Boat Reflection

BOAT

East End Endeavour - 13083
we cudnt get to a port because of the wind so we went to another place
moored at buoy and rowed ashore
tzcb.org.uk - Towards A Zero Carbon Bute
we did a Nautical Mile in 12.8 mins, we timed it from the aligned white poles on an island that was used to time the Glasgow-built QE2 which exceeded mechanical expectations. Govan FOR GREAT WIN!
I steered through dead wind which is sometimes harder than rough wind, had to keep sails filled and then use it to tack all while rest of crew is shouting conflicting advice
Iain steered through choppy waters
OK ok so I got a bit seasick at the start but Id been at sea for all of 15minutes and I recovered so gimme a break! Ardrossan has a port-within-a-port for the yachts and then outer harbour walls so the waves were pretty wild. Convergent interference 8-)
I have since decided that steering a boat is a bit like riding a horse, its got a mind of its own so the best you can do is nudge it in the right direction and hope it agrees, and the most comfortable position is just knowing you're going to be uncomfortable so try and sway with it, and hold on for dear life.
Harry has encyclopedic knowledge of everything we passed. Or an opinion on something.
Theres water round Bull Of Hole? Scotland so clear you can see your anchor
Its tough being a fisherman, dangerous, thankless and exploited. And current fishing laws have us heading towards empty seas due to overfishing, cos theyre written in Copenhagen since we're in the EU, and noone wants to destroy the traditional fishing communities which holds up tourism (I think)
Sam said he had two Cambridge graduates onboard who asked to see the engine. They took it apart, looked at it and put it back together. They got the navigation quickly. They went to Sams house and one played Chopin on the piano. The other was 21 and said there wasnt a washingmachine or hairdryer he couldnt fix. They worked in Flood Management, planning ways to save coasts from rising sea levels due to Global Warming
Sam teaches African drumming to Easter House kids. Its hitty, loud, nearly unbreakable, simple, cool, famous, solos, and can be complex when team plays simple layers together
I like when dinghy oars stir up sand clouds like milky tea
Bhuddist monastery
reed bed sewage system! one island has it
Glasgow shower = deo spray
Virtual Skipper (real game)
Geronimos on Youtube
when you get skipper certificate you can go nearly anywhere especially if youre white. Sams friend has been an illegal immigrant in America for 24yrs.
Sam can get a bit blethery/ranty, he's probly just used to being in control. I had to interrupt him a bit to tell Buddhist who we were in our words.
I told Buddhist "we are from Fablevision, me+Iain are volunteers, Simon's staff. Fable's a non-profit film company in Govan that makes documentaries to help communities tell their stories in their own words through film, because it's easy, honest and modern (and cheap). This voyage is a preliminary test for the grand plan of a voyage round the coast of Scotland to connect the coastal communities to commemorate the Olympics" and I even mentioned the Cran Tara torch bearer imagery.
I asked Buddhist June:
- Can we talk to youse on camera?
- wots it like being a Buddhist?
- wots it like being a Buddhist here on this island?
- how did you June come here?
- [4 women are going on reclusive pilgrimage for 4years] That's dedicated, blimey? [yes, that's discipline]
- Is Richard Gere here? Nevermind.
Threw rope in Harrys face by accident he dropped it in the water
Saw Ciaran past Central Station, so did Sam lol.


Day1 Wednesday
Arrived at Ardrossan harbour and found the boat. Learned the basics, met each other, assessed the weather and bedded down for the night (too late to sail, night sailing takes advanced techniques)
I went to meet kids off the train for some reason, skippers were at Asda or the bins

Day2 Thurs
Up 8:30

Day3 Fri
Up 5am
saw island shore rocks that were ancient volcanic lava floes from when the island was formed "not last week mind. This was probly a few year ago" (Harrys funny)

Day4 Sat
Up 9:30 long lie.
went to Victorian toilets in Tarbort with marble urinals

Day5 Sun
Up 8:30

Day6 Mon
Up 8


A4:
It was brilliant. It was great being part of a team and through working together getting to see great views, it felt like we got us where we are. The engine helped a bit.
We all got a shot at the helm and shouting "ready to tack/jibe" and expecting a shout of "ready!" from the crew. So we could all give orders and take orders. It didn't even feel like orders anyway, it was like suggestions that would be a good idea to follow if we wanted to, for example, stay afloat.


animal sightings: swan came up to boat, nearly ate my phone and pecked a fender. porpoise fins. jellyfish. gannets. cormorants. herons. seal popped up. no minke whales tho

boat names at ports: Booby Trapper, Thistle Do, Call The Cops, Playing FTSE, saucy sue?

cooking: fry fish on one side then cook in oven so it retains the juices, Walid covered pot with poly bag(bag4life recycle green one) when the lid didnt fit so it kept thte steam in. It was good rice.

Cheat card game: Aim to put down all cards. go round circle put down pairs of same value suit doesnt matter. U can put down cards of the same, above or below the last value. U have to play your go so you have to cheat.

boat mechanics i found interesting - springed pulleys. rope grips. anchor hatch shape. tilting oven. seawater cools the engine. windup torch. flag buoy. pull rope to roll up sail. two speed winch turns fast/slow. winch handle release. buckles. foam halftube for lassoing rope onto mooring cleat from your boat on your own.


Thatcher beat the 80s recession by selling Britains steel companies and beat the protesting trade unions by stocking coal and steel in Bute(?) hollowed out hill
We talked to Harry, he sed Sam's doing OK
Steph had 4 Flakes and crisps for breakfast