tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55400308746887309842024-02-18T21:03:16.172-08:00Shetland Summer Sailing with SwanAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-70692399982140724252013-09-18T00:54:00.002-07:002013-09-18T00:54:39.678-07:00Cape Farewell
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has been a while since I last posted a blog and I plead
pressure of work and a relentless but very rewarding programme. Although by accident rather than design, my own thoughts are now increasingly turning towards "farewell" but that's for another post!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the last 3 weeks we have been hosts to an eclectic mix
of people from <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Cape Farewell
foundation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The foundation (named after Cape Favel, the southern tip of Greenland and on the same latitude as Shetland - 60 degrees North) brings
together artists and scientists with an interest in understanding and
portraying the impact of climate change on the maritime environment and the
communities who rely on that environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By bringing people together, they hope to encourage a conversation to
develop ideas and opportunity to network future projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year amongst other programmes they
chartered Swan to cruise the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me this has been a particularly rewarding 3 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may have already read my previous blog on
my visit to Long Hope on Hoy in Orkney and this was one opportunity seized from
their programme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may also already know of, or discern, my
interest in personal and particularly youth development through expeditioning
and outdoor experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Expeditions come
in many quizzes and take many forms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have long believed it a mistake to think of then exclusively in terms of being
some hard core activity in far flung corners of the globe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Successful and beneficial expeditions are to
be found on your door step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all
about purpose and attitude of mind combined with learning and reflection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only has this been within that definition
but it has also been incredibly insightful and rewarding for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I suppose at one and perhaps mundane level
of delivery I enjoyed working with the group leader Ruth Little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the face of it she and I might come from
very different experiences but right from our first exchange of e-mails I knew
this would be an easy and productive relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I enjoyed the collaboration and whilst I
was at one level the bus driver for their expedition, I also had the
opportunity to facilitate and help deliver the experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The groups (there were two separate ones) contained
a diverse mix of interests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
the Canadian venture capitalist investing into emerging renewables, there were
the poets and playwrights, there was the underwater cameraman, there was the ex
BAS marine biologist and ornithologist, writing a PhD on the impact of
pollution on deep water systems, there was the folk singer, the sound
recordists, the photographers and many many more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Not only did this diverse range of interests
make for an exciting mix but more importantly so did such a diverse range of
people with their own equally valid perspectives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Starting in Orkney we cruised several islands before heading
to Fair Isle and eventually on to Scalloway, where we started phase2 of the
expedition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saying goodbye to the phase
1 participants was not easy and there is almost a cynical turncoat experience
as you say goodbye to one group and hello to another; loyalty and focus
shifting to the incomers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then
cruised Shetland although we were unable to deliver the expected itinerary as the
weather forced several programme changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However this flexibility of programme ought to be easily understood as
inevitable when dealing with unknowns such as weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can also act as a metaphor for the need to
be receptive to changing situations and opportunities in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZttQtzbi36IJBaWNqqrRaL5moUcyCrbSbsBz4ovtkA6w4LqrwVPvqhV_KLqkfXyCabz05A1_k3I6XTDRc1F78-4UplqBlzqtHP1jjZMXMYrV5kzqyM2tKAlj8iQULPN257W2FUs6xHU/s1600/the-boat-comes-first.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZttQtzbi36IJBaWNqqrRaL5moUcyCrbSbsBz4ovtkA6w4LqrwVPvqhV_KLqkfXyCabz05A1_k3I6XTDRc1F78-4UplqBlzqtHP1jjZMXMYrV5kzqyM2tKAlj8iQULPN257W2FUs6xHU/s320/the-boat-comes-first.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The crew of the Swan or indeed any boat have a primary
responsibility and focus to looking after her and this trumps other aspiration
and on occasions meant being unable to take part in the shore side
programme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However the itinerary did<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>allowed me some opportunity to join in and
also follow my own interests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So as well
as Long Hope other highlights were a solo walk out to Muckle Flugga, </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBCWg-E_7cstVclwHFavQezZlsZv1ZywWg1c8YBaLe5cwayWMPH2iNR4ddWahH-bWUeIVSoSVHHXWfb_RPPMmVLBUPYEcQTEvtRlXqIstBeh7W7NGNyRlRlLkeN9jjPr4Bw5_dUiJirM/s1600/Muckle-Flugga.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBCWg-E_7cstVclwHFavQezZlsZv1ZywWg1c8YBaLe5cwayWMPH2iNR4ddWahH-bWUeIVSoSVHHXWfb_RPPMmVLBUPYEcQTEvtRlXqIstBeh7W7NGNyRlRlLkeN9jjPr4Bw5_dUiJirM/s320/Muckle-Flugga.gif" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">visiting
the Unst boat haven ( a fascinating private collection of local boats and
maritime artefacts)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnRmMcpEVKLF0pbudSLBK3joSQhJ-HCEbm6FN3JZc8LDEZKgh5IwDEYx9gxhMRBknD8e8Z8i55J2OakZeyXc6h-bLGXNUmrLNtnYRwC1Czv9CrOpOp-r4DBjwXr94nG8niXELvcQdW7M/s1600/crans.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnRmMcpEVKLF0pbudSLBK3joSQhJ-HCEbm6FN3JZc8LDEZKgh5IwDEYx9gxhMRBknD8e8Z8i55J2OakZeyXc6h-bLGXNUmrLNtnYRwC1Czv9CrOpOp-r4DBjwXr94nG8niXELvcQdW7M/s320/crans.gif" width="320" /> cran baskets and below the official govt markings</a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bl3BxGY4S1ggP1lT_UMy15GaZaDkUDmuBStiIjYy4MTrypSK4X_SJlPD9qPoMOfyH41g4nE5PRnGQWN5zhWt_MOvrvq0ggZuc0ZjfLDh80t4EGTMtloIHv5MjcRLYptX8-ZB6xxWppE/s1600/govt-marking-on-official-cran-basket.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bl3BxGY4S1ggP1lT_UMy15GaZaDkUDmuBStiIjYy4MTrypSK4X_SJlPD9qPoMOfyH41g4nE5PRnGQWN5zhWt_MOvrvq0ggZuc0ZjfLDh80t4EGTMtloIHv5MjcRLYptX8-ZB6xxWppE/s320/govt-marking-on-official-cran-basket.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiJ-4jY84V51CzxW4jiFUBZ76K7Yg01t-SmqghmJnyhj4hykLXzAANUbp3cZ5TUgRxe_8iS9vT5D6Gg74xgMkBhv9oUfYt-arRFmb8lk2JzvJSjAICjSHiDfmZS9CVTt6Z8VfPFjIXWM/s1600/keeping-and-developing-tradition.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiJ-4jY84V51CzxW4jiFUBZ76K7Yg01t-SmqghmJnyhj4hykLXzAANUbp3cZ5TUgRxe_8iS9vT5D6Gg74xgMkBhv9oUfYt-arRFmb8lk2JzvJSjAICjSHiDfmZS9CVTt6Z8VfPFjIXWM/s320/keeping-and-developing-tradition.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Keeping tradition updated and preserved. sea gull engines on traditional yawls. local opinion is that the stern mount was less successful. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">taking the inflatable into caves and through arches around fair Isle</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAoF-12excp85V0xTs0toVuCaSf6l1DYymj3_VJl6fP92sVAaz6o2DCndsm_RPn3oMkxDLsZUSOQdhStC7zOULxIn00H8W7yXFJoUCMXBQVqQO-RCsjTtnYraEV5xOtCYYfQqu17wLg8/s1600/looking-across-Fair-Isle.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAoF-12excp85V0xTs0toVuCaSf6l1DYymj3_VJl6fP92sVAaz6o2DCndsm_RPn3oMkxDLsZUSOQdhStC7zOULxIn00H8W7yXFJoUCMXBQVqQO-RCsjTtnYraEV5xOtCYYfQqu17wLg8/s320/looking-across-Fair-Isle.gif" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
sightseeing in Kirkwall and climbing Orkney’s highest mountain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
John Rae's memorial in Kirkwall Cathedral. He was an artic explorer who amongst other achievements discovered the fate of the Franklin expedition<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkzN_Ih5PyGZ-BeZ4-VFxKEmEr0DSMq-mkCvOtzQSn-JE36K5ySS-qHXQ5Oj2mKBaUaItRTLQ3134aNichbECE8HO85yWt2BhNj397XCc0tThssGkzo10dbDK8i3qhlyRxivr88x0SBM/s1600/John-Rae-memorial.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkzN_Ih5PyGZ-BeZ4-VFxKEmEr0DSMq-mkCvOtzQSn-JE36K5ySS-qHXQ5Oj2mKBaUaItRTLQ3134aNichbECE8HO85yWt2BhNj397XCc0tThssGkzo10dbDK8i3qhlyRxivr88x0SBM/s1600/John-Rae-memorial.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkzN_Ih5PyGZ-BeZ4-VFxKEmEr0DSMq-mkCvOtzQSn-JE36K5ySS-qHXQ5Oj2mKBaUaItRTLQ3134aNichbECE8HO85yWt2BhNj397XCc0tThssGkzo10dbDK8i3qhlyRxivr88x0SBM/s320/John-Rae-memorial.gif" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkzN_Ih5PyGZ-BeZ4-VFxKEmEr0DSMq-mkCvOtzQSn-JE36K5ySS-qHXQ5Oj2mKBaUaItRTLQ3134aNichbECE8HO85yWt2BhNj397XCc0tThssGkzo10dbDK8i3qhlyRxivr88x0SBM/s1600/John-Rae-memorial.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgZW05ImwrqdjrSfaXlthPxjfPIMsZxjhF8Dp0R4VgcQI2uhuyC7qo8lUCW6m2Bdne14_eW2SdbvalMOj6DKzNBQNHsSi2AA-qAPt_4WCqEAELFM8fW2xBQfnlia6orGW8w_ZBLClJIA/s1600/St-Magnus-Catherdral.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgZW05ImwrqdjrSfaXlthPxjfPIMsZxjhF8Dp0R4VgcQI2uhuyC7qo8lUCW6m2Bdne14_eW2SdbvalMOj6DKzNBQNHsSi2AA-qAPt_4WCqEAELFM8fW2xBQfnlia6orGW8w_ZBLClJIA/s320/St-Magnus-Catherdral.gif" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At most ports of call the Foundation had already created
links with local communities and also with specific individuals who were able
to add to the expedition, so whether it was the evening of Shetland dialect
poetry and fiddle music or the insight provided by a local archaeologist or an
explanation of local approaches and initiatives towards sustainable fishing and
marine conservation, we were privileged to fascinating evenings of informative
discussion and debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Views were freely
and easily exchanged, sometimes profound opposite views were debated but always
there was a sense of respect and engagement with a desire to understand and
learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course such activity requires the odd jar or dram of
lubrication! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now I would like to tell you more but the clock is against
me and “tide and weather wait for no man”. So I am going to cheat by providing
a link to their web site where you will also find a their own blog page
(including one from me) I really do encourage you to get a cup of coffee (or
similar) and follow the link below it because I almost guarantee that it will spark at least
one, and probably more than one, chain of thought that will </span><a href="http://www.capefarewell.com/2013expedition/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">leave you richer</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-29264831805903282512013-09-03T00:21:00.001-07:002013-09-04T14:18:15.009-07:00A Journey completed?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Scapa flow is immersed in naval and maritime history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As home to the Grand Fleet in two world wars
it is as steeped in Royal Naval significance as anywhere else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fleet left and returned to Scapa Flow for
the Battle of Jutland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The interned
German fleet was successfully scuttled there under the very noses of the
victor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the opening days of the
second World war HMS Royal Oak was sunk by an audacious U Boat attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an ex-servicemen any of these events would
