Cruisers

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22 August 2010: Today was to have been the day CJ sailed into Chichester Harbour to a fanfare of hooters and MRSC dressed overall. Alas our plans were thwarted.  

The weather prevented Saturday's intended departure from Littlehampton (or was it Dawn tempting CJ to tarry awhile longer) so he couldn’t spend the night in Priory Bay (Isle of Wight) to facilitate a rendezvous at 11:00 this morning.

Instead he left Littlehampton at 09:00 today and arrived at West Pole about 16:30 by which time of course there was distinct lack of water at the Club pontoon. 

Making the most of the situation on a damp grey afternoon,17 or so MRSC members assembled on the beach by the RNLI Station armed with flags and cameras to welcome and record CJ’s homecoming. Their ranks were swelled by curious passers-by who sensed a special occasion afoot. At circa 16:45 the blue of Curlew’s genoa broke through the sea mist. The sight fair brought a tear to your scribe’s eye as he recalled Curlew’s disappearance into the mist at the outset of her epic voyage in 2009. 

Contact was quickly established and CJ sailed Curlew as close to the beach as he dare. With the aid of a loud speaking trumpet MRSC’s President Mr Ian Grant then formally greeted CJ and Curlew and welcomed them home from the sea. The crowd responded with three rousing hip, hip hoorays and much waving. Since MRSC’s bar was high and dry (so to speak) CJ was persuaded to pause at the bar in Sparkes Marina for a couple of pints. 

After much hand shaking, hugging and kissing glasses were raised to toast and celebrate the safe return of Master and Commander Christopher Dobner and his bold vessel ‘Curlew‘.

To see pictures of his home coming by John Phillips click  here

16-17 August 2010: Still in Brighton because the weather out there is awful. Mrs D was delighted with CJ’s surprise arrival (see previous entry) and a good time was had by all. CJ has made several trips into Brighton and reports that the bus service to and from the Marina is excellent.

18 August 2010: Phew… what a ride! Just when CJ was hoping for a little calm as he tackles the home straight he encountered raging seas and winds all the way from Brighton to Littlehampton. Still he got there albeit completely exhausted.

19 -21 August 2010: Still resting in Littlehampton. That said the weather forecasts continue to deter CJ from putting back to sea although when he looked over the wall it didn’t look too bad. He was, however, a little unnerved by the terms of his horoscope in Thursday’s newspaper. Having read the actual clip I am not surprised. The text reminded CJ that a sense of direction with an ability to change course is essential. That he must realize when a course is right and when an alteration is needed. That mixed messages will seek to confuse him and thus he should think longer before altering plans. Sounds about right for an old seadog faced with a barrage of conflicting signals from real life to the average weather forecast!

6-7 August 2010: Had a pleasant couple of days at Ramsgate. Well why wouldn’t you ‘cos it’s a lovely plaice.    

8 August 2010: CJ would have preferred to stay in Ramsgate today but as the forecast for tomorrow was not too good decided to move to Dover.  Managed to miss the Goodwin Sands which was a relief and arrived at the marina gate about 19.05 pm. Alas it would not open for another 30 minutes despite much cursing, the uttering of magic words or the hoisting buckets into the rigging. So he brewed a cuppa and enjoyed the surrounding vista.  

9-11 August 2010: Stormbound in Dover.  CJ planned to set sail to his next destination on 10 August. He hoisted his Blue Peter and everything else necessary but an experienced weather eye (I don’t have his name) told him the odds were 50/50 on stormy conditions thwarting departure. Dawn (who clearly wanted to linger in Dover) brought confirmation that a SW force 5-6 increasing to 7 at times was lurking on the other side of the harbour wall. Of course, Captain Duffy might have translated this as ‘the perfect window of opportunity for a brisk sail back to Hayling’ (Those of us who have been there will know what I mean). CJ, however, knows when he is on to a good thing ‘cos when Dawn says, ‘Let’s linger longer in Dover’ he doesn’t need asking twice!  

12 August2010: Left Dover at 04.45am and sailed down to Eastbourne Marina. Met up with Stan and Carol Brown who were also there (on their boat) and had a most enjoyable evening.  

13 August2010: After lunch CJ bid Eastbourne farewell. A short but wet and lumpy ride brought him to Brighton Marina. Compared with the many beautiful locations already visited, Brighton Marina is a bit of a damp squib and expensive too. That said CJ has a good reason for spending his weekend here as you will learn below. 

