landshipping letters 2009

Landshipping lettersLandshipping lettersLandshipping letters

20092009 EDITIONEDITION

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Boat Owners

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Boat Owners

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Boat Owners

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Boat Owners

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Boat Owners

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Welcome to the 2009 newsletter, writes club sec Sarah Hoss, and thank you for the excellent contributions that have been written. I hope that you enjoy the articles we have put together –and will be inspired to contribute to the next one! I’ve been looking back in the 40 year history of the club - through the dusty old files that still hold the correspondence. Back in the day, events were organised, letters posted and trips held—sometimes within the space of the same week. A quick call around the members was often all it took to gather a fair number and ‘off we go!’ Club founder Watkin Jones has written an excellent article again for us about the good old days (p8).

My predecessor Robin Lucas (whose excellent article on childhood boating memories can be read on p4) did much to develop our systems as the club has grown. Robin raised the profile of the newsletter by making the document much more substantial and a very good read, some excellent photographs too. I have tried to raise our game again with the magazine style that it is today. I enjoy this sort of project—although I think I inevitably under-estimated the amount of time it would take to do! Our creative writer Dinnella Shelton has composed two beautiful poems for the newsletter(p12 & 16); new-ish mem-ber Colin Russell shares some of his family’s history which brought him to Pembrokeshire to live (p9). Another member, John Mason, reveals some fascinating family history too, on p22. As we document the past, the club wrestles with the counter pressures of keeping up with the times and our commitment to protect and preserve the magic of Landshipping. We are delighted that the club membership has grown—and yet worry that creeping commercialisation could damage what we all hold dear. A ‘quick call’ to all you all can take me up to three days to achieve. To assist with the administration of our events, we now have Andrew Wilson on board co-ordinating our events. The idea is that if you wish to attend a certain trip, by registering an interest with Andy, you will be on a contact list to be called in case of a change of plans. Hopefully this will reduce the amount of phone calls to be made while keeping people better informed of what is going on. We also hope this will increase attendance at boat club sailing trips, which do tend to be populated by a band of hard-ened regulars, who would love to welcome new members along (as long as the weather doesn’t scupper our plans as it has done with annoying frequency in recent seasons.) It’s been a tough time for the club since I last wrote to you. Debate is healthy, but can be exhausting. Committee meetings—and our last AGM—have been characterised by some heated debate and the rais-ing of some serious issues diplomatically dealt with by chairman Malcolm John, steered us through some rocky waters but then found that he had to resign due to personal family health issues. Please refer to Chris Hedger our mooring officer’s information (on p26), and I hope that by the time this newsletter arrives the issues will have been sorted and that we are all getting set for a sunny and fair-weather sea-son full of happy sailing days! I’m banking on it. On a personal note, thank you to all of you for your kind support and friendship which means so much. Mind you that creates quite a pressure on me to deliver a better-than expected newsletter—I hope I have not disappointed! Thank-you, Joe Reilly, (p13&15) for the excellent reportage again this year—and photos. I have exercised my prerogative by using one of my own pictures for the cover—taken on my £20 mobile phone— as I sat on my favourite spot, on a rough old beam of wood (that Watkin had let us borrow to make a bench at the end of the quay wall), watching the sun set, as I have done many times in the last eight or so years. Watching the sun rise and fall over our wonderful river is something I have always treasured. I consider myself most fortunate to have seen that virtually every day as the children have grown up around me, as I have referred to in my Tales of the Riverbank on p20. I hope that we keep the magic safe for them and future generations to enjoy and I am sure you all agree with that. Well, until we meet on the slipway or in the village, happy sailing!

The Editor’s Prerogative

Landshipping letters

Misty morrning: Picture taken on the eastern Cleddau by club

member Joe Reilly, who managed to capture the Canada geese

and the early morning mist, a sight reserved for early risers.

The aim of the association is to maintain its slipway facilities

for the benefit of all, improve them as appropriate, ensure

maximum safety for our members and their boats and above

all to do all that we can to help to preserve and enhance the

flora and fauna of this unique and beautiful area maintaining

its peace, tranquility and natural visual appeal.

Please find enclosed the club’s rules and regulations, which

have been the subject of much debate this year.

The LFBOA Newsletter aims to document, share and promote

the activities of the club and its members. Contributions—

preferably submitted electronically—are always welcome.

This newsletter is published annually by the LFBOA com-

mittee. The views and opinions are not necessarily shared

by the committee and are published in good faith. We do

our best to check facts prior to publication but cannot be

held liable for losses incurred due to any inaccuracies.

Your club 2009 Chairman - Malcolm John

Vice-Chair - Hugo Pettingell

Treasurer - Christine Hedger

Hon. Sec - Sarah Hoss

Mooring Officer - Chris Hedger

Deputy Mooring Officer - Norman

Dovey

Events Co-ordinator—Andy Wilson

Website Co-ordinator—Nick Paine

Committee Members:

Alun Lewis 07850 890451

Andy Strzelecki 01239 698707

Tim Lewis 01834 891226

Watkin Jones 01834 891676

Club website address: (worth

checking for dates and

information)

www.lfboa.org.uk

To register an interest in one of

the sailing trips, contact our

events co-ordinator Andy Wil-

son, who will keep you up-

dated: Andrew Wilson

Clifton House

Carew Lane

Cresselly

SA68 0TR

01646 650194

07777 650194

MY BOATING CHILDHOODMY BOATING CHILDHOODMY BOATING CHILDHOODMY BOATING CHILDHOOD

by Robin Lucasby Robin Lucasby Robin Lucasby Robin Lucas

Imagine the excitement of a small boy of eight when his father decided to buy his first boat

and exchange his enthusiasm for caravans for leisure time on the water. A forty foot con-

verted Admiralty Pinnace became the love of his life, bought from a berth in Gloucester

docks, resting from a life of cruising the Bristol Channel and south and west coasts of

Wales.

A very traditional boat she was, with frames clad in double-diagonal teak and with an old Kel-

vin in a dedicated engine room taking up a fifth of the length of the boat. A main and mizzen

mast and a large aft wheelhouse with a proper wheel all combined to make her feel like a

‘real’ boat. ‘EBAR’ was her name’.

A little later, my brother who was two years older than me was given a six foot pram dinghy on

which he soon erected a sail and our lifelong love of sailing was born. My first boat, bought

when I was about eleven was a superb Canadian canoe that had been imported from Canada in

1904, the year my father was born, and was constructed of alternate mahogany and maple

strips, copper-nailed to lightweight ash ribs. Varnished up, she looked a treat.