grab and headline my visit were it not for an event in my living memory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">17 March 1969.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
still vividly recall hearing the news of the Longhope Lifeboat disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was 6 and my sister Harriet 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As young sailors in our family boat “Hope”
(see blog 15) we were starting to be immersed in the sea and the loss of an
entire lifeboat crew hit home and was relevant in so many ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story is better recorded elsewhere but in
the face of a force 9 Sever gale, the crew put out to help a stricken cargo
vessel manned by men they did not know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They never returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That night
the village of Longhope lost 8 men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the army we embrace as “brothers in arms” but that night 2 fathers perished
along with 2 sons, some of whom also left widows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two women each stripped of a husband and 2
sons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scarcely a home untouched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today the lifeboat coxswain is the grandson
of the coxswain lost that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within
days Long Hope and its lifeboat family put up a new crew from volunteers who included
5 relatives of the dead men and simply stood up to carry on the maritime tradition
shared by generations of seafarers of help to their fellow man in time of need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We wanted to do something and enabled by our parents we
tracked down the local “shoreline” group (lifeboat support organisation).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harriet and I had letters authenticating us
as bona fida collectors and whilst I have no idea how much we raised, we
collected both at school and around the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The beauty of the memorial, its imagery, its location and
its message moved me to tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inspired
by those men, their families and their community, I stood and reflected on the
profound impact it had and has on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wished Harriet there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel the dearth
of words to articulate the emotion that was woven into that silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Memories of friends and events from my own
experiences came to mind, they stood out and yet merged into a timeless image
of faces, events, impacts, character and I saw clearly how their courage and
example has helped shape and inspire me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexwn_U9BWN1wW9VO6JCaQjS3kNpvgdz75YpRfDjgCFev596JN6zL8SkNW1TVM0hBj0i5NSuPe392oQdRZGMbwsOhzqWzYIPAAKWvl672ktdUY2ONA-s8MaDn1fmTjtMuITnlhRheaQ-Q/s1600/DSC_0336.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexwn_U9BWN1wW9VO6JCaQjS3kNpvgdz75YpRfDjgCFev596JN6zL8SkNW1TVM0hBj0i5NSuPe392oQdRZGMbwsOhzqWzYIPAAKWvl672ktdUY2ONA-s8MaDn1fmTjtMuITnlhRheaQ-Q/s320/DSC_0336.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFj9iIRRUf6qto2s77Ud8GY6aOdFxiuJL1k5KKbQG02dQpazcIjzlsGj0RoYbsibsglJqQJCjVLlPj0mK6HgvTl3HRAHa_R9PcnxwEvz1a6yO3JagIfOiNZ_wqWfrAv3Y1nua23INclcQ/s1600/Longhope-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFj9iIRRUf6qto2s77Ud8GY6aOdFxiuJL1k5KKbQG02dQpazcIjzlsGj0RoYbsibsglJqQJCjVLlPj0mK6HgvTl3HRAHa_R9PcnxwEvz1a6yO3JagIfOiNZ_wqWfrAv3Y1nua23INclcQ/s320/Longhope-1.gif" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">To conclude I want to share two songs that I sang and resonate strongly with me. Both are sung by my friend Tom Lewis, the "widowmaker " was written by John Connelly. Now technology has defeated me so follow the link below to Tom's website and hear a sample as well as read the lyrics but below is him singing the widowmaker.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span> <a href="http://www.tomlewis.net/lyrics/sackville.htm">http://www.tomlewis.net/lyrics/sackville.htm</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
HMCS Sackville written and sung by Tom Lewis</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-JZOYFddkyY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Widowmaker. Written by John Connelly and sung by Tom Lewis</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-90789160975958463752013-08-26T02:28:00.003-07:002013-08-26T02:28:32.442-07:00Learning from experience - Three cautionary tales.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whilst in Norway I ran the boat aground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had decided to visit the attractive
village of Hadbakke and from thestart the detail of the chart made it clear
that this would be a difficult entry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However Swan has been in before and we had an on board pilot from one of
those visits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He advised the north
channel and as we approached I became concerned that it really did appear very
narrow but was reassured that breadth and depth are not correlated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never the less I slowed down to under a knot
and just as we entered the pilot questioned his memory but we were committed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We grounded gently with an initial bump and
then a short grind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We immediately ran
in reverse but Swan wasn’t moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are a number of other immediate actions such as checking hull integrity,
shifting weight aft and of deploying anchors and inflatable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of which we initiated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
feature of all propellers is a trait known as “prop walk” as well as driving
the boat ahead or astern a propeller produces a force that “walks” the stern
sideways its most pronounced at low speed and with her keel held somewhere
forward she was simply trying to turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fortunately our plight was spotted by two local fishermen who passed a
line and by countering the prop walk allowed us to run off easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We followed them in through the south channel
without further incident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We monitored
bilge water levels for the next 2 hrs and I am happy to say that there is no
evidence of any damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What to do next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well
it was minor and some suggested that no further action was required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead though I reported myself to the
chairman of the ops committee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
had a very easy chat about the incident.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what lessons?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well
I think there are two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my
expedition maxims was about contingency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In this case it was the slow speed of approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might often appear over cautious when
entering harbour but just this one incident vindicates that caution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second is that having had the accident do
the right thing not the easy thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 180pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We cleared the Norweigan coast in a lumpy sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having cleared the land I went below for a
sleep before coming up for watch on later in the small hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was told that one of the passengers had
been sick, not an entirely unexpected occurrence and apart from feeling sorry
for them thought no more on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later
that day I heard the full story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
passenger had been below trying to put on waterproofs when she feel and knocked
herself out momentarily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was then
helped on to a seat and sat for 15 minutes, the motion made her feel sick and
she then came up and was sick before going below and lying down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understandably she didn’t stand a watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I learnt about the entirety, I carried
out some basic checks but by now it was more than 12 hours after the
incident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All appeared normal and I kept
a close watch on her. She objected to the fuss but acknowledged some continuing
discomfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She was seen by a doctor on return to Shetland for
reassurance and I am happy to say that there was discomfort but nothing more
serious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So despite my earlier post about having sorted out the
medical chest, the follow up to this incident did not go as it should have
done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what lessons?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These accidents do happen and therefore they can happen to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is clearly a technical learning in
first aid terms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps most
importantly it highlights how despite an extensive medical chest, medical
guides and first aid books, we humans can sometimes get it wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is an adage “its not what you know or
have, its what you do with what you know or have.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We simply didn’t use our knowledge and tools
to best effect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 180pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Do it now ,not later” was another of my expedition
maxims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the weather Gods
interfered with our planned departure for Orkney, we delayed by 36 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And even then had an uncomfortable and
lengthy crossing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That delay was
prudent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and seamanlike even if it had
other unfortunate consequences about not meeting a planned timetable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do it now not later doesn’t mean rush in, it
means once you have identified that the time is right to do something, get on
with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose “make hay whilst the
sun dose shine” or don’t put off the business of today until tomorrow might be a
better articulation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-49254931975283568422013-08-23T14:39:00.001-07:002013-08-23T14:39:30.633-07:00Fjords
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As
Maloy slipped astern, the fjords stretch out ahead and with the weather looking
considerably kinder than it had 8 hours earlier we set about a gentle
exploration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As navigator I do have the
advantage of studying the charts and am thus better informed than those who
don’t look at them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or at least I should
be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Initially we headed inland with no
fixed idea of a destination other than to admire the scenery of Nordfjord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
unanimous agreement our eye was drawn to the impressive face of <span style="color: black;">Hornelen, billed as Northern Europe’s highest sea
cliffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cliffs sit on the point of
the fjord and opposite is a small channel to the village of Rugsund.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Although there were a number of
possible routes, it seemed to me that the most appealing was one through that little
channel as this would allow us to approach the Cliffs head on rather than
simply following the coast line around to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People were already surprised by the
