting at one, otherwise I'd have been more adventurous.
Very pleased with how Scratch handled in the swell, on occasion the sea rising nearly to the gunwale on the bow, but nothing more than spray coming aboard.
We had a good turn of speed too. As always she cuts through the water so easily, you only realise you going fast when you watch a piece of seaweed as it rushes past.
All too soon time to head for shore. Coming towards the breaking water I lowered sails and rowed in - backwards through the breakers. This means the bow is to the waves, and despite the wind from the side, I can keep the boat head to waves as she's carried in. Again, not a drop of water taken on.
But once on the beach my troubles started.
I launch from a beach that shelves so gently, and with sand so soft, it's impossible to float the boat on and off the launching trolley. My trolley has rubber pads across the flat, which I've covered with plastic drain pipe to reduce friction - so launching, by sliding her off - is now easier. Recovery is ok if I can, while floating her, lift the prow onto the trolley. I then use the mainsheet and blocks as a tackle to haul her on to the trolley.
Today however, the breakers kept trying to turn her broadside to the beach (and waves), and when I managed to keep her aft to sea, the waves broke on the transom, and water came through the tunnel on the aft deck. (The tunnel takes the lines from the tiller to the rudder head.)
Eventually, after much struggling I wrestled the prow onto the trolley and was able to haul on the tackle and pull her up - not made any easier by the extra weight of water in her. (Actually less than a bucket when I bailed her out later.)
Last time I tried this manoeuvre I fixed the tackle to the forward part of the trolley, today I attached it to the anchor laid in the sand above the trolley - this was I think a little easier.
I never had this problem in the summer, but at this time of year, there are less people on the beach, and those there are seem disinclined to wade into the water and help lift the boat bodily onto the trolley. Strange.
- Oct 08, 10
Too good to miss. It was the tail end of a mellow October afternoon when I got home after a meeting that went on too long, in a room that too small and too hot.
No one else could make the rowing session I'd organised in the St Ayles Skiff:
http://rowporty.org.uk
But I was clear: I needed to row, stretch my body, feel the movement of the water under me. So I grabbed my buoyancy aid, waders and a flask of water and walked down to the boat yard.
Off with Scratch's tarpaulin, dump the mast, sail, rudder and daggerboard - and pull her down the beach.
A couple of minutes later I was on the water, pulling steadily eastward along the waters' edge.
The sun was in my eyes as it dropped towards Arthurs Seat, the volcanic plug that dominates Edinburgh's skyline. The air was still just warm and the only breeze was caused by our movement across the unruffled water.
Half an hour later found us at the mouth of Fisherrow harbour, which was rapidly drying in the falling tide.
Time to rest a while, take a drink and just sit bobbing slightly in the wake of a distant ship, magnified by the expanse of shallow water that would soon disappear to reveal the muddy, sandy bed.
The air was chilly now the sun was behind the land, casting a huge shadow across the Forth. As the sea was so calm I took the opportunity to row close in to the land, seeing for the first time the backs of the houses perched between the rocky shore and the coast road.
From landward they're ordinary Victorian terraces, but from the sea the rambling extensions, sun rooms built out to the cliff's edge and steps down to the beach are revealed. It was too gloomy to see much, but I'll be back in daylight for a proper look.
The beach soon appeared to starboard, dog walkers and kids playing football only distinguishable as darker shadows against the dark sand.
There was hardly a wave on the shore as the stem touched the beach. With the help of the sailing club quad I pulled Scratch on her trolley back to the yard, bundled sails and the rest back inside and headed for home in the dark.
Two hours well spent. - Sep 18, 10
Sailing the dipping lug rigged, Yorkshire double-ender, Crystal Sea of Port Seton
At the end of August we made our way, Scratch and I, from Portobello to North Berwick for the annual Traditional Boat Muster.
The Muster is an informal affair and 'traditional' is loosely defined. The page is no longer on the East Lothian Sailing Club website, but from memory is was along the lines of 'traditional is any one of the following: made of wood, has a sail with four sides, has a bowsprit, has a skipper with a smock and beard'. There were six items in total, I've forgotten two, and Scratch qualified in four and half - I don't have a smock.
Last year I had planned to attend in Selkie, my sailing canoe, (yes she's still for sale) but the weather was so bad I never set off - this year it was better but too windy for comfort. On the Saturday we had a parade of sail, which for Scratch and several other small boats, was some careful reaching out from the harbour and back a few times fully reefed.
Some of the other boats at the muster
Yet again, no photos of Scratch sailing, but I had several admiring comments about her speed under a scrap of sail.
North Berwick is littered with rocks and I had a nasty few minutes when the daggerboard struck one - I thought the tide had come in sufficiently to allow me to cut a corner. I let fly the sail immediately and with a bit of pushing with an oar we were soon free, but the daggerboard was jammed in the down position in the case. I released it by lifting the oar vertically and bringing the handle down on the top of the board, just in time to sail away from the other rocks below the harbour wall onto to which we were drifting. I decided that was enough sailing for Scratch for the day.
Leaving Scratch pulled up on the beach, I quickly walked round to the harbour - bouyancy aid at the ready - to see if I could get a ride in any of the larger boats. I spotted Stuart from Port Seton at the harbour mouth, just climbing down the ladder - asked if he needed more crew and quickly followed him down the ladder.