We moored EBAR on the Severn just below Worcester and made occasional forays down to

Gloucester, through the canal to Sharpness and down the utterly inhospitable Bristol Channel,

with a pilot on board, down to Portishead and Weston.

But my first love was the river and especially the upper reaches where we were infrequently

disturbed by small tugs and tankers and where pleasure boaters were rarely seen. Most week-

ends, I seemed to have the river to myself and spent endless hours in that canoe, nosing up-

river under the overhanging willows or tied up to an over-hanging branch, all the time watch-

ing the wildlife, quietly fishing and absorbing the beauty of it all.

Kingfishers abounded, high sandstone cliffs were full of nesting sand martins in tunnels that

stretched in way past my armpits and light, delicate sandpipers bobbed their way along the

banks in front of me. A Canadian canoe can move so silently and gently, I found myself within

just a few feet of fishing herons, and water voles ‘plopped’ into the water as we passed close

by. Moorhens, with their ‘bumble-bee’ chicks reached up to the lower willow foliage, gather-

ing insects fo their tiny youngsters, all apparently oblivious to my presence. The hull of ‘EBAR’

was painted white and on fine spring and summer mornings, whilst the family still slept, I was

out looking for moths that had landed on that hull before dawn. Tiger Moths, Red Underwings,

Oak Eggers, Magpies, various Hawk Moths and many others gave me early excitement at the

start of the day.

And so started a fascination with wildlife, later shared with my wife and our children, that

complements and greatly enhances the love of boats and sailing. By such things are small boys

lives made the richer and with luck and a little nurturing, those riches remain throughout life.

My brother and I progressed to sailing dinghies, National 12’s, and he became a very good and

successful helmsman. I was his crew. Our home club was on the River Severn and with high

banks, often strong currents and funnelling winds through clumps of trees, the reading of wind

shifts and fast tacking became second nature.

If you didn’t get it right you didn’t win! We had two other sets of brothers sailing Nationals in

the club and there was great rivalry. Most weekends, we set off with dinghies on trailers to

Open Meetings all round the coast and, on the open sea and in estuaries, the skills we had

learned on our river stood us in good stead.

I married and we moved away whilst my brother continued to race and progressed to bigger

craft. He made his living from building boats and still runs a brokerage for Sadlers and Star-

lights in the West Country and operates a maintenance crew for both his buyers and sellers.

My interest in wildlife continued unabated. We trailed our first National to Scotland staying in

one of only two cottages on the island of Carna in Loch Sunart off the Sound of Mull, stretching

deep into Morvern on its southern shore with the wild and rugged Ardnamurchan peninsula to

the north. From that north shore, we launched the National and carried our belongings across

to ‘our’ island.

The resident shepherd we were told we would find on the island had gone to Paris for a two

week holiday and we never did meet him so we had the island to ourselves with, just behind

the cottage, a spruce plantation that was home to a very large heronry. It was on Loch Sunart

that we had our first experience of large–scale marine predation.

On a calm and tranquil evening, we would suddenly see often a vast surface disturbance of the

water and, sailing over nearby, the silver bodies of whitebait*, on and just under and flashing

above the water, there in huge numbers. And then amongst them were many, many mackerel

harrying them, feeding on them and driving them up to the surface. And then all would go

quiet until, quite suddenly again, there was a violent irruption of mackerel on the surface and

then the seals, many seals, were amongst them. All would again go quiet and then, maybe two

or three hundred yards off, the same would happen, again and again and again. Interestingly,

they seemed to take little notice of our dinghy and each time, as we raced towards them, gave

us a grand-stand view of this fabulous natural spectacle.

I remember sailing across to the north shore of Loch Sunart and walking up Glen Borrodale, dis-

turbing red deer on the way. Sitting on the hillside above Lochan nam Fiann the early evening,

I saw and heard a lone piper playing on the north shore with a gentle breeze blowing my way.

The piper, the wind in the heather and the pine trees above, grouse and plover calling in the

distance: what more can a young boy want to make him fall in love with Scotland and that love

has never left me.

But it was in Pembrokeshire that we made our home soon after Pat and I were married and de-

spite having to move away to work, it is Pembrokeshire to which we have always returned. Our

first boat we could not afford. She was an old Pembroke One Design bought off Val Howells and

‘needing a bit of attention’ and we kept her in Saundersfoot harbour.

Next, we bought a new Drascombe Lugger hull and fitted her out with a Bermudan yawl rig. We

kept her in Tenby harbour, having a cottage in Penally at the time, and spent a lot of time

around Caldey and St. Margarets enjoying the Guillimots and Razorbills diving and fishing all

around us in the spring.

This was a grand boat for small children and I should have kept her but she had to be sold when

we moved to the Wye Valley and the money was needed towards an old cottage at Whitebrook.

We were without a boat for a few years. We couldn’t afford one and, in any event hadn’t the

time to use one.

In Scotland in 1989, we came across a ‘Bangor S’ class

double-ender, twenty eight foot long and she was called

Saunterer. Built in 1956 of Honduras mahogany on oak

frames, she had been completely refurbished and I fell for

her.

Generously, my wife agreed that we should buy her and we did. She was to remain in East Loch

Tarbert, Loch Fyne, under the care of the boat-builder who had carried out the refurbishment.

A long-held dream had come true! We have many happy memories of that time but they will

have to wait for another time except one that I hold dear. I had one of our sons with me for a

couple of days and we were the only boat anchored in Loch Gair overnight and a peaceful,

calm and starlit night it was. I woke early as the dawn was breaking at about

5 o’clock to hear the unmistakeable and utterly charming sound of Eider duck near the boat.

Quietly moving into the cockpit, I found about five hundred of them all around and they stayed

with me for some minutes before gently moving away.

On the shore, nearby, a group of Roe deer were grazing on the brush and, high above, an eagle

soared, welcoming the new day.