narrowness of gap through which coastal traffic was passing but a
characteristic of the fjords is that they are steep to and (normally) very
deep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7k9qwD8SjfWKyJ5Upj6jMA8ianOJqS28_Xk86B9F32719g2OGcQq9g0bn8sBMOesska7sNKFf5hvbJxd73FICZsAl-j3Gzk5gFWy7ORKCONMp61IA7SSijxKbhpv0T-BMlucGY-zMZA/s1600/channel-cliff.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7k9qwD8SjfWKyJ5Upj6jMA8ianOJqS28_Xk86B9F32719g2OGcQq9g0bn8sBMOesska7sNKFf5hvbJxd73FICZsAl-j3Gzk5gFWy7ORKCONMp61IA7SSijxKbhpv0T-BMlucGY-zMZA/s320/channel-cliff.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">However
and despite assurance from the chart I did have to hold my nerve as we entered
the channel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can’t have been more
than 25 foot wide at its narrowest and Swan’s beam is 18 feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was less than 3 feet under the keel but
that’s fairly normal for the sand banks, saltmarsh creeks and swatchways of my
home waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now you might remember
from an earlier blog that I had asked to update our UK charts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly this did not extend to The Norwegian
charts but I have now added the necessary chart correction!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFaZzzsRvcVnYbPTDJNX9kkB9D9AE925kIatoPHO1a_gDsDz0nXRBI38s8Zrj2R9NVZSvhloocRpCDYlRSuXgNk-W0_UgnZplWZjV7SMv47AzPFXw9vdZfSpAOZ7MTOv0Wq3dDThwuFo/s1600/Bridge.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFaZzzsRvcVnYbPTDJNX9kkB9D9AE925kIatoPHO1a_gDsDz0nXRBI38s8Zrj2R9NVZSvhloocRpCDYlRSuXgNk-W0_UgnZplWZjV7SMv47AzPFXw9vdZfSpAOZ7MTOv0Wq3dDThwuFo/s320/Bridge.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We
had no option to turn round and reverse the channel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomocUjJbgoaSgqkz9gIRqPyfq8w7UrAPeKv_knI-SeT5g1QDfz8qttFdQcIxrIMoKSCvHefv5iqevj6DmZ1hTXf6OkmhZ_L30RgEKfBC50AIx5mCCMKEH21OrFxW_CmGZ7PCfeYibh4w/s1600/channel.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomocUjJbgoaSgqkz9gIRqPyfq8w7UrAPeKv_knI-SeT5g1QDfz8qttFdQcIxrIMoKSCvHefv5iqevj6DmZ1hTXf6OkmhZ_L30RgEKfBC50AIx5mCCMKEH21OrFxW_CmGZ7PCfeYibh4w/s320/channel.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>After a little bit of dithering largely
caused by trying to accommodate everyone’s “wants” but confirmed by a heavy
downpour we put alongside the little village of Rugsund itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It proved to be a good choice and despite the
lack of facilities (which I now know exist) we enjoyed a first night in Norway
and alongside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slept soundly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6z4GuM7LfOIABZ09pVzfz-1KR9hU37ih0m0TqRIWnOS-5es6oWiKawz9-gsG5RLi5n_9MqFkY44LQmlopWonhmJglDNLi8W3K2822zh5IE6fHQ62doxNOQB-Y2Xm15v0mBjI7C-ZF3M/s1600/Rugsund-wharf.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6z4GuM7LfOIABZ09pVzfz-1KR9hU37ih0m0TqRIWnOS-5es6oWiKawz9-gsG5RLi5n_9MqFkY44LQmlopWonhmJglDNLi8W3K2822zh5IE6fHQ62doxNOQB-Y2Xm15v0mBjI7C-ZF3M/s320/Rugsund-wharf.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV6ILpco9TKkGo00lj__fXcE8rkzHw39LHj7aIh3IW08-8DKxwq5qHlJ5gDtOk107hdnuAErlbEkMmP0BREMxtSaxD9b2gJNEeMYzHsQC4JAkel0Y2K5hVVF8TsyLfvzMevPI7sifvkk/s1600/Rugsund.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV6ILpco9TKkGo00lj__fXcE8rkzHw39LHj7aIh3IW08-8DKxwq5qHlJ5gDtOk107hdnuAErlbEkMmP0BREMxtSaxD9b2gJNEeMYzHsQC4JAkel0Y2K5hVVF8TsyLfvzMevPI7sifvkk/s320/Rugsund.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
following morning we selected another route and motored round to the other side
of the bridge and enjoyed the view we had hoped for the previous evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We continued via a circuitous route to the
old fishing village of Kalvag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only
wall long and deep enough to take us was by the pub!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh well it would have been rude not to have
visited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgUU_7ZunHBSx5zFbS3ozx9VJBFQN7IgNkVYZdT_BZxVsv0icdo6h_g3hezUfmtvfkdCiz9ixkHHWHGqNjWpf5MZfsRINg-bph0Srmq1DP9gfJcAqb4Go4WiLambgyIZMJc3Oih9yrPY/s1600/pub-wharf.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgUU_7ZunHBSx5zFbS3ozx9VJBFQN7IgNkVYZdT_BZxVsv0icdo6h_g3hezUfmtvfkdCiz9ixkHHWHGqNjWpf5MZfsRINg-bph0Srmq1DP9gfJcAqb4Go4WiLambgyIZMJc3Oih9yrPY/s320/pub-wharf.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>That night we ate ashore and
whilst expensive ( a fact when in Scandinavia) it was excellent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pub occupied the site of a former herring
processing plant and wharf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The current
building is not original but had originally stood in Bergen before being
deconstructed and resurrected on the site of the beyond repair warehouse.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrHT0xuT5c_zxNfMWigeNlUQlQ54qEnNeoca-0pjd_nrWUWlVgYc4FqsPAyhE_rR8M2EaiTtCsdxvszuMZx3-uG7GfRL0fQ3gsuGUL09osCnLP4MOqaM0fLQsJUR61uMpzVUoecDmw6U/s1600/kalvag-original.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrHT0xuT5c_zxNfMWigeNlUQlQ54qEnNeoca-0pjd_nrWUWlVgYc4FqsPAyhE_rR8M2EaiTtCsdxvszuMZx3-uG7GfRL0fQ3gsuGUL09osCnLP4MOqaM0fLQsJUR61uMpzVUoecDmw6U/s1600/kalvag-original.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrHT0xuT5c_zxNfMWigeNlUQlQ54qEnNeoca-0pjd_nrWUWlVgYc4FqsPAyhE_rR8M2EaiTtCsdxvszuMZx3-uG7GfRL0fQ3gsuGUL09osCnLP4MOqaM0fLQsJUR61uMpzVUoecDmw6U/s320/kalvag-original.gif" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrHT0xuT5c_zxNfMWigeNlUQlQ54qEnNeoca-0pjd_nrWUWlVgYc4FqsPAyhE_rR8M2EaiTtCsdxvszuMZx3-uG7GfRL0fQ3gsuGUL09osCnLP4MOqaM0fLQsJUR61uMpzVUoecDmw6U/s1600/kalvag-original.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrHT0xuT5c_zxNfMWigeNlUQlQ54qEnNeoca-0pjd_nrWUWlVgYc4FqsPAyhE_rR8M2EaiTtCsdxvszuMZx3-uG7GfRL0fQ3gsuGUL09osCnLP4MOqaM0fLQsJUR61uMpzVUoecDmw6U/s1600/kalvag-original.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Kalvag then and now</a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG29YJAouf6tepSbrzi4RbNYgL3HG2mQaJFUrXE7SqxFRHmaFCPe_yTqBBMFQhkDjDI2CcJLuYQxc1Vp4rV9YW-TxuThdhTlzrLKYh7fzA1XF8ro4fbWSQW14L-Ze-M6J6McekzCbIMYs/s1600/kalvag-now.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG29YJAouf6tepSbrzi4RbNYgL3HG2mQaJFUrXE7SqxFRHmaFCPe_yTqBBMFQhkDjDI2CcJLuYQxc1Vp4rV9YW-TxuThdhTlzrLKYh7fzA1XF8ro4fbWSQW14L-Ze-M6J6McekzCbIMYs/s320/kalvag-now.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">From
Kaslvag we headed down to <span>Florø (see previous blog) before
going on to overnight in the small village of Stavang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we met a most delightful German lady and
her children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her parents live in
Stavang and she takes a holiday there every year. </span>She had hoped that her sons would have been
exhausted by their long day walk but the allure of the Swan lying on the
quayside brought them to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did
the tour of the “Swan” in a mixture of English that she then repeated in German
as I have to admit that what little German I once knew is now lost to
memory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hundreds of people have visited
Swan this year alone and had the short tour and history that is standard but
this conversation was easy and it was one of those chance encounters that was
ephemeral and memorable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After I had
retired to bed but others were still up, the boys returned with a bottle of
white port.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A very generous gift that
was drunk with much delight a few nights later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Our
days settled into something of a pattern as we generally headed south made a
lunch time stop for a leg stretch and explore and then headed away late
afternoon to find a night time berth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
it was that we met Hitra in Askvoll before taking the impressive channel to
Hardbakke (more of which on a separate post). From Hardbakke we retraced our
route through the 8 mile channel to avoid the this time known about low bridge
and headed to the old trading post of Skjerjehan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were it not for the significant investment of
a local man who became one of Norway’s wealthiest salmon farmers, this would be
a an old run down packing shed living testament to the changing pattern of
trade and fishing and telling a tale of centralisation and
industrialisation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead it is now a
small marina and a sensitively converted packing house into a bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had it appears just missed a festival
weekend of traditional boats and thus bar stocks were lower than normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were also treated to a view of an old
passenger coastal steamer returning to Bergen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73xmtBqBljh_2Mcr-__Nw2q2UBqy1c_XbENIKzqdiJCG30fgzWimIW_MaEMc0ITpFOGRqm-qAz73JT7aMlOtq03jBqWeEme6iddfxBGLc4OFTlEWbLcJMMOLoCPkd1LWJy-Tapgb7CgQ/s1600/steamer.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73xmtBqBljh_2Mcr-__Nw2q2UBqy1c_XbENIKzqdiJCG30fgzWimIW_MaEMc0ITpFOGRqm-qAz73JT7aMlOtq03jBqWeEme6iddfxBGLc4OFTlEWbLcJMMOLoCPkd1LWJy-Tapgb7CgQ/s320/steamer.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This
seemed to focus thoughts on whether we too should aim there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A spectrum of opinion; some more drawn to the
scenery of the fjords and some to the “big lights”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end though we made Bergen and moored
in the old harbour not far from the fish market and opposite Byggern, the well
preserved Hanseatic trading site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
was our last port of call before departing for Lerwick (and more of that
later). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqrl7HuZOf2S70ZXiRpXpUKKVMc7HilKf2Bb2S4ryTuoxwPjt7s8s6L54axJb-2e7_ToYvIpL3iybRlgLdSeHXEP49IgF8onB5MD_P43mX5WC3NLZu8cNbwfsyLLWMPmHP7cpOMHRfeU/s1600/Byggyan.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqrl7HuZOf2S70ZXiRpXpUKKVMc7HilKf2Bb2S4ryTuoxwPjt7s8s6L54axJb-2e7_ToYvIpL3iybRlgLdSeHXEP49IgF8onB5MD_P43mX5WC3NLZu8cNbwfsyLLWMPmHP7cpOMHRfeU/s1600/Byggyan.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqrl7HuZOf2S70ZXiRpXpUKKVMc7HilKf2Bb2S4ryTuoxwPjt7s8s6L54axJb-2e7_ToYvIpL3iybRlgLdSeHXEP49IgF8onB5MD_P43mX5WC3NLZu8cNbwfsyLLWMPmHP7cpOMHRfeU/s320/Byggyan.gif" width="212" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqrl7HuZOf2S70ZXiRpXpUKKVMc7HilKf2Bb2S4ryTuoxwPjt7s8s6L54axJb-2e7_ToYvIpL3iybRlgLdSeHXEP49IgF8onB5MD_P43mX5WC3NLZu8cNbwfsyLLWMPmHP7cpOMHRfeU/s1600/Byggyan.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqrl7HuZOf2S70ZXiRpXpUKKVMc7HilKf2Bb2S4ryTuoxwPjt7s8s6L54axJb-2e7_ToYvIpL3iybRlgLdSeHXEP49IgF8onB5MD_P43mX5WC3NLZu8cNbwfsyLLWMPmHP7cpOMHRfeU/s1600/Byggyan.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqrl7HuZOf2S70ZXiRpXpUKKVMc7HilKf2Bb2S4ryTuoxwPjt7s8s6L54axJb-2e7_ToYvIpL3iybRlgLdSeHXEP49IgF8onB5MD_P43mX5WC3NLZu8cNbwfsyLLWMPmHP7cpOMHRfeU/s1600/Byggyan.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Bergen
is often described as the prettiest town in Norway and it certainly combines a
thriving commercial port with a booming tourist industry and a history that is
preserved alongside the modern town and of course for music lovers it is
inextricably linked with Grieg. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRUTdBOT82aTdE4ebrMjnyiC5KkEkp_ky-9eiFmjU7VWgiul6sHYJzDGV0yFVGMYOj7_JnMJOXGPa_tW2bB8THO6CCDI1EGafRF2fQO1QfEOB01f5-LhxsDZY0n0j5NQPh61nFXXoCV4/s1600/Cod.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRUTdBOT82aTdE4ebrMjnyiC5KkEkp_ky-9eiFmjU7VWgiul6sHYJzDGV0yFVGMYOj7_JnMJOXGPa_tW2bB8THO6CCDI1EGafRF2fQO1QfEOB01f5-LhxsDZY0n0j5NQPh61nFXXoCV4/s320/Cod.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The influence of fishing is everywhere</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
what impressions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well firstly there is
the extraordinary beauty of the fjords but I must also confess to sometimes
feeling like the coach driver and tour guide on a package holiday rather than
the skipper of a sail training vessel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was seldom time to relax and get to experience places and in the