14 -15 August 2010: Now let’s be fair - you could sail a million nautical miles and never find another marina quite like Brighton’s.  A gentle stroll from your pontoon berth quickly brings you to a breath taking labyrinth of quaint, albeit mainly empty, concrete shop units. Persevere and you might just locate that oasis solo sailors can only dream of when ploughing lonely desolate ocean furrows. No, not the naked Dawn on a sun kissed beach, but one of the biggest Asda’s on the planet.  Here the budding Captain (wearing his quartermaster’s hat) can stock up on everything needed for a voyage to Mars let alone the occasional circumnavigation. It’s such a pity CJ didn’t sail anticlockwise (but then he is right handed) because he could have done one big shop and saved hours of legwork and worry tracking down elusive packs of cheese and bacon in faraway places! Still he never listens to me. Jesting aside, once clear of the Marina we all love a day in Brighton. Fish and chips on the Pier; an ice cream cone or two (maybe three); a stroll along The Lanes with sharp intakes of breath at the cost of baubles on display; a cuppa in a sophisticated café combined with a bit of people watching and finally a well earned pint, perhaps at Doctor Brighton’s.  So on to Sunday and the real reason for CJ’s stop over. He travelled up to Gatwick to see his Mom on her birthday.  Very best wishes Mrs D from all your lad’s fans and followers.

29 July 2010: Despite all that chopping and changing of buoys around bends in the Medway Channel (see entry for 28 July) CJ still suffered a lumpy night so decided to go upstream and seek out the comfort of Gillingham Marina. Berthing there proved a challenge in itself because the pontoons have no fingers (or toes, arms or legs for that matter). CJ had never before parked Curlew stern first between two bow posts or practised the knack of securing 4 mooring lines simultaneously while holding a parallel position in the slot.  It wasn’t just fingers he needed but at least five pair of hands on the end of very long arms! Still it gave the locals some amusement and not surprisingly our boy came good in the end.  

30-31 July 2010: After the relative tranquillity of other river locations, CJ finds Gillingham and Chatham all ‘hustle and bustle’ but reports that the Historic Dock Yard is well worth a visit and for those RNLI enthusiasts boasts a very interesting collection of former lifeboats. Perhaps unsurprisingly the Medway is not as scenic as when the Saxons and Vikings were around, its banks now littered with power stations, commercial sites, wharfs and lots of apartment blocks in various stages of construction.   

1 August 2010: August already! After 2 full days of Gillingham CJ was in need of pastures new and set off back down the Medway. Before reaching the open sea he hung a sharp right just before West Minster (I thought that lay upriver) and entered The Swale. It all makes sense if you have a look at an RAC map. He arrived at the famous Kingsferry Rail Bridge circa 13.00 pm. Via VHF Channel 10 he uttered the magic words ‘Open Says me’ whereupon the centre span was raised to permit his continued passage. Note: if your don’t have a radio or can’t remember the password, hoist the Captain’s Bucket (assuming he’s not using it) into the rigging then give 1 long and 4 short blast on the hooter. According to my 1995 copy of Reed’s Almanac the same outcome should be achieved. Then using a mix of sail and engine power to beat the fickle winds he plodded on until reaching the junction of Faversham Creek and Oare Creek. The creeks were far narrower than he had expected but he found a suitable place to lay his anchor. In due course the water departed leaving Curlew high and dry on the flatfish middle ground. Marooned until the next tide, CJ settled in for the night and a quiet on board supper.   

2 -4 August 2010: After exploring various berthing options, CJ decided to retrace his steps to Conyer Creek. The Coyner Cruising Club is based here and there is a splendid little marina surrounded by beautiful countryside. CJ spent his time exploring the area on his bicycle.    

5 August 2010: ‘Will 3 inches be enough?’ This was the question troubling CJ as Curlew headed toward the marina entrance. On today’s neap tide that was the available spare water over the sill. He doubtless had in mind the day we grounded ‘Celtic Silver’ (Kevin Duffy’s boat) on the sill at Ars-en-Re on in France. That was a crowd puller and no mistake. Today the gods smiled on CJ and Curlew passed over without a even a gentle scrape. Once into open sea a reasonable breeze took them on a dead run to Ramsgate. See if you can spot them on the marina web cam.

Report No 13

29 June – 1 July 2010: Enjoyed himself in Lowestoft including a trip to the Royal Norfolk Show. Also consumed many pints of the local brew. Then spent the first day of the new month scratching his head trying to decide where to go next. After much Chart and Almanac studying plus a few telephone calls to various Harbour Masters he intends to go to Southwold and thereafter into the River Deben. I photographed both entrances for Chris when Sarah and I visited (by land) late 2008.  

02 July 2010: After a very lively beat (CJ does like his rock music) from Lowestoft, arrived in Southwold at 14.30 pm. 

3 July 2010: With strong winds forecast for tomorrow (Sunday), CJ moved on and is moored at Felixstowe Ferry in the River Deben.  

4 July 2010: Decided to explore the River and took a leisurely poodle upstream on the flood tide. Where did he get the dog from? At Ramsholt he found a scenic mooring which cost him just £1and took his evening meal at the local pub.  

5 July 20120: Still in the River Deben and has proceeded further upstream to Woodbridge.  

6 July2010: Spent the day at Woodbridge: a really lovely location but at £20 a night is a little expensive!  

7 July2010: Quite breezy today with a little light rain, Headed back down river and dropped the hook to see out the remainder of the day and night. Didn’t cost a penny and was very peaceful. 