One of our favourite moorings was in a little cove just below Stonefield Castle on the western shore of Loch Fyne. The garden has a splendid collection of Rhododendrons, many from seed brought back from Nepal by the early plant collectors, and we came to know the head gar-dener well. On one of our last trips, he very kindly offered us a collection of seedlings and now, fifteen years on, they are growing well and flowering well in the grounds of our home in Amroth. Each time I look at them, I am transported back to lovely Loch Fyne and to that beautiful gar-den. When we retired in 1994, we decided to sell our boat in Scotland and commissioned our new ‘Saunterer’, a small Falmouth work-boat rigged as a gaff cutter. We brought her home to Pembrokeshire and started to discover the many joys of the Milford Haven waterway and the islands beyond – fertile ground for more happy memories.

Saunterer 1 in East Loch Tarbert

• *I have always thought that the shoals of small fish we see in our estuaries being pushed to the

surface by mackerel and other predators were whitebait but I wasn’t sure. A little research gave me the following:-

‘Back in the 1820’s, it was the custom for members of the English cabinet to assemble in some state at Greenwich prior to the autumn session of parliament for a whitebait dinner and, at that time, the fish were considered to be the fry of the shad and it was thought that the mackerel acted as consorts to the female shad and led them to the males’. The whitebait were thought to be natives only of the Thames but were then ‘found to be in the Clyde, Forth and Humber estuaries’. (Doubtless, the inshore fishermen had known that all along and that they were also in the great estuary of Milford Haven). Now it is recognized that the term ‘whitebait’ covers the fry of, mainly herring and sprats, or any other shoaling small fish resembling these and used as food. Mackerel feeding on these shoals generally arrive from deep water, where they have over-wintered, about May and remain in inshore waters until about September, all depending on the weather patterns. They first appear in small shoals which meet and congregate into larger ones until, by August, the shoals may contain thousands of fish, always on the move seeking food.

ARL. 13.2.2009.

The Way Things Were

Another walk down memory lane with LFBOA founder member Watkin Jones

Tobacco Smoke In the dim and distant past before night vision gear that the authorities have access to,

all you would have to do if you wanted to find out where was the water bailiff was to

ring around your mates and they would know if he was out on the look-out; safely

down the pub or at home. You would then need to pick a very dark night; no moonlight and set things in motion; get the net ready! We always used a traml net, that is three nets in one; the centre net and one each side of it. The idea was that fish would swim through the first big mesh and try to get through the centre net. Trapped, a handsome meal would be the reward for a cold and dark excursion down the river. On this particular night, we made our way down to the river with high hopes. My co-partner in crime Vincent had made the calls and all seemed well. Now, one of the most important things about poaching is silence. I got into the dinghy and picked up the end rope of the net and very slowly rowed out with the net being fed to me by my wife, dear Grace, and Vincent, a very keen countryman. As I got out into the river I got ready to drop the anchor which held the end of the net across the current. Over it went. Now you can imagine the tension. My heat beat must have been off the clock and very slowly I made my way back along the net rope. Vincent and Grace were talking as if they were on an outing. Aware that their voices would carry across the water and be broadcast quite widely, when I got near enough I said: ‘For God’s sake shut up and hold the net rope!’ We stood silently and before long felt the net bump. That was a salmon. A smaller bump would signify a bass. On this night we had been standing for about an hour in the pitch black and suddenly there it was—the sweet smell of tobacco smoke. We stood still. Made not a sound and as it got nearer the glow of a cigarette or pipe came drifting towards us. Whoever it was, he must have been about 20 feet out, in a silent craft. He was so close to us he went over the top of the net rope and into the darkness. It may have been a bailiff, or per-haps someone, like us, up to no good on a dark Landshipping night. Poached salmon for tea. Oh those were the days in Landshipping 40 years ago. Simple pleas-ures, often a little wide of the law, but also sweet memories. Watkin Jones

By way of introduction….

As a new member, (a mere three years) I am sorry to say I have not yet really begun to get

involved with the association, writes Colin Russell. Moving house and job have distracted

me from the more important things in life. However in response to the request for articles

at the AGM, I thought I might introduce myself through the newsletter.

To begin at the beginning

My interest in the area around Milford Haven and the waterway had already been aroused

long before I came down from Scotland around thirty years ago. This stemmed from a

tenuous family connection with Milford Haven which, although it is rather a sad tale, I will

relate it to you as it concerns the sea.

I am from Glasgow originally, and my father lost his oldest brother during the Second World

War. My family was told he drowned in an accident while on exercises in Milford Haven.

During the war my grandmother travelled down for the funeral service in Milford, a trip tak-

ing two days each way then, and the only record the family had was a black and white photo-

graph of a headstone taken on the day of the service.

One of the first things I set out to do after coming here, was to look for his grave, which I

eventually located in Thornton, Milford Haven, along with many others bearing the same

date. I began to ask around for information and a chap in Narberth, John Nicholas, suggested

I look out for Ted Goddard’s book, “Pembrokeshire Shipwrecks” as he was sure there was a

chapter on the incident.

We now know that he died in one of the two landing craft which sank off Freshwater West in

April 1943. The crew of a rescue boat from the ship Rosemary were also lost, in all a total

loss of 73 lives, and in this respect it was the worst sea disaster in Pembrokeshire’s history.

I have since found out more, and a television programme shown in Wales was made about the

sinkings, which I was able to send to my family back in Scotland who were grateful to know

more about how their young Marine from Glasgow came to lose his life off the Pembrokeshire

coast.

...and so to the present day

In the years since I came to Pembrokeshire I have climbed, surfed and kayaked around the

coast and fairly recently crewed on a friend’s yacht. Having a single keel needing 2m of water

“Celeritas” is not ideal for the upper part of the Cleddau and I am keen to gain more experi-

ence on smaller craft so I hope that I can now find more time to spend on the water. Now if

you will forgive me, I would like to tell you what I do for a living, which I hope might be of in-

terest to some LFBOA members.

Since moving down here 30 years ago, I have been fortunate to find enjoyable work in the area

and have recently taken up the post as manager of the West Wales Biodiversity Information

Centre. The title is a bit of a mouthful, but from reading last years’ newsletter, I know that

some members have an interest in observing and photographing the wildlife on and around the

water and it is this kind of information that my office manages.

The information is stored as biological records and it is used by local authorities and public

bodies to make decisions which affect land use and the environment around us.

We rely heavily on volunteer recorders to share their information with us and we are keen to

see more people become involved in biological recording. Perhaps you have seen some inter-

esting wildlife whilst out on the water and wanted to tell someone? Well, you might like to tell

us! (See Map opposite).

The map shows some of the records we hold for the area around Landshipping. They consist

mostly of butterflies (e.g. Small Heath, Wall) and birds (e.g. Northern Pintail, Spotted Fly-

catcher).