pace of life and it’s easy for one fjord, village, pier, view, mountain to
blend into the next so that one is no longer inspired by it but becomes immune
even blasé about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose that in
some ways it might be like a taster menu at a restaurant, great to get an
overall impression but not quite sufficient to allow a full savouring of the
dish and slightly rushed into savouring the next before the enjoyment of the
last has subsided. However it was a fantastic experience and adds to my own
learning and experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-62444723858175057622013-08-18T04:23:00.003-07:002013-08-18T04:23:55.238-07:00The Shetland Bus.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Previously
on a couple of occasions in this blog, back in May, I have mentioned the
Shetland Bus operation But I will make a quick recap and introduction for any
new followers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Shetland
has always enjoyed strong links to Norway, most obviously and commonly recalled
in Viking culture and the Up Helly Aa celebrations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The strength of the bond though is much more
than a far off history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It surfaces
throughout the years and manifests in language, culture and heritage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t until 1468 that Shetland passed from
Norway to Scotland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Shetland flag is a Nordic cross in the colours
of the Scottish Flag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJzfv7QMAGuunrLIu5ScJienDQl4xMiSCLkMUtgpdJy9D9xFzutjPn5413p0ny5SYSWPOrp3GiFqMsLaxqt2XrqZGKqf3RZsBppGGLf5UTmFelwJziTedBJWzmKn3N400qs_630JX1N4/s1600/Nordic-Crosses.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJzfv7QMAGuunrLIu5ScJienDQl4xMiSCLkMUtgpdJy9D9xFzutjPn5413p0ny5SYSWPOrp3GiFqMsLaxqt2XrqZGKqf3RZsBppGGLf5UTmFelwJziTedBJWzmKn3N400qs_630JX1N4/s320/Nordic-Crosses.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">During the second
world war it the strength of bond between Shetland and Norway surfaced through
the Shetland bus operation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can do no
more than write the briefest of notes on this remarkable operation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Initially
Shetland was a place of refuge for those escaping the Nazi invasion of Norway;
the sea crossing to Shetland being the shortest sea passage to safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was quickly realised that what started as
an escape route could also serve as a supply and infiltration route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many Shetlanders had vital roles within the
operation but a specific policy decision restricted operatives to being
Norwegian only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless there
developed and remains a very strong link between all members of the operation
whatever their original role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Supported
by the British with administration, training, weapons and other resources but
manned exclusively by Norwegians, a small fleet of Norwegian fishing vessels
was assembled and prepared for the hazards of weather and enemy action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using stealth and disguise as their primary
cover runs across the North Sea were established by <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Initially
the “Shetland Buses” were able to blend easily with Norwegian fishing boats but
soon a shortage of diesel and other restrictions in Norway simply drew
attention to these craft instead of blending in, they now stood out as unusual.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
By
1943 a number of heavy loses from both enemy action and weather combined to force
a rethink in the modus operandi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Help
came from the US government which donated 3 submarine chasers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These sleek and distinctive warships from the
same sort of stable as MTB’s combined speed with firepower replaced disguise as
there primary defence. The runs were re-established.</div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_h2mFn3YCKgsvmk7jYpiuvIoF8ZXitpuLC2oywsv8lqX5wLbQ01GaIXdftdTWfAO4asvYPj6o3criWlgAZl37zBy6uDPlfkHetID4NskyuFZINFnITzSYDdi-3PDxSgMV4f-J16sxWM/s1600/Hitra.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_h2mFn3YCKgsvmk7jYpiuvIoF8ZXitpuLC2oywsv8lqX5wLbQ01GaIXdftdTWfAO4asvYPj6o3criWlgAZl37zBy6uDPlfkHetID4NskyuFZINFnITzSYDdi-3PDxSgMV4f-J16sxWM/s320/Hitra.gif" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
</span><o:p></o:p></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
Hitra <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">is one of these warships and thanks to an enthusiastic group of volunteers has been restored and preserved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WU7NWJl1FIgTblxgsoxCJTfslSZKm2aRId-K3UNyD9W4kMJd7140xYzUXCwovO3dT-Ha2xeFgtzU9eqBkanMdOiH7k1Yuuq_nmujrhcP2UZbRMSyFhkgiRI4TwAQHtFIdp-mKKqai0w/s1600/stbd-side.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WU7NWJl1FIgTblxgsoxCJTfslSZKm2aRId-K3UNyD9W4kMJd7140xYzUXCwovO3dT-Ha2xeFgtzU9eqBkanMdOiH7k1Yuuq_nmujrhcP2UZbRMSyFhkgiRI4TwAQHtFIdp-mKKqai0w/s320/stbd-side.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although owned by a Trust she is officered by retired officers but crewed
by Royal Norwegian Navy ratings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t tell
the MOD otherwise this might be a model and savings measure for the future of the
Royal Navy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9e6rA0R7R2AKtRlu3PM7WB2Z9_xmUIKvVlb0L6Yupos0lngHF-tDPIot_Fst-v9UWfgtEDEHg0kiiA_hNI2raKPFpozSDLC1CaC8VIfeEx8-rJwP4rp7eUQ3i_8quFwBiXBju4Svf20c/s1600/stern-deck.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9e6rA0R7R2AKtRlu3PM7WB2Z9_xmUIKvVlb0L6Yupos0lngHF-tDPIot_Fst-v9UWfgtEDEHg0kiiA_hNI2raKPFpozSDLC1CaC8VIfeEx8-rJwP4rp7eUQ3i_8quFwBiXBju4Svf20c/s320/stern-deck.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>By complete chance we were
to meet Hydra at our next port of call and then a few days later transiting a
fjord just north of Bergen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hydra will
be visiting Shetland next month and I hope we can meet up once again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
ships might have changed but as ever, there was one constant and essential ingredient,
the bravery of the operators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These men
and women served in a variety of roles from “driving the buses” to those who
landed and conducted clandestine operations ashore with The Resistance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine then our delight and <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">surprise in <span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Florø</span> to be
greeted by an elderly Norwegian who recognising the Shetland flag made himself
known to us a survivor </span>of this wartime operation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Language was something of a challenge and he
was pressed for time but it was a privilege and pleasure to host Jans Larsen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was difficult to understand his precise
role but from what we could gather he served on the “bus” with his brothers and
made at least 2 runs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure if
these were on the “sub chasers” or on fishing boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Presenting him with a Shetland flag seemed an
appropriate gift and our own tribute to him and his comrades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOb6mplzu6cKyftAazgtcAEQ9avjXAcI7K8AfvjFbvMutlWp0c1aZnswuiqQfEzLAZX_VD2WtOBuO2hONtQo4Z_3TIgsGbvNG6Azh-WiZ2hlsrHSaLh8MgrHgbh5pvIfapAPlxsZhMuw/s1600/flag-preasentation.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOb6mplzu6cKyftAazgtcAEQ9avjXAcI7K8AfvjFbvMutlWp0c1aZnswuiqQfEzLAZX_VD2WtOBuO2hONtQo4Z_3TIgsGbvNG6Azh-WiZ2hlsrHSaLh8MgrHgbh5pvIfapAPlxsZhMuw/s320/flag-preasentation.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
His fallen comrades are remembered in Scalloway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A poignant cairn containing a rock from the village
or local area of each man commemorated is blended with local Shetland stone
from key sites in Shetland associated with the operation and together support a
model of one of the original buses.</div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxGlkW0V0pegA5BDudSEQ7JliTRKJTY022uWedd3Ye765BT_7TyIAdDgI5JT8taEWIJWiYgQvB-ZSPo0DMkhEAk-kyyMLKEbzlMm2WeWYNK7GUl_fp3wIA7WiTLwcvE8bBB6ckO-rG3Q/s1600/Shetland-Bus-memorial.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxGlkW0V0pegA5BDudSEQ7JliTRKJTY022uWedd3Ye765BT_7TyIAdDgI5JT8taEWIJWiYgQvB-ZSPo0DMkhEAk-kyyMLKEbzlMm2WeWYNK7GUl_fp3wIA7WiTLwcvE8bBB6ckO-rG3Q/s320/Shetland-Bus-memorial.gif" width="301" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-50447811574093945412013-08-09T03:03:00.001-07:002013-08-09T03:03:19.394-07:00return to Norway
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Returning to Norway was always going to be a milestone in
mine and Swan’s itinerary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vagaries
of weather would be an unknown element in the plan but a known challenge would
be the relatively short time frame to prepare her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is exacerbated by the even sharper turn
around on return from Norway when we have less than 36 hrs to slip for Orkney
on the start of a 3 week charter (more on that later . . ).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately Scott and I have been reinforced
by Ailish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having just completed a 1001
mile passage from Arhuss to Helsinki aboard the German square rigger “Alexander
Von Humbolt 2” as part of this year’s tall ships race her mettle is up and she
is amassing as much sea time as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She has also realised that sea time is only part of her nautical education
and thus has become a dockside fixture learning about the range of broader
skills required to keep a boat like Swan in seaworthy order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtl1f5V6c_Sys2QLrXHuy15gi0UvEwCgQl-Pq3yhoZ8oWCqwjUSogUS1u3eie3FXN2CADWG3v4K1TXyy9IX2Hu_bz1iNXnFHx6GxuRIRZ4ByJojLNbkM4F6ghFozX_E1wmcl7UKr5sw4/s1600/Scott-and-Ailish.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtl1f5V6c_Sys2QLrXHuy15gi0UvEwCgQl-Pq3yhoZ8oWCqwjUSogUS1u3eie3FXN2CADWG3v4K1TXyy9IX2Hu_bz1iNXnFHx6GxuRIRZ4ByJojLNbkM4F6ghFozX_E1wmcl7UKr5sw4/s320/Scott-and-Ailish.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The three of us thus turned to with a range
of preparatory jobs, everything from having the capstan repaired (alas still
ashore in ITU) to victualing for a 10 day passage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well preparing for sea we also had to
squeeze in some other jobs, a potential film shoot (which only got as far as
the recce and initial planning stage) and a day sail which was also cancelled;
is there a theme here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We finally
convened a training syllabus meeting, something that I have been keen to
progress and believe I can usefully contribute to as one of my strengths and
interests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only be careful what you wish
for since I had not only to articulate idea and circulate pre meeting but
subsequently write and circulate a draft syllabus before departure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is however something that I believe is
very important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enough of pre departure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having welcomed aboard the passengers, it was time to start to make
introductions; social and seamanship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is a clear legal delineation between the terms “passenger” and
“crew” and yet on an boat like swan I like to consider us as one crew who work
the ship together and of course the strict “crew” can’t easily work the ship as
a sailing vessel alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its back to the
difference between a group and a team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So inductions, safety briefs, instruction in safe working practices and lunch
