Sumara of Weymouth Blog

Sumara's New Oars

Once John decided it was really out of the question him partaking in the Race with his chest infection we needed to find a replacement as soon as possible.Tim and Dan did sterling work putting the feelers out and we now have Rick Robson joining the team. Rick is an experienced fell runner although he says he is a bit rusty which sounds perfect as he’ll be running with me. Rick knows the Paps of Jura which could be a help too. We are meeting up with Rick plus Charlotte and Sarah at lunchtime on Thursday.
It’s been all go preparing the Good Ship but we did have time to amuse ourselves with trying out the new oars. I reckon she’ll do about three knots with them! We may even catch up with some of the big boys!

Poor John has had to pull out because his chest infection hasn’t cleared up yet. We need to find another runner mighty quick as we will not be allowed to enter without five crew. I’ve tried a few people on the Scottish Islands Three Peaks Race website. One has found a boat and I am waiting to hear from the other two. Hopefully someone will turn up. The trouble is that they will be running with me and I’m not very quick and the boat will be very cramped. Ideally a slow fell runner who is not very big and knows how to sail. There must be someone out there!

The forecast shows a distinct lack of wind and what little wind there is, is from the north making it even less likely to move the good ship along. The good news is that there is a lot of sun forecast instead of rain. To save space below decks I haven’t got a spinnaker or cruising chute on board but I might need to get one shipped up if it stays as light as the forecast. The new ship oars are all well and good but rowing the whole way would take weeks! Mind you it is still a few days before the start (noon on Friday) so things can easily change.

I did an easy eight mile run yesterday with quite a few hills and the twisted knee seems to be holding up. I can’t really tell until I get out there.

“It’ll be fine!” as Dan would say.

Off to catch the sleeper train now. It’ll be nice to be in Scotland in the morning.

I seem to have put in two pictures, we certainly don’t have two Baby Blakes. I’m rubbish at this bloggy stuff but I’ll get the hang of it one day. Here is our kit list. I expect there is something crucial missing but even so when you multiply most of it by five you can imagine how tight the little ship will be! We have to lug it up on the train too.

General Personal Kit Always Needed – Date 120511
Item Quantity Needed Purchase Date Replacement Date Notes Checked
Sailing Boots 1 2010 2014 Needs a bit of glue on the top cap
Thick Socks 7
Merrels or deck shoes 1 2011 2013
Romper suit 1 2002 2015
Lofoten Bib and Brace 1 2002 2015
Lofoten top 1 2002 2015
Merino Leggings 3 2010 2014
Underwear 7 1962 2045
Merino Tops 4 2010 2014
Oiled Wool Pullover 1 2009 2030
Belay Waistcoat 1 2011 2016
Belay Jacket 1 2011 2016
Oilskin Trousers 1 2010 2016
Oilskin Top 1 2010 2016
Active Trousers 1 2009 2015
Merino Neck 1 2010 2015
Merino Beanie 1 2010 2015
Thick Bubble Hat 1 2005 2015
Lowe Alpine Hat 1 2010 2017
Mittens 1 2010 2016
Gloves 2 2008 2014
Rescue Knife 1 2008 2020
Lifejacket 1 2009 2015
Lanyard 1 2001 2013
Technical Towel 1 2009 2016
Towel Hand 1 2011 2030
Swimming gear 1 2006 2015
Sleeping Bag 1 2012 2022
Sun glasses 1 2008 2015
Reading Glasses 2 2012 2014
Wash Bag 1 2005 2020
Cut off toothbrush 1 1980 2050
Toothpaste 1 1980 2050
Soap 1 1980 2050
Shampoo 1 1980 2050
Stugeron 1 1980 2050
Sun tan stuff 1 1980 2050
Penecillin 1 2012 2013
Morphine 1 2011 2013
Re-hydration stuff 1 2012 2015
Anti Septic 1 2012 2015
Waterproof Orlieb Bag 1 2011 2020 So it can stay in the cockpit at night

Scottish Islands Three Peaks Race (Compulsory Kit – Being Inspected)