This demonstrates that though we may know and have seen lots of other interesting wildlife in

the area, either no-one has recorded it, or if they have, they haven’t told us! (I should also

add at this point that some records don’t show because we haven’t got a six-figure grid refer-

ence for them, which we prefer in order to get a reasonably accurate position on the map.)

We can receive individual sightings by email, however keeping track of your own observations

over time can be interesting in itself. On our website there is advice on recording and a

spreadsheet which can be saved on your own computer with examples and an explanation of

the terms used.

This can then be sent to us with a batch of records once or twice a year. And these don’t need

to come from the Cleddau, you might see something interesting in your garden! If you are in-

terested, please look at our website www.wwbic.org.uk. And click on the “recording” tab on

the left of the page.

Finally, I hope that this has been of some interest and I look forward to meeting some of you

on the slipway this year and also to taking part in some of the events in the LFBOA calendar.

Colin Russell

Skomer Island, a Day in JuneSkomer Island, a Day in JuneSkomer Island, a Day in JuneSkomer Island, a Day in June

The path is dusty, crude stones protrude, made smaller, smoother over time.

Lime, no longer made, the farmer useless,

no Princely horse, no family, no living.

Yet here lives natural life, full, overwhelming the senses,

red campions now, following the true, blue- bell, smell as you brush against nettles,

kettles of heather, fern and lichen boiling, alluring, you have to touch such beauty.

Above and around a smothering of birds,

black, white, red beaks dominating our sight, flight near today, yet from so far. Scooping, looping, whooping,

Look out sand eels! We need you to feed our burrowed babes.

Cliffs made white aid the grand camouflage

of the guillemot and razorbill band, gulls noisy screeching above, discordant,

yet orchestrated. Moments of quiet, sudden but planned.

The light is dazzling, bouncing on liquid rock,

shocking the greenery, glassing the sea,

warming the earth and you and me, hushing the noise unwanted, repeating the swell.

Too soon, downwards to the bobbing Princess,

blue on blue, holding tight, as do the birds, to precious pieces of life,

ants from the sky, we crawl together, making our way home, from land to sea and to land again.

Dinnella Frances SheltonDinnella Frances SheltonDinnella Frances SheltonDinnella Frances Shelton

October morning on the riverOctober morning on the riverOctober morning on the river by Joe Reilly

The mist hung in the valley of the river with clear sky above. The air was still and the si-

lence bade me endeavour to make no noise as I slipped the dinghy in and rowed upstream

to my mooring. Boats appeared and disappeared in the shifting veil of fog.

A shot rang out far upstream momentarily

breaking the peace.

The rising sun peeped over the horizon

changing the scene as colour was added

to the boats, picking out bright pastels

of orange and red. As I clambered aboard,

a flock of geese ghosted silently by me.

I hurried to get my camera as a noisy flock

passed swiftly overhead in echelons of ten or

so birds in each. As the veil lifted off the

water I could see dozens of geese swimming

in large groups down river.

The first flock soon took off as the fog was parted by the intense red warmth of the rising

sun. A great beating and slapping of water followed as each group took to the air, all honking

loudly to each other. Soon they were all gone and making an enormous racket over by

Sprinkle Pill. A lone curlew sung a goodbye.

The heat of the sun was breaking up the last of the fog creating technicolour landscapes of

great beauty. I had planned to do some boat maintenance but abandoned it to row up river

into the sun and drift back along the bank with the ebb tide. I went into each little bay to

admire its autumn glory of colour.

A morning spent like this absorbing the spectacle of brilliant light and colour is nourishment

for a busy mind.

Tales from the Focsle 2009

By Joe Reilly

After a poor sailing start to the year in spring, we paid a visit to

our family in Hampshire. On our return we were shocked to here

that “Tsakali” had staged a protest at leaving her and had broken

free from her moorings and wandered upstream.

Fortunately Tim Lewis spotted her and realised she was playing a

game of Marie Celestes. He temporarily secured her with some diffi-

culty and eventually with help from Chris & Alun returned her to her

proper berth.

I now have a new all-rope mooring as I do not trust chain or shackles on this river. Things

could only get better. I managed a few days of good sailing and took with me some 70 & 80

year olds who were learning to sail. We did have one unplanned incident when I tried down-

wind sailing with the genoa out and a borrowed headsail goose-winged.

The temporary headsail halyard was undersized and jumped the sheave jamming tight be-

tween sheave and block cheek. There was no way to get the sail down or to lash it securely.

We had to resort to rigging a snatch block and taking the halyard aft to a main winch. The

strain was enormous and the sail came down with a sickening bang 4 inches at a time. The

mast shook like a tree about to fall.

Eventually we got it down but the masthead block was damaged and we have no halyard in it,

so its mast down this winter. Well as I glibly explained to my crew “how not to do is just as

important to learn as any other les-

son”.

With the weather being so unsea-

sonal and unpredictable I just did

short sorties down river and back on

the same tide.

I was glad when our planned visit to

friends in southern France arrived

in May as we had yet to see the sun

for more than a few hours at home.

We returned in early June.

Imagine my surprise on the next Monday, I found I had

been appointed to skipper “Quest” for the Maritime Heri-

tage during the SEAFARE HAVEN FESTIVAL. Considering I had

only crewed on her once this was a bit of a challenge. How-

ever I did have 6 days to get up to speed on how to sail her

and arrange a rota of crew, and equip her for the weeks ac-

tivities! “Quest” and “General Picton” our two entries were

assigned to the sail & oar fleet based at Black Tar for the

festival. Black Tar looked resplendent with a big flag pole &

multinationality flags plus 3 marquees erected for the

event.

Wednesday There was plenty of good company at the skip-

per and crews briefing on the first night at the marquee in

Milford docks. Food disappeared and beer was swilled as the various hosts gave the fleet a wel-

come and then the music started in a very packed marquee.

Thursday The morning saw our sail & oar flotilla based at Llangwm set off down tide to Ney-

land. As we had 4 people and fuel and other equipment to ferry out to “Quest” on the far bank

we were last to depart. On arrival at Neyland club where a welcome awaited us, we found all

berths full and being such a heavy boat we could not raft up to the small boats. We crossed

over to the new temporary pontoons at Hobbs point.