before casting off shortly before 1600 hrs into the North Sea. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was a good southerly breeze and we set a reef based on
the old adage of “if you are wondering if it is time to reef, then it is” but
it was a cautious call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter we
made good progress with a steady 6 plus knots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As with most sailing boats, Swan does well on a reach and as she does
less well than modern boats do when going to windward the pleasure of reaching
is extenuated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was showing a good
pair of heels but reaching may be an unfortunate term for those of the crew
having a less enjoyable time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had an
uneventful night and Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
not much traffic but breking through the line of oil and gas platforms provides
a welcome miledtone at three levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Firstly it represents about half way, secondly it provides “scenery” to
the backdrop of sea and sky and thirdly it provokes thoughts on man’s ingenuity
as well as deeper questions on carbon economy and use of the earth’s
resources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We also started to mull our destination landfall and after
some discussion opted to headed north to Maloy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This would allow us to then cruise the coast in a southerly direction
and hopefully be a little further off the wind on the way home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How far south we get will depend on a number
of factors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turning slightly down wind
and a general fall in wind strength anyway reduced the apparent wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For non sailors think perhaps of a car crash,
if two cars collide head on each doing 15 mph then there is a collision speed
of 30 mph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if however one car “shunts”
another when the front car is travelling at 15 mph and the rear car at 20 mph
then there is a collision speed of 5 mph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So with this fall in apparent wind we elected more sail but rather than
shake out the reef we ran out the bowsprit and hosted the jib.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We back up to more than 7 knots and rapidly
closing the Norwegian coast. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6yof8CJ8q4Enwgyy9BU6A2BYizluJof-EtDLVzuY0YZ6rtvOo9JhviWOWz0_YuvR7Oab0fuAlFTcah7c0AR50q6261rhpt1XiTVIiPyzWyxjZduOXUAKtmaIsqr2bAoIC9sfhopgWLk/s1600/ancient-mariner.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6yof8CJ8q4Enwgyy9BU6A2BYizluJof-EtDLVzuY0YZ6rtvOo9JhviWOWz0_YuvR7Oab0fuAlFTcah7c0AR50q6261rhpt1XiTVIiPyzWyxjZduOXUAKtmaIsqr2bAoIC9sfhopgWLk/s320/ancient-mariner.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was even time and weather to shoot the sun for a "midday run sun" sextant sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was now that we became a temporary stop over for a racing
pigeon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His (or her) arrival was greeted
with much excitement as not only a break to routine but a chance to offer
sucker to a shipwrecked mariner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
pigeon did not stay long enough to gain a name but was delighted to take water
and after a bit of a rest and a deck inspection as thorough as any 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>
mates took off again and headed north until we lost sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVNxSF3cZPHXNkvr9HOa3fxaG_5ezfx53fKA2EWdgPoYsxoKIiiq1CndaMUg1fZ8jK9_Bg0VHRHWwTjO-rtlcx8uW42-gL7rA-C5xFjEJ5IoqIZe_ckC_Y4JjrkbLk8UtYI-WnYnjmSw/s1600/deck-inspection.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVNxSF3cZPHXNkvr9HOa3fxaG_5ezfx53fKA2EWdgPoYsxoKIiiq1CndaMUg1fZ8jK9_Bg0VHRHWwTjO-rtlcx8uW42-gL7rA-C5xFjEJ5IoqIZe_ckC_Y4JjrkbLk8UtYI-WnYnjmSw/s320/deck-inspection.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another good nights sailing was rewarded by a glorious sun
rise </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVrWYtcCrCzywNkqDcibkz3lPlux4mRrDdsBX_8YYZEjDoT9rq3T8Z8D4k-TOlyOpQKBGyoTZX24C2X8Eryu2HzPFjw8CIngX_NKl7G0Dup8VAbxtFCBXpX9S4auQv-3FM7Vtvm4jqLc/s1600/sunrise-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVrWYtcCrCzywNkqDcibkz3lPlux4mRrDdsBX_8YYZEjDoT9rq3T8Z8D4k-TOlyOpQKBGyoTZX24C2X8Eryu2HzPFjw8CIngX_NKl7G0Dup8VAbxtFCBXpX9S4auQv-3FM7Vtvm4jqLc/s320/sunrise-1.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDfZSevbfaGLlL-NTXtIYJlZCg2MYh5mckXPSl8R2emmJK2XnSsm0oS7iXQrANviPDQztsD4MBmBrQwYPL2Zmrw35CoCdjxp5oEbyhPlUSbUFnmkAuVln1EBbbpz7qv_eMn3AG7QXEj8/s1600/sunrise-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDfZSevbfaGLlL-NTXtIYJlZCg2MYh5mckXPSl8R2emmJK2XnSsm0oS7iXQrANviPDQztsD4MBmBrQwYPL2Zmrw35CoCdjxp5oEbyhPlUSbUFnmkAuVln1EBbbpz7qv_eMn3AG7QXEj8/s320/sunrise-2.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">and shortly after a first glimpse of land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was fleeting as an offshore mist soon showed </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XWv42O6Paszo3q0xjjVkbNXLw-99O-56qtFkcjX-cvwOaI3dlSw0Q0it1XYWxVxVGKU6McjMMllviXQVtvtLfOwAOHrGddlgeUEEsHOwWyW1Nu80VUzmfHeyRQeBCg_W2VoZu7Fj8Qo/s1600/entering-fjord.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XWv42O6Paszo3q0xjjVkbNXLw-99O-56qtFkcjX-cvwOaI3dlSw0Q0it1XYWxVxVGKU6McjMMllviXQVtvtLfOwAOHrGddlgeUEEsHOwWyW1Nu80VUzmfHeyRQeBCg_W2VoZu7Fj8Qo/s320/entering-fjord.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">the view and shortly
after we were hit by a squall. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The wind strength rose 10 knots and we fought to
drop the jib as the wind first caught it and then when sheet and halyard were
eased and traveller hauled inboard, it flogged in the wind until grappled to
the deck to be subdued and lashed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spray
across the foredeck added to the drama and breaking waves on the skerries and
rocky islets completed the picture and made for a dramatic landfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0J2-CCQSshUA5f9SJiEpI8v-Fe-0eDXKvI6AzMZxcnb4hy8W2V1qJbJg1gTT7kRi5vsTY1vo2u11DiBiCb3qt8XddysxcePGita-oz5vZODnUvWtBB8kl8bzfcSvKQ8JiUoIHeB_lIEo/s1600/rainbow-island.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0J2-CCQSshUA5f9SJiEpI8v-Fe-0eDXKvI6AzMZxcnb4hy8W2V1qJbJg1gTT7kRi5vsTY1vo2u11DiBiCb3qt8XddysxcePGita-oz5vZODnUvWtBB8kl8bzfcSvKQ8JiUoIHeB_lIEo/s1600/rainbow-island.gif" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>As suddenly as it hit we found shelter in the
lee of an island and were soon dwarfed by the surrounding fjord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An hour or so later we tied up in Maloy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This small industrial fishing town is twinned
with Lerwick but otherwise had no particular appeal and so after a good lunch
we slipped to explore further . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-60553561670697622472013-08-01T11:59:00.003-07:002013-09-12T08:02:57.313-07:00One Hundred Years of Fishing History in 3 pictures<br />
<div align="justify">
Swan 1900 </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUZYIMJ8OqheuNgOCgjbj97rOnGUI7_uicqcguShw_eBa5dTPBO20x_-msT3aLekXXTfjG3oipluOdICYJmIlfh5x5RsUgf0T-GOj0PCGHBCF50ynIJVomcfH8L2d4-l-3ylyvEeLv2M/s1600/swan.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUZYIMJ8OqheuNgOCgjbj97rOnGUI7_uicqcguShw_eBa5dTPBO20x_-msT3aLekXXTfjG3oipluOdICYJmIlfh5x5RsUgf0T-GOj0PCGHBCF50ynIJVomcfH8L2d4-l-3ylyvEeLv2M/s1600/swan.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUZYIMJ8OqheuNgOCgjbj97rOnGUI7_uicqcguShw_eBa5dTPBO20x_-msT3aLekXXTfjG3oipluOdICYJmIlfh5x5RsUgf0T-GOj0PCGHBCF50ynIJVomcfH8L2d4-l-3ylyvEeLv2M/s320/swan.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUZYIMJ8OqheuNgOCgjbj97rOnGUI7_uicqcguShw_eBa5dTPBO20x_-msT3aLekXXTfjG3oipluOdICYJmIlfh5x5RsUgf0T-GOj0PCGHBCF50ynIJVomcfH8L2d4-l-3ylyvEeLv2M/s1600/swan.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6ie4FVx4omQR9Jj7EKpEk0it5RA0zgjYqK0jnOw4UrTU-9e5NcnOdKm5Ird7um5Sx2O3rCtT7i5JW4K9cKBCGlLlX1rQ4LLmImCsSX9_oYLz2wXOQhf6h7UpCDWzHTHHJtrpyd8308s/s1600/Comrades.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6ie4FVx4omQR9Jj7EKpEk0it5RA0zgjYqK0jnOw4UrTU-9e5NcnOdKm5Ird7um5Sx2O3rCtT7i5JW4K9cKBCGlLlX1rQ4LLmImCsSX9_oYLz2wXOQhf6h7UpCDWzHTHHJtrpyd8308s/s320/Comrades.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yGbXZTHSxSprYiXSV5HUfxjj000aJxZ9wA7XrqFh08SF8JXVkJCBTABqZeP5Kfrkb_tEVej0ic8BZ8wJZIlsCncuwAzy0CGa6AUDb52D7wOim9SMRu7dODeEfelg2ZeCBfOPPMxqqwM/s1600/Comrades.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yGbXZTHSxSprYiXSV5HUfxjj000aJxZ9wA7XrqFh08SF8JXVkJCBTABqZeP5Kfrkb_tEVej0ic8BZ8wJZIlsCncuwAzy0CGa6AUDb52D7wOim9SMRu7dODeEfelg2ZeCBfOPPMxqqwM/s1600/Comrades.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Comrades 1958</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yGbXZTHSxSprYiXSV5HUfxjj000aJxZ9wA7XrqFh08SF8JXVkJCBTABqZeP5Kfrkb_tEVej0ic8BZ8wJZIlsCncuwAzy0CGa6AUDb52D7wOim9SMRu7dODeEfelg2ZeCBfOPPMxqqwM/s1600/Comrades.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<div align="left">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yGbXZTHSxSprYiXSV5HUfxjj000aJxZ9wA7XrqFh08SF8JXVkJCBTABqZeP5Kfrkb_tEVej0ic8BZ8wJZIlsCncuwAzy0CGa6AUDb52D7wOim9SMRu7dODeEfelg2ZeCBfOPPMxqqwM/s1600/Comrades.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yGbXZTHSxSprYiXSV5HUfxjj000aJxZ9wA7XrqFh08SF8JXVkJCBTABqZeP5Kfrkb_tEVej0ic8BZ8wJZIlsCncuwAzy0CGa6AUDb52D7wOim9SMRu7dODeEfelg2ZeCBfOPPMxqqwM/s1600/Comrades.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwmHoAVZwBIP8YC9R-wotfpZqjwLLeYG4dS6FzTAMtaRDEATvGOKPhgFxCutbo6XVQwG98gHXE0wpA-MIVTzLbGuKkDVDzC30SZobzR2tM6yLm3nUvHQZimGuUMbQf2uNJOOXurycVpE/s1600/Pelagic.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwmHoAVZwBIP8YC9R-wotfpZqjwLLeYG4dS6FzTAMtaRDEATvGOKPhgFxCutbo6XVQwG98gHXE0wpA-MIVTzLbGuKkDVDzC30SZobzR2tM6yLm3nUvHQZimGuUMbQf2uNJOOXurycVpE/s320/Pelagic.gif" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Adenia 2003</div>
<br />
<br />
Some thoughts:<br />
<br />
Length Swan 67 feet Adenia 64 Meters <br />
Draught Swan 9 feet Adenia 9 meters<br />
<br />
Swan fish hold capacity about 2 tons. One of about 400 Shetland boats<br />
Adenia fish Hold capacity 1100tons. one of six Shetland pelagic boats <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-31625660323177067622013-07-31T14:27:00.002-07:002013-08-01T01:37:31.849-07:00Westray Regatta<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Westray
is the most north westerly of the Orkney islands and its annual regatta is a
long established annual event drawing entries from across the Northern Isles
and indeed further afield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
however one or two unique features that make this regatta different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In
no particular order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTm_TZe6mYRqUKZrdy9ZouCiL0zw_z3hI_KFhyphenhyphencXQZwAfa0LplbeyJqc4Hl8aj1nZ24qEBtrOsmi9x4zpm2iWZsiRnlAeOQzlzC3vs1eFoOVrzMgugEWaNf7r9C_4gdL19CNC_lmmlsI/s1600/a-fleet-for-all-tastes.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTm_TZe6mYRqUKZrdy9ZouCiL0zw_z3hI_KFhyphenhyphencXQZwAfa0LplbeyJqc4Hl8aj1nZ24qEBtrOsmi9x4zpm2iWZsiRnlAeOQzlzC3vs1eFoOVrzMgugEWaNf7r9C_4gdL19CNC_lmmlsI/s320/a-fleet-for-all-tastes.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The regatta draws a
wide spectrum of competitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
includes a class for the modern day cruiser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Much to my delight I learnt that there is no arguing about handicaps or
the like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead and to my mind
refreshingly so, competitors go out to enjoy the sailing rather than protesting
the rules or concerned about outperforming each other – it rather chimes with
Hahn’s notion that it is better to compete against one’s self than against
someone else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There
was a vibrant fleet of dinghies of all ages – that’s boats and
competitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it comes to corporate
social responsibilities there are few companies who could match Orkney Ferries
who laid on a bespoke free ferry to transport dinghies and competitors from