8 July 2010: Catching the last of the ebb CJ left the River Deben and sailed down the coast a bit to Landguard Point. Hanging a sharp right put Felixstowe to starboard, Harwich to port and the convergence of the rivers Stour and Orwell ahead. He bore right into the Orwell and had a very relaxed trip upstream to the Ipswich Haven Marina arriving circa 19:30pm. CJ says he getting to like river sailing because there are no lumpy bits, the pace is gentle, the scenery superb and the wind generally modest. (He didn’t think this when fighting his way up the Humber to Grimsby)  He also reports seeing quite a few Thames barges in the Orwell. One can only assume they were hopelessly lost!   

9 July 2010: Snuggled up in his little bunk dreaming of delights that Ipswich might offer the solo sailor, CJ was suddenly shaken into reality by the harsh sound of a bugle and the drumming of feet on a deck head. Sticking his head above his own deck head and wiping the sleep from his bleary eyes, he discovered the cause of the commotion. A minesweeper had miraculously appeared in the dock opposite (it most definitely hadn’t been there when he went to bed) and its eager young crew, who clearly like to do things the ‘Nelson’ way, were honouring the arrival of Dawn with morning colours. Fair put Curlew to shame as such traditions have fallen by the wayside since CJ’s bugle fell into disrepair! No wonder Dawn was giving her attentions to the Royal Navy. With traditions in mind, CJ hung around the dock all day anticipating an invite to dine with a fellow Captain or at least partake of a pink gin or two or three. Alas the signal to repair aboard never arrived. These cutbacks on in port entertainment are clearly starting to bite.

Report No 12

19 -24 June 2010:  Still in Grimsby. The Humber Cruising Association made CJ so welcome that he has stayed a whole week. It’s fair to say that a few other factors played a part in this decision. First it was a very comfortable location for a little rest and recuperation and all for a fee of just £47. Second he wanted a better tidal window for the next passage. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, he cracked a tooth over the weekend and needed to see a dentist!  Fortunately the tooth was saved and satisfactorily repaired without too much pain and anguish. Thereafter he just enjoyed himself visiting the local museums and places of interest.  

25 June 2010: Armed with the benefit of sound advice and cautionary seafaring tales (collected during his extended stay in Grimsby) CJ decided to give the Wash a miss (well as the record shows he did use the launderette back in Amble) and sailed a straight course to Wells Next the Sea. He left the Humber at circa 05:00am and made the Fairway buoy by 17:30pm. The winds were fickle so CJ had to motor sail most of the way but that aside it was a very pleasant trip. After arrival he sent a text saying, ‘Tied up by 18:00 and having a walk around after a snifter on the boat which also came from Grimsby ‘. The mind boggles! How come he’s able to walk about while tied up and what’s a Grimsby snifter? I think the sea air is getting to him but that aside he went on to enjoy some local fish ‘n chips washed down with his first pint of Norfolk ale.  

26 -27 June 2010: A lovely weekend in and around Wells Next the Sea. Took a bus to King’s Lynn to see the sights which confirmed that his decision to avoid sailing there was correct! No facilities to speak of for a visiting yachtie. 

28 June 2010: 13 hours 30 minutes and 60 nautical miles of tiresome wind that couldn’t make up its mind from which direction to blow brought a weary CJ to Hamilton Dock in Lowestoft Harbour. He thinks this location is the most easterly point of the voyage.

Report No 11

12-14 June 2010: Curlew is berthed in Hartlepool marina in the western harbour. With its historic quays and HMS Trincomalee (the oldest sailing frigate still afloat) CJ anticipated an enjoyable stopover. Sadly it was not to be. While Saturday was a lovely day, Chris felt he was under par (I didn’t know he played golf) reporting that he ‘just couldn’t get going’. A day’s R & R sorted him out but by then it was raining again. Golf being out of the question CJ contented himself with a visit to the local museum. Then on Monday, he took a bus to Darlington and Middlesbrough but the navigator’s plans went awry. Whether someone heard CJ was coming or maybe because it was Monday, the various museums and attractions he wanted to visit were all closed! He couldn’t even get a ride on the famous transporter bridge as it was being repainted. 

15 June 2010: Left Hartlepool at circa 7:00 am. Very pleasant day albeit wind strength was light and the sea swell uncomfortable to ride. 12 hours and 42 nautical miles later CJ arrived at Scarborough fair. (All you Simon and Garfunkle fans who want to be remembered to old trueloves who live there had better be quick as Chris is not staying long). On a geographical note, CJ is now East of Hayling Island . 