Crystal Sea was described to me as a Yorkshire double-ender. She has an inboard engine and dipping lug. It was an interesting experience lowering the sail and moving it to the other side of the mast on each tack - the engine was kept ticking over to help her round. Crystal Sea fairly romped along in the strong wind, a completely different feeling from being in a small dinghy in the same conditions! Thank you Stuart, Alec and John for letting me jump aboard.
Racing around Craigleith - image North Berwick Rowing Club
Earlier in the day the St Ayles Skiffs had been racing - and performing superbly in the heavy seas and strong winds. This was longest course we'd raced yet - out around Craigleith Island and back - a row of around 25 minutes. Because I'd planning on going out in Scratch I wasn't expecting to row, but was delighted to join the Portobello Mens over 40s - my first time as cox. We came in second.
In the evening the forecast for Sunday was for worse weather still, so it was home by trailer. The skiff races and other sailing was abandoned early on Sunday morning; it had been the right decision.
I was surprised a few days later to discover I'd won a prize - for the longest journey to the Muster by sea. The journey is described in an earlier blog - apparently as I sailed in to the bay, fully reefed after a very wet and buffeting sail, someone watching commented "that's what it's all about"… and so it is.
- Sep 06, 10
We sailed - and rowed - from Portobello to North Berwick, a distance of around twenty miles on the last Friday in August. This was Scratch's first long voyage - or perhaps passage - I'm not clear about the difference.
We were heading for the North Berwick Traditional Boat Muster that was to take place over the weekend. We left Portobello beach at 13:30 with a gentle north westerly breeze.
The photos above are taken while under sail as Scratch remains happily balanced while I take the snaps - first looking towards Eyebroughy, the point around which we'll turn, then looking back towards Edinburgh, and finally looking towards the southern coast.
In little under an hour the wind died and it was out with the oars. The wind teased me by returning occasionally only to die away again when I raised the sail. To confound the wind I took to rowing with the sail up, and there was often the lightest breath of wind which held the mainsail away from my head. I think we got some advantage from the row-sailing. We rowed off and on from 14:30 to 17:30 with occasional intervals of sailing.
Despite the settled forecast the wind got up from the west as we neared Eyebroughy. At first I was glad of the respite from drifting and rowing - delighting in running goosewinged before the wind. Soon though I realised that the wind had got considerably stronger and that I'd really be feeling that strength if I had to change the point of sail. Remembering from somewhere - Arthur Ransome? - the adage that if you think it might be time to reef, it is time to reef, I hove to, head to wind with the mizzen sheeted right in. Yes, indeed it really was windy - F4 gusting F5 perhaps? I quickly reefed the main and set off again.
View Portobello to North Berwick in a larger mapAt high tide there's water between Eyebroughy and the land, but at low water Eyebroughy is a rocky promontory rather than an islet. It was high tide now. Should I go inside? I decided not to chance it, even when I saw a power boat coming through in the opposite direction. I headed to the north of Eyebroughy instead, but as I sailed to the north to go around I saw a rowing boat coming towards me.
I knew the Portobello skiff Icebreaker was making the same voyage - perhaps it was them. I edged in a little, only to find my eyes were deceiving me - the boat was a rock in the channel, the splash of the oars, waves beating on the shallows. I headed north again, reflecting how easy it is to be deceived - and I certainly wasn't exhausted.
I did however decide to head west along the shore between the larger island of Fidra and the coast. After I was committed the wind appeared to strengthen further and it started to pour with rain. The following sea had developed quite a swell, and as every wave passed under us the boat tipped and what appeared like half a bucket full of water ran out of the bundle of reefed sail. Luckily it fell onto the foredeck and not into the cockpit.
This was an interesting - and fast - sail, now passing between the Lamb and the shore. The boat was performing well, but I felt we were being pressed a little too hard for comfort. But the main was fully reefed and the mizzen has no reefing points. This is when I remembered the advice from John Welsford, the boat's designer, on the excellent yahoogroup:
The reefing sequence for Walkabout Osbert, is to reef the main, then drop the mizzen as a second reef, then drop the main.
So, head to wind again and drop the mizzen. Because of the way I have the mizzen set up, I was able to untie one line and lift the mizzen mast completely out of its step and lie it in the boat. We set of again, Scratch much more at ease under the reefed mainsail alone.
As well as the islands, North Berwick harbour and the beaches are surrounded by rocks. I had my chart with me and was delighted it was 'water resistant' as often it was tiller in one hand, mainsheet and chart in the other. I re-checked the entry to the harbour and headed towards Craigleith before turning in and following the line of the harbour wall. The wind dropped quite a bit now and I was able to approach quite sedately and run up onto the beach next to the harbour entrance.
Next day I snapped the route I'd taken - tide was higher when I'd arrived.
First voyage done! In all the excitement I forgot to check the time. Around 19:00 I think.
After that I met up with the Portobello skiffies who'd arrived an hour or so earlier, and together we carried Scratch up onto the quay. Changed into dry clothes, checked the next train home, discovered I had no time to go for a pint with the others and headed for the station.