Kirkwall to Pierowall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXG-PzboZgk3ogDTzdaqcqtI3sN3aRrWFIpjrgYmQ2snJyYb9OsygV2J6GEj0e1UIjUjGZfWONpAD4Pa9OM_iZJiOjjdSr03jIM_rrAupngyuHWyu1kkIh_yVS9XdeSIlAbU6jClKPIvI/s1600/a-boat-full-of-boats.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXG-PzboZgk3ogDTzdaqcqtI3sN3aRrWFIpjrgYmQ2snJyYb9OsygV2J6GEj0e1UIjUjGZfWONpAD4Pa9OM_iZJiOjjdSr03jIM_rrAupngyuHWyu1kkIh_yVS9XdeSIlAbU6jClKPIvI/s320/a-boat-full-of-boats.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It
will not perhaps surprise you to learn that of most interest to me were the
traditional clinker built skiff and yawl boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGcfTeVaHnNv3IbOLR2hQu8lmtFFEv7TloOO1af-JSm8Lc9cb-sEXM61zkXw799iAZ-1Mk4_5BvCKbUlR2Dn47sipubRbMj71WQY_MuvVPKq0SnKFXWxRGD9hXh2tnhaqVGn16IgKllQ/s1600/3-little-maids.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGcfTeVaHnNv3IbOLR2hQu8lmtFFEv7TloOO1af-JSm8Lc9cb-sEXM61zkXw799iAZ-1Mk4_5BvCKbUlR2Dn47sipubRbMj71WQY_MuvVPKq0SnKFXWxRGD9hXh2tnhaqVGn16IgKllQ/s320/3-little-maids.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbMr-Lb68XoL7o6zaxvLgffmKqSrDOI1N3f3GePr8yaR1DaQDasVjLS-MUBYxDDxopVBR4ogh6xJcxjCpFeZMa7hclW7xdDWEozAnfoak7jXbA6qjXmYIpZeX-F3blHYoITAwQJ_ERwM/s1600/lugs-at-close-quarters.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbMr-Lb68XoL7o6zaxvLgffmKqSrDOI1N3f3GePr8yaR1DaQDasVjLS-MUBYxDDxopVBR4ogh6xJcxjCpFeZMa7hclW7xdDWEozAnfoak7jXbA6qjXmYIpZeX-F3blHYoITAwQJ_ERwM/s320/lugs-at-close-quarters.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There is a strong Norwegian influence and I could not help noting both
the similarities and differences with my own inherited clinker open boat “Hope”.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-TbBqtqLMtBVlJf4PKAB-pBiNEFM4I-1QdB_-23SDU7Rg-yCA24AnCQwl4KpFCabyjbpamEh5NYUGRWr1z_bqPblDSF3VoFovkU_BFzajJ5vM7GC-ggXIShyphenhyphenvGs8bV_JW-0PjkG5izE/s1600/Hope-Maldon.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-TbBqtqLMtBVlJf4PKAB-pBiNEFM4I-1QdB_-23SDU7Rg-yCA24AnCQwl4KpFCabyjbpamEh5NYUGRWr1z_bqPblDSF3VoFovkU_BFzajJ5vM7GC-ggXIShyphenhyphenvGs8bV_JW-0PjkG5izE/s320/Hope-Maldon.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20cXEb8mMwjlHVFVIsMQHW69udRafjRCbWBSJF9oUcLVTqEjW-mqJYkAdtdifgpwcsKKcRqKqJoM7tVhIAfze0mmX51KDv0dCOArHXMR-tilr9gguztB1maKVjztD2MFvIvJpvvvKr6w/s1600/Hope-sailing.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20cXEb8mMwjlHVFVIsMQHW69udRafjRCbWBSJF9oUcLVTqEjW-mqJYkAdtdifgpwcsKKcRqKqJoM7tVhIAfze0mmX51KDv0dCOArHXMR-tilr9gguztB1maKVjztD2MFvIvJpvvvKr6w/s320/Hope-sailing.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> Hope; happy in her home waters and playing in the mud</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Each has evolved to suit its own local
conditions and each is a tribute to how our forbearers understood the
requirements to best suit those conditions and uses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGcyagBRLniaNdpZcYr5-Av-H40opIAyWHG3y4aZ_4rZqM66lhD1n_mjTIyEsTq6chGsQK8LWg-7HLPN-MsFqoZ_RfSDcCY5PP0kqgWOc4SALK6USpJ8ZBlMnE9GtEKlfYBu6lifaC6Y/s1600/skiff-hull.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGcyagBRLniaNdpZcYr5-Av-H40opIAyWHG3y4aZ_4rZqM66lhD1n_mjTIyEsTq6chGsQK8LWg-7HLPN-MsFqoZ_RfSDcCY5PP0kqgWOc4SALK6USpJ8ZBlMnE9GtEKlfYBu6lifaC6Y/s320/skiff-hull.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
The skiffs have upright curved stems and a straight sternpost set at 45 degrees to the keel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFTkGih8zMR2bhjVo0YqwnX1oopOHFUmF_CphVpIr31JHyYqxteKY8ws37vRIo7hvbl_4S8NnUL1iZ3XYEzBczzf2Whh_p92vZ0kqIQnuQcfxpSO7zyBjdhPHGGy8BTYLJG6Yi5vHfi4/s1600/distinctive-hull-shape-aft.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFTkGih8zMR2bhjVo0YqwnX1oopOHFUmF_CphVpIr31JHyYqxteKY8ws37vRIo7hvbl_4S8NnUL1iZ3XYEzBczzf2Whh_p92vZ0kqIQnuQcfxpSO7zyBjdhPHGGy8BTYLJG6Yi5vHfi4/s320/distinctive-hull-shape-aft.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The yawls were of shallow draft with broad beam and the stern less raked
than the skiffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stem is curved and
raked forward at the head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsTPpDIFGSmsSaBJWVTeoVfgz4hD8CmbftUGe9YG4Qc8d7N5Kp_8szwgMVQSTayqBvdnLMa-Rr-EI71G2sPXW5xJyDoEdur3z0LyHzhF2SiEHuT4qmm_BmFIpMds3gUb3ggytX1Xdpyo/s1600/distinctive-hull-shape.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsTPpDIFGSmsSaBJWVTeoVfgz4hD8CmbftUGe9YG4Qc8d7N5Kp_8szwgMVQSTayqBvdnLMa-Rr-EI71G2sPXW5xJyDoEdur3z0LyHzhF2SiEHuT4qmm_BmFIpMds3gUb3ggytX1Xdpyo/s320/distinctive-hull-shape.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Swan was not
part of the racing but congratulations to Scott and Ailish who crewed aboard
one of the boats and took line honours as well as first place in two
races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swan was busy as a visitor
attraction with a constant through put of people and despite the friendly
rivalry that exists between Orkney and Shetland, there is also a sense of
kindred spirit as they unite to form the Northern Isles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Of course the whole was rounded off with the equally traditional regatta social events.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB0cs5cMiDhEiBbH895AV5nHkEJpGPBQCc7h_cBAkDAsxhnNGte8P9lsOfnulZxRldVxdnV3IRYF9m_24ih4ei-eVCR8RqnnxPBV27Zh6C-EbmDthryRm7LSxmqsOMkxNNb6VjcnQmOY/s1600/Social.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB0cs5cMiDhEiBbH895AV5nHkEJpGPBQCc7h_cBAkDAsxhnNGte8P9lsOfnulZxRldVxdnV3IRYF9m_24ih4ei-eVCR8RqnnxPBV27Zh6C-EbmDthryRm7LSxmqsOMkxNNb6VjcnQmOY/s320/Social.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Here there is more emphasis on
local tradition which includes not only fiddle music and dancing but also the
strong Viking influence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Now some might consider Viking heritage in the Northern Isles to be a timeless celebration of forbearers of great daring but as this next photograph shows even the landing of raiding parties for "rape ,plunder and pillage" are subject to health and safety risk assessments and management considerations !</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho13OcUoZ1CzAUZNnSdzWF-dOuKOTAMsbjt5LFLvNIR2IrVMViRH7lHGpobc8m-jsex01nIwwgCcd7Kj8XxxyQK0s-LHXy8Gxyose8CIWOeP2Lhz4HIE8v_WTpNpVaa_yugVO6S1J-m_8/s1600/plunder-and-pilage-but-health-and-safety-first.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho13OcUoZ1CzAUZNnSdzWF-dOuKOTAMsbjt5LFLvNIR2IrVMViRH7lHGpobc8m-jsex01nIwwgCcd7Kj8XxxyQK0s-LHXy8Gxyose8CIWOeP2Lhz4HIE8v_WTpNpVaa_yugVO6S1J-m_8/s320/plunder-and-pilage-but-health-and-safety-first.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> Viking Marauders with battle axe and lifejackets</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8sRmQwcFycm24coCQG_qsZQL67EUkAEHjivQonPmWCpJEeS__64r9C53jD1g7HkIZJJb4hMhb_wYQYc0VRhZcScUbQsVTjWG_LBOsLTpPNu32VJA6Qj_hGjHe17PgdOZCLpe9vg9wk8/s1600/pipes-and-torches.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8sRmQwcFycm24coCQG_qsZQL67EUkAEHjivQonPmWCpJEeS__64r9C53jD1g7HkIZJJb4hMhb_wYQYc0VRhZcScUbQsVTjWG_LBOsLTpPNu32VJA6Qj_hGjHe17PgdOZCLpe9vg9wk8/s320/pipes-and-torches.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">and of course there is the tradition of “galley burning”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>To
the hardened galley burners of Shetland this might all be rather tame but to
the outsider it was new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not
help feel somewhat sad for the selected boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was clearly beyond repair and her last flourish was a fitted Viking
prow </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_U9UKFy-1-NHDrQds2sF02ktlPqIV5uoJSCtBufQgM3KRGr9Ii5gz9hmoUgAI13AbgHzdQoqB4G7bSMkOMRQPQHj0pSMqgape161vP3TH3-NzuVBd-dzSk-Q6kuHg3AB6vGAS0Z35x-o/s1600/fate-awaits.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_U9UKFy-1-NHDrQds2sF02ktlPqIV5uoJSCtBufQgM3KRGr9Ii5gz9hmoUgAI13AbgHzdQoqB4G7bSMkOMRQPQHj0pSMqgape161vP3TH3-NzuVBd-dzSk-Q6kuHg3AB6vGAS0Z35x-o/s320/fate-awaits.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">and hurled torches sending her to Valhalla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFis3Ma2flptRkPIRD3eg6wBECCf7LuOg-M6skDzWpmIkT9PiKcK21nW6ZgqlJjuNHv-sVDhT55O2N51xyDTY0gUcvENyVA7zQqVBpmORjsXzDvzJSmmng2oINAdWavdhOcVEcSXUMhM/s1600/the-flames-take.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFis3Ma2flptRkPIRD3eg6wBECCf7LuOg-M6skDzWpmIkT9PiKcK21nW6ZgqlJjuNHv-sVDhT55O2N51xyDTY0gUcvENyVA7zQqVBpmORjsXzDvzJSmmng2oINAdWavdhOcVEcSXUMhM/s320/the-flames-take.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWocLPFVZmZdyBTwUBU4oMi_MJoLFdJkaNc1eNSmXHxCt4PYsTBFdsqbN6GO-Lc45ptABLGWg-um2JheeWIRkuFwh47QOBb7JDr_oP5f5TofIbeQOC-xEiDTHqGHLieqe2qupSj4iFPs/s1600/beyond-help.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWocLPFVZmZdyBTwUBU4oMi_MJoLFdJkaNc1eNSmXHxCt4PYsTBFdsqbN6GO-Lc45ptABLGWg-um2JheeWIRkuFwh47QOBb7JDr_oP5f5TofIbeQOC-xEiDTHqGHLieqe2qupSj4iFPs/s320/beyond-help.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkD8BcZshiS9L1WjumoDB1tOeK2k83hjBuzTdDvRofDdfr_mZ4Ok3jMDQByChXFJfejvRbJqLqlzYzj440_Mlk7_I1oquU8M2_WnKrAwHXNSOKU-5W-dP09pSudJ2CU6AcENmr-p9m4M/s1600/flames-take-hold.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkD8BcZshiS9L1WjumoDB1tOeK2k83hjBuzTdDvRofDdfr_mZ4Ok3jMDQByChXFJfejvRbJqLqlzYzj440_Mlk7_I1oquU8M2_WnKrAwHXNSOKU-5W-dP09pSudJ2CU6AcENmr-p9m4M/s320/flames-take-hold.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A sadness perhaps, but no more so, and
arguably less so, than the indignity of the alternative slow demise rotting to
oblivion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
weather Gods delayed our departure but gave opportunity to explore a little and
to make friends with the local community and visitors before slipping out late
on Sunday night and heading back North to Shetland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Some
of you will know of Andy Bristow, either directly, through me or through this
blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was skipper of the first
British Army Antarctic Expedition and I have written previously about the profound
impact he has had in mentoring and shaping me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We last saw each other in late May as he was heading north to Svalbard
aboard his yacht Atlantis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whilst we
were in Orkney, had we but known it, he was within a few miles heading for Cape
Wrath and home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has recorded his
journey in his own blog which can be found at <cite><span style="color: #222222; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.yachtatlantis.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">www.</span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yachtatlantis</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.com</span></span></a> .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></cite></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Its an inspiring account of an extraordinary adventure and is testament to the philosophy that I am trying to espouse. His photographs are quite fantastic so please do find time to have a look, I promise you that it will be time well spent. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Whilst
in Orkney I was surprised to see a waterproof jacket with a Topsail Rigging logo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElmVHdYl7a9OQ6lbCa4Ls01VsdH2YOGe9Fq4bBWPR8p8shZkMa0A-bEASNzzOrzr50-btsTxMdCYMdsBoWZ4n21dDY5zFQD-Er2TZIZLfQ4M-5Ngpeb0nFzGp6qOE0uNW_Ngx8XytpNM/s1600/TS-rigging.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElmVHdYl7a9OQ6lbCa4Ls01VsdH2YOGe9Fq4bBWPR8p8shZkMa0A-bEASNzzOrzr50-btsTxMdCYMdsBoWZ4n21dDY5zFQD-Er2TZIZLfQ4M-5Ngpeb0nFzGp6qOE0uNW_Ngx8XytpNM/s320/TS-rigging.gif" width="232" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>TS rigging are based in Maldon and are emerging
as one of the premier traditional boat rigging companies in UK – indeed they
were the prime contractor to rerig the Cutty Sark (although don’t get me
started on that one . . .!!) So it emerged that a Shetlander and member of the Viking
“Jarl squad” to boot had been a rigger on the project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzS5zuiZVjSezDs6dCk6X4JIVq-TP9yb4bKwBV_tiDHuMFCZLqb1hxgLyZ281xH_8WdPdtH3f4xvazpNtdG4fXWyLiwisdr63CAHGm_BWL8pmInqWbhE_0BNAyk6CAkkcsT2tvLDvRsAs/s1600/A-viking-and-his-bride.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzS5zuiZVjSezDs6dCk6X4JIVq-TP9yb4bKwBV_tiDHuMFCZLqb1hxgLyZ281xH_8WdPdtH3f4xvazpNtdG4fXWyLiwisdr63CAHGm_BWL8pmInqWbhE_0BNAyk6CAkkcsT2tvLDvRsAs/s320/A-viking-and-his-bride.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>At first glance Shetland might appear remote