16 June 2010: As anticipated CJ moved swiftly on from Scarborough and has reached Bridlington. He says, ‘It’s just like home - a half tide drying soft mud berth!’ Just before reaching Bridlington he had to negotiate around the jagged rocky Flamborough Head on which stands the oldest surviving lighthouse in England. Constructed in 1674 by one Sir John Clayton, it is 79 feet tall, made of chalk and octagonal in shape. Having gone to all that effort it is, therefore, odd that no one remembers it ever being lit! It is located within the boundaries of the local golf club and serves as a stark reminder to players of the precipice beyond. Trying to play balls from the rocks below doesn’t do anything to improve one’s handicap. (Footnote to mariners:  Another 85 foot lighthouse was kindly built in 1806. by one John Matson. He achieved this on top of a 175 foot high cliff without the benefit of scaffolding. No elf ‘n safety inspector back then apparently). To round off the day Chris had a very pleasant and refreshing visit to the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club. He also reports that Bridlington has a pub that doesn’t just sell fizzy beer. You can’t deny he knows how to track down the strange and unusual! 

17 June 2010: Dawn indicated that it would be a lovely warm sunny day. She was not wrong so they   decided to stay and enjoy the delights of Bridlington for a while longer.   

18 June 2010: While the forecast was uninviting CJ still gate crashed and left for Grimsby at 9:00am. Under a cloudy sky Curlew started running before a steady but brisk wind. The ride was comfortable and very enjoyable until about 14:00pm. By then the tide had turned and the wind strength was F5. With wind over tide the situation became rather too lively so CJ reduced sail to genoa only.  Despite conditions Curlew remained on schedule reaching Spurn Head at the mouth of the Humber by 20:00pm. Here CJ encountered very rough and confused seas so had to give Spurn head a wide berth. Then he joined battle with the Humber for another hour or so. Progress was painfully slow with Curlew being hampered by wind over tide and cross waves (I wonder why they were so angry). CJ got soaked and it was not until 21:30 pm that they passed through the lock (which was in free flow saving a £10 fee) to the safety of the fish dock and then the marina. beyond.  The Humber Cruising Association run the marina and CJ was immediately invited over to their club house for a refreshing (albeit fizzy) pint. HCA is a self help, ‘diy’ operation on MRSC lines. A really friendly crowd who made CJ most welcome. What an exhausting day but on balance probably more enjoyable than watching England’s sorry performance against Algeria at the World Cup. 

Report No 10

4 June 2010: Addendum to previous report:  You might think an old sea dog like CJ would consider it un-cool to be seen riding a seaside trip boat (unless collecting the money) or might spend time in harbour tidying ropes and splicing his braces. Alas, not so! With an ice cream clutched in his hand he joined other holiday visitors on an afternoon trip around the Farne Islands. He says it made a pleasant change for someone else to do the driving and worrying. Having gone to sea for pure pleasure (not considered cricket by serious seafarers as you are likely to lose the balls over the side) he made a sole cleansing pilgrimage to the Grace Darling Museum. 

5 June 2010: Back at sea once more and not a breath of usable wind to be seen. Since effectively invisible, I’ve always found actually sighting wind problematical, particularly that ‘apparent’ sort which merely serves to confuse the whole sailing process. To add to his woes there was an uncomfortable swell from the South East (very painful) but he made swift passage to Amble and was in the marina by 12:22pm. The next bit is as he said it and nothing to do with me, ‘The best thing is there’s a laundrette!’ While very important, I am sure Amble has much more to offer than that. 

6 -7 June 2010: I was right. Having done his laundry, CJ feels so at home in Amble that he’s reluctant to leave! On Sunday he visited the Coquet Yacht Club where he was made very welcome. He also met a band of minstrels (two guitarists, a violinist plus male and female vocalists), who were off to a gig in the local pub. CJ tagged along to listen and partake of a few more beers. He was having such a merry time until they sang ‘Fields of Athenry!’ Fair reduced him to tears of joy, or was it despair? I’m not sure which. Being back on English soil, CJ’s bus pass is valid again so on Monday he went back north to visit the tiny but very pretty coastal village of Craster. He also visited Alnwick and saw its famous castle then travelled on to Warkworth which also boasts a splendid castle. He rounded the day off with a stroll along the River Coquet. 

08 June 2010: With a force 5-6 forecast for later and all day tomorrow, CJ reluctantly bide Amble farewell and laid in a course to Tynemouth. By 12.02 pm he was at sea under a grey old sky and without any useful wind but at least it wasn’t raining. As he plodded south the wind direction and its strength improved and at last he was able to use the sails. By 17:41pm Curlew was berthed in the Royals Quays Marina, North Shields. Given tomorrow’s forecast CJ will properly take a bus into Newcastle as there’s no where like it on a cold, wet, windy day! He was last seen ambling toward the shower block singing, ‘Oh, the fog on the Tyne is all mine all mine, The fog on the Tyne is all mine’.       

09 -10 June 2010: Dreary, dismal and cold with rain, rain and more rain. The promised force 5 to 6 blew steadily without a break so CJ hasn’t strayed far from Curlew’s snug cabin and couldn’t muster the energy to face a bus ride into Newcastle.  Can’t say I blame him.  