The pontoons were writhing and snaking up and down because the river was so rough. We had

to constantly free our fenders from getting trapped under the heaving pontoon. After lunch we

made our way downriver to Pennar point where we put 5 reefs in the sail and had a pleasant

sail back up river in the afternoon. With wind and tide behind us we achieved 5 knots over the

ground. The beer & food in the Llangwm Marquee was fine. A reception was held at Quay

House for boat crews followed by a pig roast and live music.

Friday The following day we set off for Angle and made good time arriving at Angle for a recep-

tion at the Point House pub. We had anchored but were hailed to shift out to deeper water as

plans had changed from the schedule. An inflatable collected us and we walked the plank

ashore over a rocky landing place. We had cawl cheese & rolls washed down with Double

Dragon.

The planned overnight stay at Pembroke had been cancelled due to a bad weather forecast

that would have left the whole flotilla trapped in the pool for a few days. So we set off back to

Llangwm and had a very enjoyable sail with all reefs taken out and the wind behind us.

A passing old gaffer told us we were making 4.7 knots over the ground. Norman and his crew

were in sight (ahead of us). Pride of place from Landshipping has to go to Nick Paine for his

Quest

very fast and impressive beach boat. At the bridge the

wind as always dropped and old gaffers were milling

around dropping sails as they took up berths at Hobbs

Point & Neyland for the night. “Quest” needs a lot of

room to herself to manoeuvre so on went the engine

as we weaved through the fleet to proceed upstream.

Our event mooring was one of the large new tempo-

rary moorings laid on the far side from Black Tar and

now 2 ribs were ferrying crew too and from the boats moored in the river. All the small boats

were beached and many were camping in a field up the lane from Black Tar. We got ashore at

8pm and almost managed to resist the beer tent.

Saturday A shattered skipper slept in & arrived too late for the crew briefing that cancelled all

sail & oar events for the day. A glance out my window with my trees attempting to grow hori-

zontal in driving rain, told me in advance and fog on the river at Black Tar as I arrived con-

firmed the decision.

Sunday A bright sunny morning but the crew briefing promised a gale.The planned destination

was Landshipping. Some small boats did try for a while before abandoning the attempt. White

horses were running up the river from Garron Pill to Picton Point. One motor boat was sunk

alongside the pontoon at Lawrenny.

The gig from Greenwich Cutty Sark was the only

boat to make it up to Landshipping only to get into

trouble on the shore. They had to get their trailer

and recover the boat at Landshipping. Margaret

and I visited Landshipping by car and had a curry

and a special treat for me of Reverand James my

favourite Welsh beer. The reception at the Stanley

Arms planned for all the crews was poorly at-

tended due to lack of boats.

The crew of the Church boat arrived by minibus and I had the pleasure of talking to Australian,

Japanese and Dutch crew members from the international crew. It was a pity the weather was

so hostile as so much effort had been put into providing a reception.

Monday Today was supposed to be a rest day for the sail & oar fleet. As we had not sailed and

did not need the rest. We sailed up to Slebech house creeping very carefully through our moor-

ings giving each boat a clearance of least a foot! However knowing the wrath that might de-

The gig from Greenwich Cutty Sark

scend on me I did have the engine quietly running out of gear, honestly! We advised some of

our visiting flotilla on how far they might venture upriver before risking spending the day in the

mud with a splendid view to admire all day.

Some of the small boats did venture as far as the reed beds & islands. The rest of the day was

spent escorting our other boat “General Picton” as she was rowed back to Burton from Black

Tar. We returned to our event mooring.

Tuesday We again sailed up to Landshipping before returning to Black Tar for the closing fare-

well for the sail and oar flotilla .”Cwch John Kerr” the Pembrokeshire gig arrived with a jazz

band playing as they made their way serenly upriver to the slipway.

There was a sculling event followed by the prize for best boat in the flotilla. This was deserv-

edly won by the Church boat based on a Finnish boat used to take people to church from lots of

small islands. Our boat attracted a lot of interest that made us feel that all the work necessary

to keep her afloat was worth the effort. As at the start the closing of the event for all the

fleets was at the marquee at Milford. Food drink and music wound up what had been an excel-

lent turn out spoiled by poor weather for June.

Wednesday My mate and I returned “Quest” to her mooring at Hobbs point and made our way

ashore in a dinghy overfull with gear. A 2ft sea caused by wind- over- tide ensured we got a

good dowsing of brine on the way to the slip, but we stepped ashore caked in salt, true sailors

at last! I didn't wash my face for days I was so proud of my salt encrusted eyebrows.

I managed to take Quest out every week with various crew members for the rest of the season

until she came out in October.

We had a pleasant day out in company with the “John Kerr” and “Chiranga” “Torhilda” and

some other boats in attendance. We had 8 aboard including some wives for a picnic at anchor

in West Angle bay. The weather was perfect and this was a pleasant relief from our normally

frantic tacking exercises up at Hobbs Point.

We finished the season with another mini booze cruise and picnic to Little Milford again with

the gig “Chiranga” and “Torhilda” we anchored in the pool just above the island.

My season in my own boat was a bit sad as my grandchildren were not able to come and stay in

the holidays as normal. The oldest at 18 had a compound fracture of the leg after a car acci-

dent and the youngest 7 year old had his leg in plaster after slipping on the dance floor at a

wedding. The boat is ashore in a boatyard for essential repairs to the rudder and As always

next season is only a dream away. Joe Rielly

Wanted:

I am looking for a second hand number 1 foresail or genoa with a hanked luff to use for down-wind sailing in conjunction with my genoa. Condition not too important as it will only be used in light airs. Hanks to suit 4mm stay. Luff maximum 25ft. Can be roped or wire luff. Contact Joe Rielly 01437 731663.

Skomer RevisitedSkomer RevisitedSkomer RevisitedSkomer Revisited

Unlike an earlier time, mists have gathered, crushing the heap of land,

masquerading, feigning, under an umbrella protecting precious curls of land, treasured

and valuable every inch.

With a gasp the umbrella is packed away, hair-net removed and beauty emerges. Rocks, shaped and smooth, jagged

and ragged jut and strut their coloured faces towards us, we must choose our path.

Onward towards the old farm we discover rabbits dancing with oyster-catcher, dying bells moaning as campion sings a song of seasons, bleached grasses blush as they flirt with naked ferns.

A dusty path is re-laid as camomile lawn,

fulmars skirt chiselled ledges, grace tipped wings circle recycled spots, dots of nests still warm. A gannet floats on high, buoyant and confident, a kittiwake boldly shields two primrose chicks.