but seafaring is a tighter knit community than you might initially imagine and
so on the most nor’westerly of the Orkney Isles I found myself yarning about
Essex smacks and rivers!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">At
the end of this week we slip for a return to Norway and then its back to
Orkney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will endeavour to keep you
posted . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-56823522648826339172013-07-24T15:11:00.001-07:002013-07-24T15:11:31.128-07:00Reflections on Norway
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These reflections have been written over time and indeed the
very essence of reflection is that it changes over time as things take on new
meaning or a different perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However
a consistent theme is that Norway was not what I expected and on balance a
disappointing trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But before latching
on to that disappointment it requires clarification and expectation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First off is that I had anticipated that it would be the
highlight of the season for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
over time and experience developed ideas about youth development and sail
training, indeed I have already blogged about some of those influences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have also recognised that “my” model is
different from many of those used by other organisations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to face an unpalatable truth; my model
didn’t appear to deliver in the way that I had hoped or anticipated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much of the reflection is trying to
understand why and more importantly how to use that analysis to build and
develop future models.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before doing so its really important to reiterate that the
trip had its high points, for example the entering and leaving of Skudeshaven
are two obvious but not unique examples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So a word that keeps reappearing in my thinking is “inconsistent”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its also very important to recognise that
might apply to me as much as I might want it to apply to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That brings me to a second point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if you have ever listened to a politician
being interviewed after an unsuccessful by-election campaign?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So often instead of acknowledging just how
badly they have done, they attempt to portray the result as being the result of
“mid term” or unique local factors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
doing so not only do they lose credibility but until one can be honest with
oneself then remedies are even harder to find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So however tempting, I don’t want to rely on a belief that my model is
correct but local factors meant it didn’t work well on this occasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I need some more fundamental honesty
in the balance of analysis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were
though two points of learning that also need to be weighed in context, both of
which were I believe unhelpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Firstly
during the crossing to Norway many of the trainees were very seasick and the
watch system broke down and the afterguard finished up standing the watches;
did this create an impression that trainee participation was either voluntary
or at least not essential? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secondly in
previous years the sail train Shetland charter has taken part in either “Nordic
Sail” or a tall ships race, both of which have strong youth emphasis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year the programme was different and
included two “sea festivals”; neither had youth participation as a focus and were
arguably a distraction from sail training and establishing a more conducive
routine for the trainees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Field Marshall Slim (of 14<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Army and Burma fame)
said (I Paraphrase) that there are no bad soldiers only bad officers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think it’s an unquestionable truth
but it is a reminder of several points; firstly that leaders set both direction
and tone and secondly that they are accountable and responsible for success and
failure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(You might remember one of my
mantra’s from LTTA was “take responsibility for your actions and I must live by
my own rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what could I have done
differently?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">An interesting start point might be the result of a feedback
exercise I played.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You ask every member
of the crew to list a positive feature about their ship mates, these are then merged
and each crew member gets a list of their positive qualities as seen by 14
other people, often this is great for people with low self esteem or self
image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An extension of this is to ask
them to list an area for improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These are collated and a common thread identified and then these are presented
positively to those who ask to see them and can then be used to set a SMART
goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The common theme for me was to
relax more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faced with this information
there are two responses, firstly to deny it and either attribute it to their
inadequacies causing the stress that leds to not being relaxed or to write it
off as a not unexpected view of any teenager talking about any adult in
authority and the second is to roll with the punch and recognise that it’s a
valid opinion based on how (in this case) I come across and how I could change
for the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I hold these thoughts as important in any analysis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One trend that I noticed was that trainees tend to place
their own interest above the collective interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It manifested in many guises, from helping
themselves to a second helping before establishing who else might want seconds
or offering to serve others, reluctance to proactively engage with chores such
as cooking let alone washing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
people were ill disciplined in keeping their kit tidy and put away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(now this might have those who know me
shouting pot kettle black but others will know that on a boat I tend to the
opposite extreme, “a place for everything and everything in its place”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not only is this essential for harmonious
communal living but its also a major contribution to safety.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On deck a not uncommon reaction to be asked
to take the wheel was that they had already done half an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arguments between port and starboard watch
members as to work sharing were regular occurrences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another trend was that of the afterguard including myself
and that’s the tendency to take over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
if for example a watch is reluctant to engage in cooking, what should the
reaction be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My instinct is to say “ok
we go hungry”, but there are practical considerations to this response!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a moot point as to how an adult steps
in but my observation would be that we are too ready to step in and take
over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times I found myself being
silently critical of others doing this but then recognised it in myself with
the attempted justification that “being on their back” would be detrimental.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps there is a further consideration here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My majority previous experience had been in
Greenland with BSES (as was) and with LTTA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both these shared the attribute of being longer expeditions of circa 6
weeks (in the case of LTTA 6 week legs) and the greater isolation and need for self-reliance
in each case was a significant factor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another that makes me uncomfortable is the civilian versus soldier
comparator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a long time I have held
the view that typically we make more of the differences than we do of the
similarities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am therefore reluctant
to say that participants in LTTA stepped up to the mark more readily because
they were soldiers (of broadly the same age group) but I am beginning to think
that this might be relevant and if it is then it suggests two things, firstly
military training does do more than impart hard skills but also reinforces soft
skills such as collective behaviours and proactive engagement and secondly that
my trying to bench mark against what I know is achievable within the military
community is not a level playing field and sets an unrealistically and
therefore unhelpful aspiration as to what is achievable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is just as uncomfortable because it
implies a glass ceiling and is at odds with what I actually believe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also note that in both Greenland with BSES and LTTA there
was a far greater incentive for active participation and standing by was simply
not an option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Necessity is a great
driver but it is also a stick rather than a carrot and away from motivation is
typically less successful than towards motivation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t believe that youth development relies
on stick more than carrot – although it has its place it is not I hope the
predominant one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And yet there is for me an unaccountable positive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two parents have told me how much their
children enjoyed and benefitted from the experience and I have met 3 trainees walking
in Lerwick, none of whom have run from me and all of whom have chatted
positively about the experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps
there is some truth in the notion that different people benefit differently and
in different ways and in different time scales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope its not me clutching at straws to make a comfort blanket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I am left in something of a conundrum and although I
could write more I think I’ll stop here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have no doubt that I will need to think about this some more and if
you have any thoughts then please do share them with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the meantime it’s off to Orkney . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-41988467353076831722013-07-17T12:44:00.001-07:002013-07-17T12:44:38.514-07:00Norway Part 2<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were two interesting points en route to our
anchorage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Firstly a chart that would
not accept WGS840 GPS data and secondly a high speed reverse as we approached a
19 M high cable with our 22M mast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>WGS840 is the commonly used model of an assumed centre of the earth from
which Lat & Long from GPS satellite are derived, however unless a paper
chart is using the same model then positions cannot be directly plotted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This effectively negates the GPS (unless its
recalibrated to chart datum) and forces the adoption of tried and tested
navigation methods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our chosen anchorage was well sheltered and after a little