11 June 2010: What a relief! The rain stopped and the sun was shinning. Before it could change its mind CJ weighed anchor (it was just as heavy as before) and bid farewell to the Tyne. Once at sea the wind went round in a circle (just to test that he was properly awake) then settled enabling Curlew to follow a steady SSE course under sail. Alas this didn’t last long and after an hour or so it was back on the nose. In spite of this CJ and Curlew were berthed in Hartlepool by 16:40 pm .

Report No 9

28 May 2010: CJ went by bus to explore Edinburgh. Sadly it started to rain and poor weather really spoilt his day. Cold, wet and miserable but hey he should be used to that by now. On a brighter note he stopped at Leith on the return journey for a guided tour of Royal Yacht Britannia so the trip out was not entirely a write-off. While he says the accommodation on Britannia is splendid, it doesn’t compare to the unbeatable luxury of Curlew where you make a cup of tea and cook eggs and bacon while still lying in bed.  

29 -31 May 2010: Still in Port Edgar. Not entirely sure what CJ has been doing apart from fretting about his next sea trip. North Berwick had been the plan but the Harbour is currently closed for repairs following severe storm damage on 30 March. You Tube has a couple of really impressive videos of the said storm in the process of causing the damage. It is beginning to look as though he will have to make a long non stop trip to Dunbar or Eyemouth and there are a distinct lack of places to run to if the weather turns severe.  Late on Monday 31^st CJ advised that weather permitting he would try his luck early tomorrow. 

1 June 2010: At circa 7.00am CJ set off down the Forth to the open sea. At 10:30 am he reported, ‘no wind but plenty of rain – hey ho’. Nice to know he can still sing in the face of adversity.  I didn’t hear any more until he reached Eyemouth at circa 20.00pm. It had been a very long day, at sea for a full 12 hours and 51 minutes. During this ‘marathon’ the wind did improve and CJ was able to turn off the engine and sail close hauled for a full 4 hours. The route took him quite close to Bass Rock which he says was a seething mass of gannets. Eyemeouth (or Aymouth as the Gaelic puts it) looks a lovely place and takes its name from the fact that it sits around a natural harbour at the mouth of River Eye Water. There are plenty of web sites if you want to learn more. 

02 June 2010:  After his eye watering passage to Eyemouth CJ decided to stay put and relax. Before doing that, however, there was an important job to undertake.  During yesterday’s powered sections the engine mis-fired a couple of times and suffered a nervous coughing fit. Not surprising really. Being overworked in all that wind, rain and hail it’s probably developed a chill! So CJ changed the contact points and talked nicely to it which (fingers crossed) seems to have restored the ’donkey’s ‘health.   

03 June 2010: Set course for Seahouses in a light (almost none existent) SE wind, otherwise warm and sunny with a few scattered clouds. By 14:20pm CJ was sailing (or perhaps I should say motoring) in English waters. He arrived at the southern end of Holy Island at 17:18pm and dropped the anchor (careless or what). He needed a fresh tide (the previous one being worn out) to cover the final 8 nautical miles to Seahouses. So he brewed a cuppa and sat back to enjoy the vista. It was just past 20.00pm when he eventually arrived in Seahouses and reported that the ‘donkey’ never missed a beat today. Just as well given he had it running for over 5hours 30 minutes.  

04 June 2010: A little foggy this morning (too much frivolity last night) so CJ decided to stay put. Being half term the Town was very busy. It is clearly a popular destination for day trips from the Newcastle area. By the way Seahouses’ Mersey Class Lifeboat is  ‘The Grace Darling’. 

Report No 8

22 May 2010: After a glorious day in and about Tayport, CJ spent a very pleasant and hospitable evening with the members of Tayport Sail and Boat Club who kindly permitted him to join their BBQ. Like us they have to get them in when the sun makes one of its rare appearances.   

23 May 2010: Spent the morning undertaking a few essential chores followed by a good tuck in at the Bell Rock Tavern. Feeling refreshed, CJ caught the 14:30pm ebb tide (that was trying to run away) and set sail for St. Andrews Bay. He told me a few days ago he fancied anchoring there so that when golf was being televised from St A’s he could casually remark to his companions, ‘Oh, I anchored there you know’, thus kick-starting  a reminisce of his adventures. Alas it all went a bit pear shaped.  He had hardly got underway when thunder and showers besieged him. Reaching his goal he anchored in what he thought was a quiet corner only to find Curlew being tossed about like a cork. Then the wind went round North to North East and conditions on board got a good deal worse. Reluctantly CJ set off again in the hope of finding shelter just around the corner near Crail.  By the time he got there the sun had set (he didn’t say whether it was hard or spongy) and it was dark as pitch. He had a very nervous time trying to identify a safe place to anchor amongst a maze of fishing pot markers and a variety of rock formations. He didn’t sleep a wink fearing the anchor would drag and Curlew might be driven aground or get tangled. He was very pleased when Dawn at last brought daylight (I bet he was!).  