People in parcels with camera’s and scopes perch to peer and steal shots of perfection.

Parading, padding, gadding about above burrows fearful of gulls but not man.

Puffins entertain their audience.

An upward climb, journeys end is hard, brambles stab skin, joints screech with strain, breathing is difficult relieved only by pausing.

Stopping, an excuse to absorb more blueness above, around, and sounds of each welcome summer visitor.

Dinnella Frances Shelton Dinnella Frances Shelton Dinnella Frances Shelton Dinnella Frances Shelton

Tales from the riverbank Family life at the Big House site, Landshipping By Sarah Hoss, LFBOA Sec

March 2009

The years seem to roll by with ever-increasing speed. I am somewhat shocked to report that the winter of 2008-9 was the seventh that the children and I sur-vived in our little shack by the river. As the children have become bigger and stronger, our world has ex-panded and our enjoyment of and appreciation of the magical place that we call home has grown too. We have front row seats to the magnificent and ever-changing river. We find we are more able to explore the outdoors and connect with our natural environment as well as going out on various jaunts locally, to the

beach, theatre and cinema. Freya, now six and a half, is showing more and more interest in the ‘fairy-land’ that she believes we live in. She watches the changing seasons and the starry skies with awe and amazement, and could-n’t quite believe it when Harry Potter’s magical Shell House turned up on one of our favourite beaches at Fresh West. Geraint, 8, benefits from the security that our Landshipping routines have given him; from the support and friendship of friends and neighbours and simply being away from the dangers of crowds and roads. Elaina who recently turned 21 hosted a black and white themed party up at

the Snooty Fox, which was an excuse to get family, locals and old friends down for the weekend. Elaina has become a real Landshipping girl. She’s still based at home and commuting to her Swansea University course and undertaking local clinical placements around Pembrokeshire. I went ‘back to school’ too a couple of years ago and did the studying I’d had to put on hold until the youngest had started school. In the summer

of 2008 with family and friends – we went to the University of Wales, Newport, to attend my graduation ceremony. On the way home Freya looked at my cap and gown and stated ‘I didn’t realise my mummy was a vicar!’ With a family to pay for, my newly-gained teaching qualification has saved the day, providing me with interesting and engaging employ-ment which works around my family commitments. I brought a party of students down to Landshipping last summer on a glorious sunny day to show them the miners’ memorial and talk about the history of the village. They spent a couple of hours picking up piles of litter from the foreshore before adjourning to the pub for lunch. Gethin’s all grown up now – the little ones and I were delighted to attend his 18th – and he’s up at the college too, studying plumbing

and working with his mother’s family firm on the other side of the

Our eco-home round the back of the Big House

The fibreglass Harry Potter Shell House

Elaina’s 21st birthday

Big House Graduation day

river. The summer of 2008 was something of a damp squib (again) putting boating and sailing on the back-burner for many of us. But we had lots of excursions around the coast and onto the beaches. And the sun did shine (eventually) on the Landshipping raft race day which coincided with the club BBQ, which was at-tended by about 20 people. We used Watkin’s horsebox to house the BBQ in case the weather turned, but as it was, the day was fine. We managed to squeeze in a few more BBQ’s out on the quay during the summer too. But winter soon arrived when we were still feeling short-changed by summer. We decided to celebrate Christmas up with Watkin, as we have done for several years. Wat had refurbished his sun room and we were very fortunate when the sun shone on us

through the glass on Christmas Day. Don joined us and we had a roasted Landshipping-raised turkey with all the trimmings, bathed in winter sunshine. But winter was unrelenting, and snow arrived. It became so severe that we ended up snowed in. When we came home one night we had to tackle a blizzard in Quay Street, as we struggled down the frozen lane to our home. Ground water that has been pouring every-where, was sud-denly silent and frozen. We all ended up at home, really en-joying the un-usual conditions. We also went on a jaunt in Wat-

kin’s Landrover up into the Preseli’s to see the heavy snowfall. Come the thaw, come the burst water-pipes. I returned from work to hear the deafening sound of water rushing everywhere. It soon became clear all our pipes had burst. Luckily, Gethin had popped over to see us and soon rolled up his sleeves and got it sorted, putting his newly-acquired skills to some practical use. We were blessed with a sunny Easter, as we had just about had enough of cold weather. The kids enjoyed an outdoor Easter egg hunt. But as I write this, gale force winds are blow-ing again… Oh well! We are always optimistic for the forthcoming season! I look forward to seeing you all this year. Sarah Hoss

Freya at West Angle Bay

One cool customer arrives on site

The Preseli’s in the snow Feb 2009

High Water at Landshipping slip, too

much of a temptation for Geraint and Freya.

Dramatic Sea Rescue by John Mason

My Dad was a mechanic on the RNLI lifeboat at New Brighton on the Mersey. He

died in l940 when I was two years old so I didn’t know much about it although I do

have some memories of him.

Left alone with two small children close to Liverpool docks during the war with no in-

come, my mother was forced to retreat to her family home in St.Margarets in Hert-

fordshire where we were brought up.

Mum had a horror of the sea and not a great deal of practical experience of boats, but

early on in my life I remember hearing her say things like ‘sandbanks’, ‘water-tight

compartments’, ‘ engine overhaul’, and ‘The Crosby Channel’.

When I was about nine years old we finally moved into ‘our own’ council house and in

my own bedroom at the head of the bed was hung a gold-painted frame containing the

commendation for bravery to my Dad during the rescue of the crews of two vessels in

the Crosby Channel ‘in a whole gale with very heavy squalls’.

The words of this document were burnt into my young brain and I can still recall them

including the names of the two vessels concerned. My sister has the vellum now and I

have the bronze medal.

It was not until sixty-eight years later in 2009 that we learnt the full drama of the

situation. One of my cousins was investigating the family history when he came upon

the official account of the incident in the RNLI Journal of March 1939 and we were

able to re-live the dramatic events that took place when my sister was aged five years

and I was aged five months.

What must it have been like for my mother with two small children during the war and

her husband out in a small boat in dangerous waters in the Great Gale of 1938! I hope

readers find the following account half as enthralling as I did:

On 23rd November, 1938, the severest gale since the great gales of the winter of 1929 to1930, struck the

British Isles. The wind reached a speed of 108 miles an hour. Much damage was done on land. Cattle were

swept out to sea; telegraph poles, trees, hoardings and walls blown down; roofs torn off; roads flooded; a

railway bridge washed away; and thirteen lives were lost.