Map of Oban 1 2012 2012 If you are running it
Map of Mull 1 2012 2012 If you are running it
Map of Jura 1 2012 2012 If you are running it
Map of Arran 1 2012 2012 If you are running it
Hat of Balaclava 1 2012 2012
Long sleeved top 1 2012 2012
Thermal tops 2 2012 2012
Gloves or mitts 1 2012 2012
Long trousers 1 2012 2012
Fell running shoes 1 2012 2012
Waterproof jacket 1 2012 2012
Waterproof trousers 1 2012 2012
Head torch 1 2012 2012
Spare set of batteries 1 2012 2012
Blizzard Pack 1 2012 2012
Compass 1 2012 2012
Whistle 1 2012 2012
Emergency Rations-
Min 250gm Chocolate 1 2012 2012
Pencil and paper 1 2012 2012
First aid kit
(one per team) 1 per team 2012 2012 One per team, therefore two for Arran
Triangular bandages 2 2012 2012 One per team, therefore two for Arran
Large wound dressing 1 2012 2012 One per team, therefore two for Arran
Elastic Bandages -
not plasters 3 2012 2012 One per team, therefore two for Arran
Race Number 1 2012 2012
Insurance Documents
for the yacht 1 2012 2012
Non-Compulsory Kit for Race
Copy of Rules 1 2012 2012
Mobile phone 1
Hand torch 1
Spare battery 1
Massive Blister Pack 1
Newspaper for
stuffing shoes 1
Sun block 1
Tissues 1
Knee bandage 2
Iboprofen pills 1
Iboprofen gel 1
Arnaca Gel 1
Water bladders 1
Water 1.5L 1
Running rucksack 1
Marzipan 3 t
Jelly Babies 3
Gels 3
Protein bars 3
Spare Trail Shoes 1
Isotonic additives 3
Clamp on Oar paddles 2
Foam mat for sleeping
on floor 1
Thermorest matress 1
Horseshoe for race 1
Very large Ortlieb bag 1 To get all the gear to Scotland on the train
Personal Mountain
Insurance 1 Austrian Alpine Club

General Gear
Panasonic Camera 1 2010
Canon Camera 1 2010
Panasonic Charger 1 2010
Canon Charger 1 2010
Ipod 1 2009
Radio Transmitter
for Ipod 1 2010
Walking Boots 1 2009
Gaiters 1 2011
Walking Gortex
Trousers 1 2011
Mobile phone and
charger 1 2010
Satelite phone and
charger 1 2011
Phone to laptop leads 1 2010
Mini Laptop 1 2009
Chart List and Charts 1 Various
Idiot Sheets 1 2010
Credit Card 1 2010 2013

A large bucket of optimism.

Firstly it was me with my twisted knee, but now John’s chest infection has got worse and he is on the anti diabolicals. The trouble with running in pairs is that you have four legs to twist, two backs to play up, and two chests to get infected so your chance of being fighting fit is halved. Then when you run you have different paces. I like going up hill, strange but true, John flies along the flatter bits and leaves me in his wake. That’s normally fine on a half marathon because we just meet at the end but when you have to run in constant contact, one of the pair will slow the other, then visa versa. Our main worry now is if John’s chest doesn’t clear up by next week we will have to think hard about a plan B. And we don’t really have one. I bet it’ll be fine. I went for a run last night with Grit and I suppose we clocked about six miles of varied terrain. I thought it went really well – no knee trouble at all – and plenty of reserve energy. We did some good stretching at the end. Looking forward to another run on Friday.

It’s such a long time since the Jan Mayen blog ended that I am not sure I know how to post it any more. Oh, we’ll soon see. Sumara’s next voyage starts at noon on Friday 18th May. Tim Loftus somehow persuaded me to enter Sumara in the Scottish Islands Three Peaks Race. I think he needed someone to come last, and we are definitely cut out for the task. One of the features of this demanding race is that it is for teams of five. That would be fine but Sumara only sleeps three. It is going to be very crowded indeed. With just over a week to go I am recovering from a knee which I twisted running down Ben Lora a few weeks ago. Hopefully a large dose of Ibuprofen, a bandage and adrenaline will see me through. John has got a chest infection which has stopped him training. That’s good news because he was a real spring chicken on the last couple of runs and I have to keep up with him. Grit is looking even more like a true fell runner and is now sporting Barefoot Trail shoes. Charlotte is in Sweden with Svarte so I hope she is out there training. Sarah has just landed in the UK and we are about to have discussions regarding Goat Fell! Tonight I will put a coat of gloss paint on my new ship oars. They are 9mm marine ply “tulip” shaped blades 900mm long that will clamp onto my big carbon fibre ice poles. They have never been tried yet but if the wind dies they may stop us getting sucked into the Corryvecken. I better get a move on. The website for the race is below but I’m not sure how to make the link. www.scottishislandspeaksrace.com