23 May 2010: After last night CJ needed a less challenging venture and so it was. A gentle, short and very enjoyable sail along the coast to Anstruther where he plans to stay a couple of days.   

24 & 25 May 2010: Enjoyed two relaxing days in Anstruther.  

26 May 2010: The weather being bright and cool, CJ had a ‘lazy morning’ (his words not mine) waiting for a tide. (Like buses they usually come only twice a day).  He then headed  23.5nautical miles further up the Firth.of Forth. By 16:40 Curlew was moored on a pontoon at Granton which lies on the northern outskirts of Edinburgh, very near to Leith where Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed.   

As a key for the pontoon gate had to be obtained from The Royal Forth Yacht Club at 18:00 pm, CJ was temporarily corralled (so to speak) on board.  

27 May 2010:  Picking up where we left off, apparently there were no keys available at the allotted time which made coming and going a mite tricky. Scaling the gate was clearly not an option and the sight of CJ’s weather beaten face pressed to the railings pleading with passers-by for admission and/or release, was distressing. Being thus imprisoned was all too much so he decided to seek an alternative refuge further up the Firth of Forth. By mid morning there was enough water to get underway and he heading for Port Edgar. This is on the south bank, just west of the Forth Road and Rail Bridges. CJ says that the passage beneath them was very impressive from the water and a real treat. While it was in the main a fine day for the trip there was a breezy wind on the nose, directly against the incoming tide. So he had to endure, as he put it, ‘a nice short choppy sea’. (If it was ‘nice’, what’s he complaining about?). Once berthed, CJ set off on foot to explore the area. He got as far as South Queensferry only to encounter a very heavy shower of hail which caused him seek comfort and solace in (of course) an ale house! Now there’s a surprise. 

Report No 7 : 

'Having returned from a few days on the lovely Greek island of Santorini, I am able to confirm that sipping a cool beer while semi reclined on a sun lounger beneath a palm thatched brolly while watching a gentle breeze kiss a pure blue sea is far more stressful than battling against wind and tide and the occasional burst of hail in the North Sea. Without doubt CJ had the easy option for unlike me he did not have to navigate the airport terminals of Gatwick North and Thira to reach his destinations nor have his sea views constantly interrupted by bikini clad ladies playing volley ball. That said I see that despite my absence he’s been keeping you up to speed with the odd text or two. (Will this direct publishing of his affect my 10% I wonder?) So where is he now?

 18 May 2010: Still in Stonehaven I believe. He thought he would take a few days rest because in fairness he has travelled a long way during the past week. Leaving Curlew to rest up alongside, he took himself off to Aberdeen for the day. Finding an internet cafe he sent some pictures. I particularly like the one of him passage planning with (in the words of his song) ‘an RAC map and a pack of Rich Tea’. No sign of Dawn though, perhaps she took the pictures!     

19 May 2010: Having charged the batteries over the last two days, CJ set sail for Arbroath. Once again the wind was on the nose and so the early stages called for some motor sailing. However, as the day progressed so conditions improved and CJ resorted to some pure sailing. Two short starboard tacks and two long port hand tacks brought him safely to Arbroath and a mooring in the inner harbour. He had travelled 32 nautical miles in 8hours 32 minutes.   

20 May 2010: Stayed put in Arbroath and had a relaxing day. 

21 May 2010: At last a fair and sunny day with reasonable winds leading to short sleeved shirt sailing for the first time this year. Had a really enjoyable passage from Arbroath into the Firth of Tay. Berthing for the night at Tayport and depending on the forecast may stop over for the weekend to savour the delights of Dundee.  

Text messages from CJ

17 May (Monday): Having decided to stay in Peterhead the morning forecast on Sunday was var becoming 2-3 occ 4 which was good for next leg so with good tide from 12.30 went for it. Unfortunately the wind only understood the var bit and slowly veered to SSW off Aberden which being dead ahead meant 4 hours of motoring to Stonehaven. Definitely a day off today.

15 May (Saturday): Early start and a good sail until Rattray Head when the wind went on the nose.Now in Peterhead and its a balmy 15 degress in the cabin. Not sure if I will move tomorrow or Monday. Regards to all.

Report No 5

Text messages received from CJ

13 May (Thursday): Had a gentle 15nm trip along to Banff. It was cool & cloudy but rain held off until I was berthed.  I was able to sail most of the way. Banff has a nice feel. Friendly and helpful people – already had a lift to get patrol. Next hop is a long one round to Petershead and forecast is poor so here until Saturday or Sunday. 

12 May (Wednesday): Had a pleasant 20nm trip today and even managed some sailing before the wind veered onto the nose. I am now along side the side wall in Buckie Harbour – a bit of a commercial port with few amenities. Passed what should be my most northern point at 57 degrees 44.745N so downhill from now on. I am sat in the sun still well up supping a beer. 