Lifeboats were launched all round the coast; on that one day there were 27 launches. Lifeboats rescued 36

lives. Life-boatmen at New Brighton, Aldeburgh, and Great Yarmouth and Gorleston won six medals and

four vellums for gallantry, and the Institution made rewards and other payments to life-boat crews amount-

ing to nearly £500.

NEW BRIGHTON

The outstanding service of the day was at New Brighton on the Mersey. At 9.15 in the morning, news was

received at the life-boat station that a fishing boat was in difficulties E.N.E. of the Crosby Light-vessel; it

lies about 6 ½ miles from the life-boat berth. A whole west gale was blowing, with a rough sea. There

were gusts of wind at 108 miles an hour. There were frequent and very heavy squalls of rain and hail.

Within eight minutes of the assembly signal the life-boat, William WWand Kate Johnston was away. It

was then 9.55. The life-boat was drawing near to the position given about 10.30 and could see a fishing

boat. She appeared to be labouring heavily in the sea. It was the Progress, of Hoylake, with a crew of three.

At the same time, the life-boat saw a schooner drifting towards the shore with her sails blown away. She

was the Loch Ranza Castle, of Annalong, laden with stone and carrying a crew of four.

The coxswain had to decide at once which of the two vessels was in the greater need of help. As the fishing

boat was the smaller of the two, and as she was anchored in deeper water, he decided to go to her help first.

The Great Gale of 23rd November, 1938

The life-boat went alongside, and after two or three attempts, rescued the three men. Shortly afterwards the

fishing boat sank.

Right in the Surf

The life-boat then set course for the schooner. The weather had become steadily worse, and a very heavy

sea was now running. The squalls were terrific, and the spindrift and spray made it very difficult to see. By

this time the schooner was right among the surf. She was drifting rapidly ashore. Her crew had taken to the

rigging. The surf was breaking between 200 and 300 yards from the shore, and the coxwain took in the life-

boat until she was between 150 and 200 yards from the schooner. There took soundings, headed seawards

again, and let go his anchor. Those on the life-boat could see now that the Loch Ranza Castle had sunk.

The crew were in the starboard and port rigging.

The life-Boat Over the Wreck

The coxswain veered the lifeboat down, with the engines working, took her over the wreck, and after sev-

eral attempts, succeeded in rescuing the two men who were in the starboard rigging.

The other two men were on the port side. One of them was seen to climb further up and cross over to the

starboard rigging. The other was seen to get rid of his seaboots, but he remained where he was. Again the

coxswain took the lifeboat over the wreck and rescued the third man. From him it was learnt that the fourth

was too exhausted to do anything.

He was in a very critical position, and the coxswain realised that there was no way of helping him unless

he could take the lifeboat round under the port rigging where the man was clinging.

The rescue of the three men had taken an hour; the tide had eased; but, by this time, none of the deck fit-

tings, not even the gunwale, were showing, and blocks, yards and rigging were falling from the masts.

Rescued Unconscious

The second anchor cable of the lifeboat was bent onto the cable by which the lifeboat was already an-

chored, and the coxswain veered her down stern first, passed under the bowsprit of the wreck, and so, with

the help of the engines, got right alongside the port rigging.

The man by now was scarcely conscious and was quite incapable of helping himself. The coxswain kept

the boat alongside the rigging and after some very anxious minutes, the crew succeeded in getting the half-

conscious man into the lifeboat. There he was at once given first aid by the second motor mechanic.

The coxswain then manoeuvred the lifeboat clear, cut his cable, and made for the New Brighton landing

stage, where she arrived at seven minutes to one. The lifeboat was down nearly three feet by the head. Her

two forward compartments and the cabin were flooded.

It was clear that she had been severely damaged when she was taken over the wreck to rescue the three

men in the starboard rigging.

The lifeboat would normally have gone to her moorings, and the crew and the rescued would have been

landed in the boarding boat, but in view of the damage to the life-boat, and in view, too, of the condition of

the last man to be rescued (he was sixty-five years old), the coxswain decided to go alongside the landing

stage, a manoeuvre calling for great skill and seamanship. It was successfully carried out and the rescued

were landed.

The life-boat was taken next day to a yard at Birkenhead for repair, and there it was found that, besides

much other damage, there was a hole three feet by three inches in the skin of the fore cabin, and another

hole nine inches in diameter in the skin of another compartment, while the skin of another compartment

was also holed.

The Rewards

It was a service in which the coxswain showed great gallantry and tenacity, and exceptional seamanship.

The way in which he handled his boat after she had been damaged is worthy of the highest praise. He was

admirably supported by his crew, especially by the second coxswain and the two motor mechanics.

The Institution has made the following awards:

To coxswain W. H. Jones, the silver medal for gallantry, accompanied by a copy of the vote inscribed on

vellum;

To the second coxswain, J. Nicholson and the motor mechanic, W. Garbutt, second service clasps to the

bronze medals for gallantry which they already hold, accompanied by copies of the votes inscribed on

vellum;

To the second motor mechanic, J. Mason, the bronze medal for gallantry, accompanied by a copy of the

vote inscribed on vellum;

To the bowman, W. S. Jones, and the other members of the crew, J. Stonall, H. Stonall and W. Douglas,

the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum;

To the coxswain and each member of the crew a reward of £8 in addition of the ordinary scale reward of

19s. Standard rewards to the crew, £5 14s; additional rewards to the crew, £24; total rewards, £88 4s. 6d.

Four days after the service Mr. J. Stonall collapsed while out fishing and died of heart failure. He left a

widow and two children. As he had not died on life-boat service, or as a direct result of it, his widow was

not eligible for a pension, but the Institution decided to make her an allowance of fifteen shillings a week

during her widowhood, and five shillings a week for each of the children until they were they were sixteen.

———————0———————

When the heart rules the head

By club mooring officer Chris Hedger

As many of you know, in the past I have always discouraged boat owners with long keel yachts

from mooring at Landshipping—for obvious reasons, but I’ve again gone against my own advice

and acquired Minuet, a nine ton Hillyard yacht—long keel, wood and in need of extensive TLC.

Those of you who have known me over the years will be aware of the love I have for all boats

old and wooden, so the latest acquisition will come as no surprise.