Sumara Finally Moored Alongside in Dunstaffnage

The Flowers from Annie

The List of Animals that we Saw

Lismore Lighthouse

Position Dunstaffnage Marina

Gudrun and I decided to spend Monday in Tobermory and to get up very early Tuesday morning to sail the final leg down the Sound of Mull to Dunstaffnage. I had looked roughly at the weather on a grib file and it didn’t seem too bad. The weather on the harbour office television screen was suggesting winds of just 4mph so it actually looked as if there may not be enough wind. We got up at 0300 in the dark and it was quite windy, and a head wind too. We let go the mooring with the sails ready to hoist in case the gearbox didn’t play fair. And it didn’t play fair, but then it eventually gripped and we were able to motor through the moorings. It is definitely on its last legs after my stupid mistake. About an hour into the trip a VHF weather forecast came through with a strong wind warning stating that we should expect winds of around F6 to F7. That was a bit of a surprise. I suppose I should have checked the forecast first, I normally do, but it was such a nice day!
With a spring tide and a strong contrary wind the overfalls off the end of Lismore Island can get interesting. Peter Mercer had mentioned once that the journey is not over until.. well something to do with 9/10ths. I think the implication was there is still plenty of time to prang things up! Now if I was Dan, I would have just thought “It’ll be fine” but I always get a bit nervous on the first and last leg of a journey and managed to conjure up an image of a maelstrom with Sumara finally overwhelmed in a ferocious tempest just a couple of miles from her final port.
But of course we weren’t overwhelmed. Rather underwhelmed to be honest. It all seemed rather calm off the end of Lismore. We pottered up to Dunstaffnage to be greeted by Mark in the launch for a tow onto the pontoon. Friendly faces came a chatted, Annie gave Gudrun a wonderful bunch of hand picked flowers and said her son wanted to know what animals we had seen, and local fisherman thought we were crazy (and I take that as a compliment).

And that was the end of this year’s adventure.

Thank you all so much for joining in on the blog of the trip. I really hope you have enjoyed it.

I have been sailing with fantastic skilled and entertaining crew – Terry, Hannah, Alexander, Catherine, John Davidson, Torsten, Peter, Sarah, John Halsall, Charlotte, Ray and Gudrun.
The cutlery tray has now been rigorously inspected and we are missing just one Muji knife. Generally we loose one piece of cutlery about every 750mn but we have achieved a ratio of over 1 in 2000nm so I feel this is a marvellous testament to the quality of crew.

We also really enjoyed the company of Thembi and her crew – Tim, Charlotte, Dan and Stuart- who added so much to the trip. Siggi and his father on Aurora helped us to achieve our dream aim of climbing Beerenberg. Sarah and Stuart were heroes as they safeguarded our anchored yachts while we were climbing.

Hundreds of others have also helped in all sorts of ways. Engineers, sailmakers, staff at Flints, wellwishers, advisors, fellow sailors, climbers, insurers, running mates, military fitness trainers, and loads more.

And without Gerry’s help the blog wouldn’t have happened – thanks Gerry.

Before I closedown this year’s blog there are a couple of announcements.

Lost Property – various left hand soggy gloves, right foot smelly socks, damp bags, sacks, underwear, hats, books and thermals have been uncovered. A small stand will be set up at the “Classics”.

Website – There will be news, photos, videos and gear reviews posted on www.sumaraofweymouth.co.uk but it may take a while to sort out.

Diary Date – There will be a celebration event on 29th October in London. I’m not sure exactly where yet but I will email everyone on the mailing list. If you are not on the mailing list and would like to be please drop me an email – alasdair@flints.co.uk.

Blog Closed.

The Home Run

Ray on Watch

Full Moon in the Sea of the Hebrides

A Lovely Tree

 Position N56,37 x W006,03 Wind: Who cares, we are snugged up in Tobermory!