11 May (Tuesday): It is good to be back at sea – swell & squalls to tip the stuff carelessly stowed during a week on the canal. Left the canal at 09.45 with a cool NW breeze + sun. Good progress until the wind dropped. Then first rain (including white bits) livened things up.Had a look at Findhorn but too near low water so went on to Burghead for the night. 35nm covered.

Report No 4

5 May 2010: Despite the best efforts of a volcanic dust cloud, Craig joined Curlew yesterday and in the evening he and CJ had a run ashore to Fort William.  After a slow start they entered the Caledonian Canal. Neptune’s Staircase, a flight of 8 back to back locks, took 1.5 hours to climb. When they reached the top they felt quite worn out despite the fact that all the work had been done by the lock keepers. So they called it a day and moored in Upper Banavie Basin. The log revealed they had travelled just 1.4 nautical miles. Not bad for two hours!   

06 May 2010: A new day a new Dawn (?). Dry and cloudy with a cold NE wind on the nose. Despite these obstacles, the boys covered 25 nautical miles and enjoyed the occasional break of sunlight across splendid scenery as they wandered through Lochs Lochy and Oich. While they didn’t sight any monsters, they disturbed the slumbers of a few more lock keepers as they encountered a further 5 locks and 4 swinging bridges. As CJ himself put it, ‘We are now going down hill’ (I couldn’t possibly comment). They moored for the night on a pontoon in Fort Augustus top basin. So on this historical election night will they dream of hung Parliaments (hang them all some say) or of the wee beasties and monsters that lurk in Loch Ness?  

07 May 2010: Onwards into Loch Ness which CJ described as an ‘awesome experience.’ Once again the sky was overcast with a brisk cold wind on the nose. This caused lots of short sharp waves making the ride uncomfortable and very slow. (Was it the wind or was it Nessie playing games below to unnerve and ensnare our bold voyagers?) Not to fret, they ploughed on (and here I thought they were sailing) without a backward glance for fear of what they might see! Their reward was the sun breaking cover on the approaches to Drumnadrochit where they spent a peaceful Ness free night. 

08 May 2010: What a difference today. Light winds, sunny and warm. During the morning they walked into the village and visited the Loch Ness Centre. In the afternoon they chugged down the eastern end of Loch Ness into Loch Dochfour and then on to Dochgarrock Lock. By my calculations this places them 4 locks, 3 swing bridges and circa 5 nautical miles from Inverness.  

Alas Craig’s voyage is now almost over and that volcanic ash permitting he flies south on Monday. While an all too brief excursion, the pleasure of sailing together on the waters of the Great Glen must be a memory both Craig and his old Dad will hold dear.  

Watch out for the next instalment as CJ and Curlew venture down the Moray Firth into the wild and wasteful ocean beyond. 

Report No 3

1 May 2010: CJ spent a very pleasant day at Port Appin recovering from the magnificent dinner served by the Pierhouse Hotel yesterday evening. Apparently a few pints with Nick Horne (Hotel proprietor) were also put away to round off the visit.  Many thanks to Nick and all the staff at the Pierhouse for looking after our boy and making him welcome.    

2 May 2010: What a lovely day to chug along Loch Linnhe.  No wind (those stomach powders I gave him are really good) and lovely sunshine albeit the odd shower (can you ever find a normal one when you want it). Curlew now anchored for the evening in Ballachulish Bay just north east of a bridge at the junction of the A828 and A82 (if you are following this on an RAC Map). Supper onboard I assume: a thin mean bowl of gruel and a cream cracker perhaps.   

3 May 2010: Continued up Loch Linnhe on passage for Corpach. A really slow old trip as Curlew was punching the tide (such abuse) until 16:00 pm. By 18:00 they were just about halfway to the target. Adopting the logic of another  mariner who was recently in the news, CJ is keeping the land to his right in sight following the A82 to Fort William. By close of play he and Curlew had reached Corpach and were safely tucked up in a basin (how did they get in there) at the entrance to the Caledonian Canal.  

