Boating

This is Richard's boating page. It is a useful page for me to keep track of my boating 'CV' and at the same time give you some idea what I have been up to.

My first boating holiday was way back in 1975 on the River Wey Navigation in Surrey. Since then many narrowboat trips have taken place on various canals around the UK. 1999 saw the first canal trip in France on the Canal du Nivernais. This was followed by the River Sarthe in 2000, the the Canal de Briare/Canal Lateral de la Loire in 2001 and the Canal de Bourgogne/ l'Yonne and the canal du Nivernais in 2003. These trips were in cruisers rather than narrowboats.

A long held ambition to learn to sail was fulfilled in 1999 and 2001 saw a variation on a theme with a long weekend on the sailing Wherry White Moth on the Norfolk Broads. Recent years have seen a return to canals.

In May 2004 we purchased a 1/12th share in narrowboat Rufford which was lanched on 14 January 2005 at Stockton Top Marina near Rugby and is currently moored at Norbury Junction on the Shropshire Union Canal.

Trips

2007 A one week trip and a two week trip on board Rufford.

2006 Three one-week trips on board Rufford plus a day trip using a hired boat on the River Wey Navigation where we provided a crewed trip on the river for friends of friends from New Zealand.

July 2005 Another week on Rufford plus Wyn and I successfully completed an RYA Inland Waters Helmsman's Certificate.

March 2005 Our first trip on board Rufford took us from Stockton down the southern section of the Oxford canal to Banbury.

January 2005 Due to use Rufford for the first time but due to late delivery we borrowed sister vessel Pendlebury, the last to be built prior to Rufford. Travelled from Stockton to Napton Junction and Warwick.

July 2003 Hired a Nicols 1160 cruiser from Brienon on the Burgundy Canal in France. Crew consisted of Jenny, Chris, Wyn, Richard, Steven, Andrew and David.

October 2002 After a long sailing free period we returned to Sunsail's Galini Club for a two week holiday. Three day yacht course followed by a week and a half of sailing yachts (around 30ft) and dingies (Laser/Pico). 

July 2002 Another visit to the River Wey Navigation - something odd with the planning!. This time a mid-week trip with a different crew.

June 2002 A long weekend on the River Wey Navigation introducing some new blood (hopefully not literally) to the joys of Narrowboats and canals.

April 2001 Various day trips on 30ft yachts from Sunsail's Galini Club on the island of Levkas. Due to poor weather only spent half a day on a Laser. Learnt a lot from more experienced skippers.

September 2001 Solent. First sailing on tidal waters. Portsmouth, Hamble, Yarmouth, Needles.

July 2001 Central France. Nicols 1000 boat from the base at Roigny les Sept Ecluses on the Canal de Briare to Sancerre on the Canal Lateral de la Loire. Crossed the impressive Canal Pont de Briare which was built by Gustav Eiffel of tower fame. The weather was excellent apart from a couple of huge thunder storms. French storms seem a lot bigger and louder than ours!

June 2001 A weekend on the sailing Wherry White Moth.

April 2001 Took the two assessment papers for the RYA Shorebased Course, Day Skipper for Sail and Motor and passed with merit (phew!)

Spring 2000 Another visit to Vounaki and a mix of Laser's, Wayfarer's and crewing on 30ft yachts.

Autumn 2000 Skippered a yacht (30ft) for the first time with Wyn plus one crew. Sailed to Church Beach on the island of Levkas and practiced anchoring. Spent a day visiting Sunsail's Club at Galini on the Island of Levkas and on the final day entered the weekly yacht race, coming last due to lack of skill! Also entered the weekly dinghy race in the afternoon in a Laser and came second having learnt from the morning's mistakes.

September 2000 Started an RYA Shorebased Course, Day Skipper for Sail and Motor, at Kingston Adult Education Institute in Coombe, Kingston. Course ran until Easter 2001.

August 2000 River Sarthe, France. Excellent Nicols 1000 boat from the base at Anjou Navigation, Sable-Sur-Sarthe

Spring 2000 Hired a traditional style Broads yacht, Cutlass, from Camelot Craft for a long, and very wet, weekend. A whole new experience sailing along rivers. The motor vessels get out of the way very quickly!  Due to the foul weather we only spent a couple of hours under sail.

Spring 1999 Took five day RYA level 1 dinghy course at Sunsail Club in Marmaris, Turkey using Wayfarer's and Topper's. Took the helm of a 30ft yacht for the weekly race. We won, thanks to the skill of the skipper.

Autumn 1999 Consolidated what was learnt in the spring at the Sunsail Club in Vounaki, Greece. Tried Toppers, Laser's and Topaz's. Decided I like laser's best. Went on two trips by 30ft yacht with more experienced crews across to Church Beach on the island of Levkas and to Vathi on the Island of Meganisi.

Yacht Log

When From To Nautical Miles (approx.) Hours Role Comments
October 2002 Galini, Greece Nidri, Vathi, Spartahori etc.     Course/Skipper  
October 2001 Yedi Tepe   6? 2 Skipper Sailing around Gumbet bay
October 2001 Yedi Tepe, Turkey Bitez 6? 2 Skipper  
September 2001 Gosport, Hampshire Hamble, Lymington, Hurst Castle, Stokes Bay 50 16 Crew/Helm Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 36.2 "Makora" from Peculiar Yachts
July 2001 Horning, Norfolk Broads       Crew/Helm Wherry Yacht 'White Moth'
April 2001 Nikiana, Levkas, Greece Nidri, Levkas 8 1.5  Skipper Crew of Wyn and David. Motored due to time constraints.
April 2001 Galini, Greece Vathi, Meganisi     Helm/ crew Mini-flotilla. Raced back, came second out of seven
April 2001 Galini, Greece Nikiana 6   Helm/ crew Got up to 6.8 knots in 4-5 winds.
April 2001 Galini, Greece Nidri, Levkas and Spartahori, Meganisi     Helm/ crew Good chance to practice stern-to mooring
October 2000 Vounaki, Greece Race 5 2 Skipper Came last - good tactics without the skill to implement them!
October 2000 Vounaki, Greece Galini, Levkas 12 5 Skipper Practiced mooring bow in with anchor astern
October 2000 Vounaki, Greece Church Beach, Levkas 8 3 Skipper Practiced anchoring
May 2000 Norfolk Broads   5 2 Skipper Very bad weather, little sailing.
March 2000 Vounaki, Greece Vathi, Meganisi 12 5 Crew  
October 1999 Vounaki, Greece Church Beach, Levkas 8 3 Crew  
March 1999 Marmaris, Turkey Race 5 2 Helm We won!