In fact I think the real surprise was when we switched allegiance to GRP (well, actually Chris-

tine did!) and purchased Piper a couple of years ago. As a consequence I am reducing my

‘fleet’ with as much to go as possible to enable the time and energy to go into Minuet.

At present, she is laid up ashore at Neyland where I am attempting to make her water-tight for

her maiden trip to Landshipping. To those of you who very kindly helped bring the Dragon up

the river a few years ago, bailing out most of the way, I can’t actually see through the gaps in

the planks this time!

And on a slightly more serious note….

Moorings News Attention is drawn to a letter from the MHPA regarding mooring failures due to poor mainte-

nance, during poor weather. We do not have any excuses, as all moorings are checkable at

least down to the ground chain if not the block, nearly every month and 1/2 tides every day

365 days a year! Tackle to withstand a gale force 8 is recommended, as is the use of a double

pennant or an additional storm pennant. Moorings are not to be sub-let or loaned out.

If for any reason you are unable to check yours—I will help you—but please note that the condi-

tion of the mooring is your (ie the mooring licence holder’s) responsibility. Don’t forget—use it

or lose it! If you have any problems using your mooring, please do let me know.

Moorings have been the subject of much debate within the club this year, as was made clear

during the AGM and at subsequent committee meetings. Our new assistant mooring officer,

Norman Dovey, has raised many genuine areas of concern about where we stand legally as a

club, should the unthinkable happen. We live in litigious times; there are concerns about insur-

ance, whether or not we are covered and also the use of commercial moorings at Landshipping.

Norman and I are happy to help members, but it is up to you to ensure that you are not leaving

yourself open to legal action, should your mooring tackle fail. As a club, we are also investigat-

ing the ownership of the mooring blocks, after concerns were raised about the condition of

some. We have agreed to undertake inspections, but this may not be the most appropriate way

forward.

Rules & Regs (2009) Landshipping Ferry Boat Owners AssociationLandshipping Ferry Boat Owners AssociationLandshipping Ferry Boat Owners AssociationLandshipping Ferry Boat Owners Association The Association is one of thirteen Voluntary Control Bodies authorized by the Milford Ha-ven Port Authority to control and administer all moorings in its area. Our responsibilities concern that stretch of water east of Black Rock, through Landshipping Reach to Slebech Pool. It is very much in the interests of the Association and its members that the arrangements we make, and the way in which we operate, are seen by the Port Authority to be effective and efficient. It is the aim of the Association to maintain its facilities for the benefit of all, improve them as appropriate, ensure maximum safety for our members and their boats and, above all, to do all that we can to help to preserve and enhance the flora and fauna of this unique and beautiful area maintaining its peace, tranquillity and natural visual appeal. RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION . 1. Milford Haven Port Authority regulations are to be observed at all times. 2. No person shall lay moorings upon the river bed without the prior approval of the

Milford Haven Port Authority, through the Association under the powers vested in it. An anchor laid for more than a very brief stop is considered a mooring.

3. Authority to take up any space is subject to approval and availability on the official

Moorings Plan and receipt of the official licence bearing the number of the mooring indi-cating the space allocated. It is subject to the conditions laid down by the Milford Haven Port Authority. Renewal of a licence is not automatic – please see the rules and byelaws on the reverse of the licence. Please note - No person or persons have the authority to grant a mooring space other than the Committee of the Association, subject to a licence being granted by the Milford Ha-ven Port Authority.

Mooring blocks are leased to licence holders but remain the property of the Association. 4. No moorings are transferable between mooring holders even with the mutual consent of

the parties concerned. No boat, other than the licence holder’s named vessel, shall use the mooring. This does not apply to commercial moorings.

5. Applications for moorings are to be submitted to the Mooring Officer ONLY. A Licence Application Form must carry the name of the vessel for which the mooring is

to be used and must be accompanied by a copy of a current insurance certificate show-ing, as a minimum, third party cover of at least £1m. If these two requirements are not fulfilled, the form will be returned and your mooring may be allocated to someone else on the waiting list.

6. It is the mooring holder’s sole responsibility, after allocation of a mooring, to ensure that the tackle fitted to the mooring block is adequate in terms of strength

and weight for the craft named on the application form and licence. Further, all mooring holders must, in the interest of safety, see that attachments to mooring blocks are exam-ined at frequent intervals through the season for any signs of serious wear or fraying of warps.

Failure to do this work may lead to your mooring being removed from the river. Mooring gear MUST be approved by the Mooring Officer for the type of boat and position of mooring and be of suitable strength for intended use. In case of dispute, his word is fi-nal.

7. All boats on moorings are to have name plates displayed (corresponding with those on the Licence Application Forms), and all mooring buoys are to carry the number of the mooring, all clearly visible from the water in order to comply with Port Authority regulations. 8. The Committee wishes to emphasize that, although everything possible will be done to en-

sure that the moorings plan will be strictly adhered to and that all moorings therein con-form to generally accepted standards, the ultimate responsibility for the safety of craft must lie with the owner.

9. If a mooring, once allocated, is not used during the season, we are instructed by the MHPA not to re-allocate to the mooring holder the following year but to offer it to another member on the waiting list.

10. Dinghies and other small craft left in the pound or on the foreshore must all be marked. Stickers are available from the Mooring Officer on request showing ‘LFBOA’ and the year. This is to be shown in a visible position on bow or transom. Those owned by mooring holders are, in addition, to carry the mooring number, whilst those not owned by mooring holders are to carry the name of the owner and Telephone number. Any craft not so labelled by the first of May each year will be removed. 11. Except when turning, launching or loading/unloading equipment, cars or other vehicles or trailers are not to be parked on the slipway, turning area, foreshore or saltings. Parking should be only on the grass verges of the lane leading down to the slipway, above the notice, taking care not to block the entrance to Big House. 12. Members, by paying their subscription (due on the 31st. of December each year), and mooring holders, by submitting their Licence Application Forms, are deemed to have read and accepted and agreed to abide by the Association rules. 12. In any case of dispute or disagreement, the decision of the Committee is final. RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. All mooring buoys should be not less than 400mm. or 16 inches in diameter to

facilitate ease of recognition and avoidance by river traffic.

Landshipping Letters for 2009 season.

landshipping letters 2009

Documents

annual newsletter

magic of landshipping

club wrestles

club membership

excellent article

excellent photographs

excellent contributions

club founder watkin