4 May 2010: Today, CJ’s son Craig is joining Curlew for the canal / loch journey. CJ is spring cleaning and obtaining extra stores. While we are waiting: a few details about the Canal.  It runs for 60 miles along the Great Glen from Corpach near Fort William in the South West to Inverness in the North East. It is most useful for mariners such as our Chris, allowing them to wimp out on that long hazardous bit round the top of Scotland. Grateful thanks go to Mr James Watt for his survey in circa 1773 and Thomas Telford who built the thing between 1803 an 1822. Alas it proved too shallow for most cargo ships of the time so wasn’t a lot of use. Twenty years on they set about making it deeper as Telford had recommended in the first place. Of course it isn’t entirely a canal since 38 miles of the run is through Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and that good old favourite Loch Ness. That leaves just 22 miles of real canal so why did it take Telford so long to build? Well, apart from the three Lochs mentioned there are 29 other locks (15 one end and 14 the other, with an average rise of 8 feet each). I thought Dobner would have his work cut out winding that lot and that he’d pressed Craig aboard to do the work. Not so. Apparently there is a team of lock keepers to see you through. But now the bad news, ‘Whure’s ya £118 laddie? (All donations to CJ’s Press Officer please). This fee covers all locks and swing bridges (there are 10) and is valid for 8 days. It also provides a key to numerous other locks, namely those to the doors of the toilet facilities en-route. Talk about going in comfort! The first collection of locks to be ascended is aptly named ‘Neptune’s Staircase’. Watch out Chris (and Craig) for stow away mermaids called Dawn!

Report No 2

28 April 2010: CJ’s dreams were shattered by the sound of rain lashing down and a force 6 howling through the rigging. No change then! It was 5:00 am, the forecast was not encouraging and so he turned over and dreamed of balmy sunny days for a little longer.  By 6:00 am the rain had stopped. He made himself a cuppa (well there was no one else to do it), pondered his situation for another hour (he really must stop that) and concluded he should leave the safety of Loch Feochan and get this trip properly underway. Slipping the moorings at 7:20 am Curlew was motored out into Barrnacarry Bay and when a sheltered corner was found CJ dropped anchor so he could breakfast. He needed to wait for the tide to change (not that I could see anything wrong with it) and that took until 12:30 pm. Then passage was made via the northern shores of Kerrera Island to Dunstaffnage Marina opposite Dunbeg (which lies on the A85 just north of Oban). Curlew performed well albeit the mainsail remained firmly in its ‘holster’. They arrived at 16:40 pm. From here CJ can obtain essential stores and plan his next step.  

29 April 2010: It was in the plan to visit Mull before entering the canals but on closer examination the tide times at present are not favourable and the weather even less so.

Even a trip by ferry had problems so today CJ contended himself with a bus trip to Oban (took 15 mins.) and doing his laundry. Some say it doesn’t get more exciting than this but then I have never been to Oban. 

30 April 2010: On the lunchtime tide CJ set sail for Port Appin. A pleasant albeit fickle Force 3 enabled him to sail all the way and he arrived at circa 17:30 pm. He is going ashore tonight to enjoy a little pampering at the Pierhouse Hotel, which is owned and operated by Richard Mumford’s pal Mike Horne. The Hotel sits on the shore and enjoys fantastic views over the loch with the benefit of 10 moorings. So Curlew is at the bottom of the garden so to speak. This is a fabulous location: take at look at: http://www.pierhousehotel.co.uk/facilities.asp

Report No 1

A very warm welcome back to all ‘Dobner Watchers’. 

Well Spring is here and the sails have been shaken out so where is our boy? 

Storm, tempest and raging seas never stopped him in 2009 so a little volcanic dust was unlikely to do so in 2010. During those nail biting few days when the planes did not fly, bean counters cried and the travelling public started reading the small print on the back of insurance policies, CJ quietly and confidently packed his bags.  Whether by train, coach, plane or pony, Chris had said he was going on 22 April 2010 and before we could blink he was gone like a phantom in the night!  

Having become reconciled to a tedious, overnight, red eye coach journey, the fight ban lifted with just hours to spare and at 11:24 am on 22 April 2010 I received CJ’s first text of this trip. He had reached Glasgow and was on a bus bound for the boatyard at Loch Feochan. There were even glimpses of sunshine in the distance mountains. 

23 April 2010: Alas it rained all day and the temperature was down to 7 degrees but CJ was able to busy himself with a variety to jobs on the boat. 

24 April 2010: Sunny today and double yesterday’s temperature. Completed all ‘must do’ jobs on Curlew and now almost ready to lift in.  Looking forward to a relaxing day tomorrow. 

25 April 2010; Sunny spells dispersed with drizzle but the temperature now 17 degrees. CJ had a splendid lunch at the pub washed down with pints of ‘Maverick’. The afternoon saw the start of the pub’s regular Sunday Jam session when they try to squeeze as many musicians into the place as possible.  A marvellous afternoon’s entertainment.  Alas heavy rain had swept in so the journey back to the yard was a bit of a dampener. 

26 April 2010: Curlew lifted in: no leaks or obvious problems. CJ began to get excited and indicated that he might set off from the Loch on tomorrow’s afternoon tide. Alas the later weather forecast brought some grim news.  

27 April 2010: As predicted a force 5 to 6 arrived on cue (must be from that Steve Davis and the other boys at the Crucible) along with torrential rain and a drop in temperature to 11 degrees. A very glum CJ declared he wasn’t going anywhere and started to read his dog-eared copy of ‘Fair Weather Sailing in the Highlands’ (a fictional work of course).  Never mind perhaps that Dawn will make tomorrow a little brighter!