In a Twizzle
Three of the four candidates were sitting comfortably in the cockpit with a cup of coffee doing the introductions whilst waiting for candidate four to arrive.
I decided to phone candidate four and was surprised when he informed me that he was in Southampton as the course was starting in Suffolk. He was very apologetic and explained that he had just bought a new boat and got carried away getting the yacht all prepared and had forgotten he was booked on a Day Skipper course with me. We made arrangements to be in touch the following week and left it at that.
On the following course all four candidates turned up. I thanked them all for coming and mentioned about the missing crew member the previous week. We had a fabulous week with two very good Day Skippers and two very competent, Competent Crew and some decent sailing weather for September.
The last morning of that course found us leaving Titchmarsh Marina at 6am, just before High Water in darkness. I wanted to motor the short distance to Hamford Water, drop an anchor and cook up a ‘Remaining Contents of the Fridge Breakfast’. Bacon wafting around the yacht, as the sun rises and the Area of Outstanding Beauty as our back drop. As mugs of hot tea get swilled down, Harbour Seals invariably pop up around the boat and a passing Marsh Harrier is very likely at that time of day.
Then sails up and a wind with tide dash back to The River Orwell. Perfect last day of the course.
As dawn broke, we weaved our way around the tricky exit to ‘The Twizzle’. Keeping a steady eye on the helm and the echo sounder I noticed a yacht apparently aground the wrong side of a Northerly cardinal. Port Nav lights and steaming light on and in that very static pose that can only mean a yacht is either on a cradle ashore or has thumped the keel into the mud. I remarked on this and seconds later a Pan Pan call burst into life from Dover Coast Guard reporting that the very same yacht was aground and had lost its rudder.
My crew wanted to leap into action and had to be restrained and reminded that their main task was not to take a short cut and put us aground as well. We made a careful approach to the vessel from deep water, which in these parts ranges from a generous 5 metres to 1 metre below the keel. There are very few abandoned stolen cars and dumped shopping trollies so you can sail around most of the mud flats on a high tide. This was a Neap high tide, dropping off a Spring and going Neapier each day so the grounded yacht and owner had about 10 minutes to get off the mud or remain moored there for a few days dangerously exposed to any Northerly winds.
We hailed the yacht and contacted Dover Coast Guard. I informed him that he was right on a high tide and that he had to seek deeper water as I could not come to him and risked going aground myself if I did.
I instructed him to try to motor forward as he was pointing out into deep water. “Give it the beans” I encouraged him over Channel 16. “ And try to head towards me”. He did this and the yacht broke free, headed towards me then about turned and went straight back on the mud!
The next move involved a long rope and even more patience as the rope came free first time. A short swear word, a great throw by the Competent Crew, a stern tow and the yacht was dragged off in reverse into deeper water.
“What’s your name”? I asked as we came alongside. He said his name which was familiar to me and he then informed me that he was the crew member who had not turned up last week! I was struck speechless and stared at him as the crew giggled and smiled from behind the hood.
He informed us about his adventures that week. A single handed sail to Eastbourne from Southampton, then he had left Eastbourne and come to Hamford Water in one 24 hour go from Eastbourne. He told me his rudder had gone and he was exhausted and had lost confidence.
The outstanding crew quickly tied him alongside for a tow into Titchmarsh with lots of fenders inbetween. The kettle went on again and a steaming mug of tea with 2 sugars was passed over to the lone, tired out skipper of the other boat.
As we made a steady 3 knots against an outgoing tide I asked him to turn his engine on again which might help. I noticed that his auto helm was steering against me so got him to cancel this. We then found out his rudder was in good order and he concluded that he had put his auto helm on accidentally whilst in the process of going aground, which would also explain the sharp about turn when he got off first time in forward gear.
We left him safely alongside in Titchmarsh and motored off sharpish to catch the dropping tide and had a pleasant sail and a late breakfast at Harwich.
Lessons learned, always remember to collect your mug and ball fender before motoring off from the rescued yacht on a dropping tide.
I expect he will bring them along when attending his RYA Day Skipper course early next season!
Mark Lewis the author is the Principal Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner of one boat, one instructor RYA centre, Shearwater Sailing School based at Woolverstone, Suffolk.
Have you got a story, anecdote or training tip to share? Email the Editor at wavelength@rya.org.uk.