In a Twizzle

Three of the 4 candidates were sitting comfortably in the cockpit with a cup of coffee doing the introductions whilst waiting for candidate 4 to arrive.
I decided to phone candidate 4 and was surprised when he informed me that he was in Southampton, as the course was starting in Suffolk. He was very apologetic and explained that he had just bought a new boat and got carried away getting the yacht all prepared and forgot he was booked on a Day Skippers course with me. We made arrangements to be in touch the following week and left it at that.

On the following course all 4 candidates turned up and I mentioned about the missing crew member the previous week and thanked them all for coming. We had a fabulous week with two very good Day Skippers and two very competent, Competent Crew and some decent sailing weather for September.

The last morning of the course found us leaving Titchmarsh Marina at 6am just before HighWater in darkness. I wanted to motor the short distance to Hamford Water, drop an anchor and cook up a ‘Remaining Contents of the Fridge Breakfast’.

Soon, the smell of bacon was wafting around the yacht, as the sun rose and the Area of Outstanding Beauty formed our backdrop for breakfast. As mugs of hot tea were swilled down, Harbour Seals invariably popped up around the boat and a passing Marsh Harrier is very likely at that time of day. Then sails up and a wind with tide dash back to The River Orwell. Perfect last day of the course.

Dawn broke as we weaved our way around the tricky exit to ‘The Twizzle’. Keeping a steady eye on the helm and the echo sounder I noticed a yacht apparently aground the wrong side of a Northerly cardinal. Port Nav lights and steaming light on and in that very static pose that can only mean a yacht is either on a cradle ashore or has thumped the keel into the mud. I remarked on this and seconds later a Pan Pan call burst into life from Dover Coast Guard reporting that the very same yacht was aground and had lost its rudder.

Well my crew wanted to leap into action and had to be restrained and reminded that their main task was not to take a short cut and put us aground as well but we made a careful approach to the vessel from deepwater. Deepwaterin these parts ranges from a generous 5 metres to 1 metre below the keel. However there are very few abandoned stolen cars and dumped shopping trollies so you can sail around most of the mud flats on a high tide. This was a Neap high tide, dropping off a Spring and going Neapier each day so the grounded yacht and owner had about 10 minutes to get off the mud or remain moored there for a few days dangerously exposed to any Northerly winds.

We hailed the yacht and contacted Dover Coast Guard. I informed him that he was right on a high tide and that he had to seek deeperwateras I could not come to him as I risked going aground myself if I did. I instructed him to try to motor forward as he was pointing out into deepwater. “Give it the beans” I encouraged him over Channel 16. “ And try to head towards me”. He did this and the yacht broke free headed towards me then about turned and went straight back on the mud!

The next move involved a long rope even more patience as the rope came free first time (a short swear word) a great throw by the Competent Crew and a stern tow and the yacht being dragged off in reverse into deeperwater.

“What’s you name”? I asked as we came alongside. He said him name which was familiar to me and he then informed me that he was the crew member who had not turned up last week! I was struck speechless and stared at him as the crew giggled and smiled from behind the hood.

He informed us about his adventures that week. A single handed sail to Eastbourne from Southampton then he had left Eastbourne and come to HamfordWaterin one 24 hour go from Eastbourne. He told me his rudder had gone and he was exhausted and had lost confidence. The outstanding crew quickly tied him alongside for a tow into Titchmarsh with lots of fenders inbetween. The kettle went on again and a steaming mug of tea with 2 sugars was passed over to the lone, tired out skipper of the other boat.

As we made a steady 3 knots against and outgoing tide I asked him to turn his engine on again which might help. I noticed that his auto helm was steering against me so got him to cancel this. We then found out his rudder was in good order and he concluded that he had put his auto helm on accidentally whilst in the process of going aground which would also explain the sharp about turn when he got off first time in forward gear.
We left him safely alongside in Titchmarsh and motored off sharpish to catch the dropping tide and had a pleasant sail and a late breakfast at Harwich.

Lessons Learned – Always remember to collect your mug and ball fender before motoring off from the rescued yacht on a falling tide.

I expect he will bring them along when attending his RYA Day Skippers Course early next season!

Copper bottom

In August Shanti was hauled out and had a new Copper Coat prepared and applied by Fox's Boatyard. A superb job was completed in good time to allow Shanti to complete the last few courses of the season. Is it my imagination or is she faster now with her smooth new hull? I think so.

Mark Lewis the author is the Principal Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner of a one boat, one instructor RYA sailing school based at Woolverstone, Suffolk. ShearwaterSailing School.