Photo courtesy Simon Wakefield. Click to enlarge

We are sailing again at last, although it seems it could be a while before residential work can happen except for families. And sailing again feels good although the muscles that have atrophied during the months on the mooring are feeling it somewhat.

We rigged in the first week of August and had a shakedown sail in the second week. Although antifouled in March the barge needed a scrub badly so the third week saw us at Pin Mill on the blocks. The passage round was slow with ficklewinds and rain, taking twelve hours from Colne Point to Pin Mill, and of course the barnacles made a difference too. We spent an afternoon cleaning the mud from the blocks with shovels and yard brooms before going on and this made the experience easier and more pleasant. Despite being ready to come off the weather took a turn for the worst with gales late in the week and we stayed securely tied up until the Saturday when Gus Curtis kindly took us to anchor at the Clamp with his tug. Nearby was Victor on a day trip from Ipswich and anchored in the lee as it was still blowing hard. (more…)

El Capitan’s travails with the headstick, photo by Oli MacArthur

On the whiteboard is the most amazing summer season for Blue Mermaid this year. So amazing in fact it has been left intact partly to remind us of the possibilities when conditions allow and partly because the truth of a big blank space is just too depressing to contemplate. But the good news is important too. We are still here and despite the challenges it looks like survival is possible for the charity thanks to government help and grants from the Association of Sail Training Organisations. Understandably much assistance has been prioritised to support charities working with the charity and our work does not do that so it is not open to us and many others. (more…)

Blue Mermaid is on her mooring at around a week’s readiness to sail, in the expectation that it may be possible to do some sailing this year and with the intention of keeping costs down. The crew are furloughed where possible and Mate Oli is working as ship’s husband part-time as he could not be furloughed and this enables our Shipshape Heritage Training Partnership trainee Ben to keep involved in worthwhile activity. They are also spending time on other work like maintenance on SHTP partner Cutty Sark with TS Rigging.

We have applied where possible for emergency funding and have been successful with grants from ASTO, our umbrella trade body (the Association of Sail Training Organisations) and recently with the discretionary grant scheme from the government via local authorities. We are immensely grateful for this and the furlough scheme which together have meant we are still able to plan to restart sailing with groups when the restrictions allow for residential work. Having said that, although there is a small sum available to support this restart with bursaries, there is very little money available for core costs, which will increase as the furlough scheme winds down. We continue to seek emergency funding on this basis and to welcome any suggestions we may not have thought of. (more…)

This glorious picture of Blue Mermaid under a stunning full moon was taken by Jack Stutely. Click it to enlarge full size, you won’t be disappointed.

Hilary demonstrating wind power

As time passes, it is already over two months since I wrote to clients that the season was suspended until further notice because of the coronavirus and its impact. Since then a lot has happened but none of it has involved sailing unfortunately.

The sailing season was due to commence with Inclusion Ventures at Easter and only a few days before I wrote to everyone, their staff visited Blue Mermaid at Downs Road as they had not all sailed with us before. At this stage we were busy fitting out, painting and pulling together the myriad of things needed to get the vessel to work. The stability data needed for the cargo load line was with the MCA, and the result awaited. The lifejackets and life rafts were collected from the Marine Safety Centre at Lowestoft and at the same time flares and first aid kits were updated.

Gradually it became apparent the world around us was changing. There was due to be a Shipshape Heritage Training Partnership meeting at Greenwich and people were starting to ask if it was wise to travel before the government told us we should not. It now seems likely the common sense of the great British public was already having a bearing on the spread of the virus before our toys were taken away from us and we were locked down. The meeting was cancelled and as legacy of the project was on the agenda, what it may be has become one of many casualties of the lockdown process.
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Richard recently penned a piece for the Maritime Heritage Trust about the effect the Covid-19 closedown has had on us:

The virus started to make an impression as we commenced fitting out in February and were joined by our new Shipshape Heritage Training Partnership trainee Ben and as the crew returned from the winter break. Initially it looked like we would be able to continue. Indeed, at a meeting of Trustees on 11^th March we discussed plans for a full season and only discussed the virus in terms of ensuring our T&Cs were up to date.

Eight days later we were writing to clients telling them the season was suspended until further notice as … Read the whole piece here.