….A poem as lovely as a tree”.
Paul Robeson

We arrived safely in Tobermory Harbour yesterday afternoon after a really fast down wind sail through the Sea of the Hebrides. Once we were safely tied to the visitors buoy we rowed ashore for a desperately needed 7 minute £2.00 shower (Heaven), a couple of pints (Heaven) and a curry (Heaven). It was a good feeling being on land again after a week at sea but it is sad that the big journey is nearly over now. Ray needed to get back to work as he had a production fit up on Tuesday morning. Ray began to accidently call his watches scene changes – a bad sign. He caught the bus this morning to Oban while Gudrun and I went for a walk through the trees along the cliffs to the lake. I always miss the trees when I sail north.
Early tomorrow morning we will sail on to our final stop, Dunstaffnage. It is a spring tide so it may get bumpy around the south end of Lismore Island. There is some uncertainty as to whether the gearbox will grip to get us into Dunstaffnage and with the strong tide a maybe light wind it could be interesting.

There’s a new post “Stretched Limos” that appears before “Land Ahoy” but I’ve only just posted it. The email got lost in the spam filter. I’ve put it in the right sequence, otherwise it will look if Alasdair is going backwards – although I guess that’s always possible!

Gerry

Position N56,41 x W006,41 Wind F4 Westerly rather unstable.

Now we are sailing downwind through the Sea of theHebrides with Coll on our starboard bow. We hit some rough seas as the depth dropped from 1000m to about 100m but it is more peaceful now except for the occasional viscous squall which drives through with heavy rain and violent winds. But they are quick to go. Gudrun and Ray have been great crew. Gudrun has only been sailing a few times with Peter Mercer on the East England coast and once with me on the Limfjord in Denmark and up to Skagen.This was her first
offshore passage so it was a pretty tough choice but she has been great, not a moan – even when hurled across the cabin, and no signs of seasickness. Ray has a strange sailing CV. His first long passage was after a handshake with me that we would sail the Atlantic. He did a short course on the Clyde then crossed the Biscay on Sumara and then the Atlantic to Barbados. He sailed back from Spitzbergen to the Faroes, Iceland to Scotland (2006), Scotland to Bergan and England  to Denmark. All on Sumara!

Ray is a hugely practical person with great knot skills and can stow things away like no one else.

We are hoping to arrive in Tobermory early this evening for a desperately needed shower and a beer. Opps here comes a squall best get on the helm!

Sent at 11.06GMT 14th August 2001

Position N57,26 x W010,02  Wind force 6 southerly.

Now we are under reefed staysail and two reefs in the main. She is in the groove banking a bit of south which may be useful if the wind veers at all. It is getting rather rough. Now I need to pump the bilge. It takes about 20 strokes an hour on the starboard tack but virtually none on the port tack. Down below is bone dry, not a drip through the decks. A testament to the way Terry built her.

I’ve been reading a book called Niav Super. I’ve been reading it for about a year now because it is in Norwegian – only a few more chapters to go. The main character writes lots of lists. Mainly silly ones. I have started to write a list of things I like and things I dislike about Iceland. It’s too long to blog in these rough seas but one of my favourites is:

- The Stretched Limo for Hire on Heimay. Heimay is only 7km long, you could walk around the island in a day easily. It is a natural paradise, an outdoor kind of place. But the Icelanders think big. “If New York has stretched limos then we shall have stretched limos”. The fact that the population of the Island is only a couple of thousand and there is only one town is not important. I wish I had hired it for a tour. Imagine Ray, Gudrun and me in a limo on the Westmann Islands. The shear ridiculousness of it is highly appealing. The stretched limo sums up a lot about Iceland. They are about to open (20th August) the third biggest concert hall in the world. It rivals the Sydney and the new Oslo Opera Houses but it is a concert hall – or rather five concert halls. The population of Reykjavik is only a couple of hundred thousand. You would need one percent of the population there to fill it! Swimming pools are another Icelandic feature. Every town and village has a splendid pool w  ith hot tubs. Even if only 500 people live there. Iceland is a think big country. My list of good things is much longer than my list of bad things!

Now we are having bacon and banana in pita bread. Yummy.

Sent at 10.18GMT 13th August