instruction allowed the use of the inflatable by trainees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By concurrently giving them freedoms and
limitations this safely confers responsibility on them and allows for a certain
amount of peer led enjoyment and learning without those “fuddy duddies” of the
afterguard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was much bravado about
a morning swim but overnight this evaporated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We took the opportunity to take our MOB training to another level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This included the recovery of an unconscious
casualty, represented by “FRED” (Fire and Rescue Exercise Dummy).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>MOB is often seen as a technical sailing
skill to bring the boat back to a floating fender that is recovered by boat
hook and often at a speed that would be totally unrealistic and dangerous to a
real person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally recovery to
the deck is seldom practiced and talked about fleetingly as difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People also forget that once recovered to the
deck both casualty and rescuers are still potentially someway from a successful
outcome, first aid and getting someone below may still be problematic.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxqnJjrhYcKbXxxyLAy_WGOyvxvY43GhP1Alzu29m11YAGMhCcTG-ngleVHUd9NElb5Vsf89fArqfbMvcTR5no2YglD8QTAlBoCj53bsK9cmnsIQE4Vd0Jq8pFpfwJYFjZudsSS-lpoY/s1600/Recovering-Fred.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxqnJjrhYcKbXxxyLAy_WGOyvxvY43GhP1Alzu29m11YAGMhCcTG-ngleVHUd9NElb5Vsf89fArqfbMvcTR5no2YglD8QTAlBoCj53bsK9cmnsIQE4Vd0Jq8pFpfwJYFjZudsSS-lpoY/s320/Recovering-Fred.gif" width="274" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So after conducting an exercise in rigging
“handy billies” and rescue strops, we ran a short exercise to recover an
unconscious casualty from the water to the deck by placing Fred in the scramble
net and rolling him up the side and on to the deck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In line with the total drill we then
practiced drinking a reviving cup of coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicvW4Ka3ENsFILzc8nvjsTWx3ASs22_8LdueyF9dsKHcug-VrNpkVx4kxBoCA1qdJHEqZlt-oyIfBgCyPf-ZCFSAI6wEqHC0kSHYVVuSgfl4MQA1xkAfZJDR7PX0KFTiGbOPjaKraLzg/s1600/bowsprit+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicvW4Ka3ENsFILzc8nvjsTWx3ASs22_8LdueyF9dsKHcug-VrNpkVx4kxBoCA1qdJHEqZlt-oyIfBgCyPf-ZCFSAI6wEqHC0kSHYVVuSgfl4MQA1xkAfZJDR7PX0KFTiGbOPjaKraLzg/s320/bowsprit+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>After coffee break we rigged a footrope to the bowsprit and gave people
the opportunity to go out to the end.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">On conclusion we packed up and left the anchorage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This required two concurrent jobs, recovering
the inflatable from the water and shortening anchor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both are lengthy jobs and I was pleasantly
surprise by the way the two watches worked to complete both in well under my
estimated time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was in fact a
highlight for me and left me wondering why it was not always the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However life is often a series of compromises
and the next one for me was the selection of Jopeland as the next destination,
primarily because it has a ten pin bowling alley – something that Shetland does
not (whose the winner?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although
arriving late I agreed to play bowls and much to my disappointment held my own
in the match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A planned barbeque on a
nearby island was cancelled when “rain stopped play”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The following morning we headed back to Skudeneshaven for the festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scott ran the passage and boat as an exercise
in preparation for his “day skipper” course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He handed over to me only at the entrance to the harbour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By now over 300 boats were in the harbour for
the festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What followed was the most
challenging alongside mooring I have ever done</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFYr6YENo3lZZYbDlrek-w9uj0sXhTCNkMBVN8lPFuXgC4WVua-l5yWdD8gLeFNlsMc9ZADDIFt1OVcby1P0ErW0jonv4GWsZJxz3Aq-_GqesWKh5B-dKcb35_NQJem_GkDbE3G3-aUs/s1600/tight-parking.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFYr6YENo3lZZYbDlrek-w9uj0sXhTCNkMBVN8lPFuXgC4WVua-l5yWdD8gLeFNlsMc9ZADDIFt1OVcby1P0ErW0jonv4GWsZJxz3Aq-_GqesWKh5B-dKcb35_NQJem_GkDbE3G3-aUs/s320/tight-parking.gif" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">It went well for two reasons; firstly because I was able to go and look
at it in a Norwegian work boat, so had a clear idea of what we were facing and
was able to brief people and prepare properly and secondly because the crew
excelled and performed far beyond my expectations and anything I could have
asked for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result was a performance
that personified the ability of a group of individuals to act a s a collective
team and achieve something extraordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmkRZMLHSU387m_6-XVRTRQMXPEdGRk_rSoUkHW-VmLgt5zzzLnn65JEp9KchHuu29fd9N-UoRijm_0esNtbjnCeiQ0xpZvstHMDLktJK6GCJNfuu5fVE8lwz87aIWhzp9gd_wjccFsk/s1600/masthead-visit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmkRZMLHSU387m_6-XVRTRQMXPEdGRk_rSoUkHW-VmLgt5zzzLnn65JEp9KchHuu29fd9N-UoRijm_0esNtbjnCeiQ0xpZvstHMDLktJK6GCJNfuu5fVE8lwz87aIWhzp9gd_wjccFsk/s320/masthead-visit.gif" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next two days were spent at Skudeneshaven festivale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The festival would not have been my choice of how to spend either my own time nor that of the expedition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said of course it’s not about me and we did some great things, such as sending trainees aloft on the bosun’s chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Additionally we made new friends and true to form Swan attracts attention and admirers where ever she goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Once again they performed outstandingly as we firstly prepared and then manoeuvred out through the crowded port but having done so they appeared to lose interest and went back into passenger mode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A consequence of the friendships we had fostered was to be given a contact at the museum and hence the privilege of mooring alongside the village. </span>One trainee had identified a Viking museum and settlement reconstruction at Avaldsnes and when we slipped on Sunday morning this was our destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHD3IF4E9TAOQT0Ox7u2fPqm53CJGRN00sRmCr1AxcKHz7z_s0oZIPK-QpTndLuu8QPL7wT1oxNsPNhom1f8AJB8JVj3Pv_KRawt5NGdSRYxXPIXOYi751qT9jACoGLsnYPk-Job222R4/s1600/longhouse.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHD3IF4E9TAOQT0Ox7u2fPqm53CJGRN00sRmCr1AxcKHz7z_s0oZIPK-QpTndLuu8QPL7wT1oxNsPNhom1f8AJB8JVj3Pv_KRawt5NGdSRYxXPIXOYi751qT9jACoGLsnYPk-Job222R4/s320/longhouse.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">long house outside and in </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kQikDCWa4Qd8tYjUgaK4BrQIJ7BUsB1nUvDNu845Fa4lJjU4KEBntnsFrBsGgNqN_uEo_1iJC-4VQk1azu7TiBZYdkVs15JG4GWtu1kgNMwYUwKe2kXUzH8LnkkXAfBJC8P0oX1pFBs/s1600/viking-saga.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kQikDCWa4Qd8tYjUgaK4BrQIJ7BUsB1nUvDNu845Fa4lJjU4KEBntnsFrBsGgNqN_uEo_1iJC-4VQk1azu7TiBZYdkVs15JG4GWtu1kgNMwYUwKe2kXUzH8LnkkXAfBJC8P0oX1pFBs/s320/viking-saga.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Avaldsnes<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> was an
ancient centre of power on the west coast of Norway and is believed to
have been named after the legendary King Augvald</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, King Harald <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">chose Avaldsnes for his main royal estate in about 870 making it the oldest royal seat in Norway and in 953 King Haakon fought the sons of his half brother, King Eirik Bloodaxe and in the wake of victory unite the kingdom of Norway. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">What followed was a most interesting afternoon combining
re-enactment and exhibitions recording the creation of Norway at the end of the
Viking era and the transition from Pagan Gods to Christianity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuthoY6KDD7hDlHeQlVp-V1ybY82fh8vHJrFkvggmByLyFThQw_bu5FgqDhvgbQpWqKaED48Hum2v3XtigM9R95JfJr7N-vHrvOzCVs9-nezmhHPcvbrk7tKg5iZVxEG7iICwl0DHHmng/s1600/longship.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuthoY6KDD7hDlHeQlVp-V1ybY82fh8vHJrFkvggmByLyFThQw_bu5FgqDhvgbQpWqKaED48Hum2v3XtigM9R95JfJr7N-vHrvOzCVs9-nezmhHPcvbrk7tKg5iZVxEG7iICwl0DHHmng/s320/longship.gif" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">During leadership through The Atlantic I had sailed from
Antigua to Bermuda and then up the Eastern Seaboard through Boston Halifax and
St Johns before arriving in Greenland, Iceland and hence Norway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the West Indies and North Americas I had
been struck by how the British influences, values and attitudes had been
exported and instrumental in shaping the “New World” and are still very
disenable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Further North the influence
was Scandinavian (or is it Nordic?) and the Viking influence is as disenable
there as the British one further south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Suddenly I could also see how the same Viking influence had shaped parts
of that British influence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in
Shetland the two influence again meet and are evident.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">From Avaldsnes we headed to and overnighted in Haugesund,
our last stop in Mainland Norway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next
morning I was able to make quick but interesting visits to two museums in the town
befor meeting my own deadline to be back on the boat and prepare to slip for a
final visit to the Island of Utsira. It’s a delightful island with a small
population in a tightknit community of fisher and farming folk leaving an on
the surface idyllic lifestyle but in reality I suspect a hardy one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time precluded a long stay and after only 5
hours ashore and supper, we slipped with our curiosity satisfied as to the
nature of an island that has not just one but two shipping forcast areas named
after it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj133K5ZtQPwBWHO78ezG7AFDRuAtdWlhmqz8ztcqwZQiqjTqD7vFPXuOKKw9CTgZrmPX203WOu_MY1QU1036E7YM0JCBzgV5CfbgF1YCJiqhv2Z-Tq11qCAR6XbvfM5luOIPOdMEeKDKA/s1600/South-Utsera.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj133K5ZtQPwBWHO78ezG7AFDRuAtdWlhmqz8ztcqwZQiqjTqD7vFPXuOKKw9CTgZrmPX203WOu_MY1QU1036E7YM0JCBzgV5CfbgF1YCJiqhv2Z-Tq11qCAR6XbvfM5luOIPOdMEeKDKA/s320/South-Utsera.gif" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">North Utsera</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5_iK2Di3PO5b7etJtnsbI_WWMOXL6_szjIVdnE0BBgQM3rp55yJxY_Te37W0tkeMsEDFGoCnxMErCQA745lTbrPlZeesytDGNdYNO0w58Cz02aLmy7b0LQXWjy4intnI9MjxpanyF6Y/s1600/Utsera.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5_iK2Di3PO5b7etJtnsbI_WWMOXL6_szjIVdnE0BBgQM3rp55yJxY_Te37W0tkeMsEDFGoCnxMErCQA745lTbrPlZeesytDGNdYNO0w58Cz02aLmy7b0LQXWjy4intnI9MjxpanyF6Y/s320/Utsera.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Utsera Central</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVhWo3vrC4Y-tsjWN3oJVfO-BjOlvlghPfyWgvaxfFpZ29AEQsPvkv_n0lTTdDT3F7FRtokJ5R0qaVkowACTTcDMsRqXeLdBA4qVtU7xI0ogroVCTs9CZSytKQMm8dFhUU9HA_DnTiOc/s1600/North-Utsera.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVhWo3vrC4Y-tsjWN3oJVfO-BjOlvlghPfyWgvaxfFpZ29AEQsPvkv_n0lTTdDT3F7FRtokJ5R0qaVkowACTTcDMsRqXeLdBA4qVtU7xI0ogroVCTs9CZSytKQMm8dFhUU9HA_DnTiOc/s320/North-Utsera.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">North Utsera </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The just over two hundred mile return crossing was
considerably kinder to Swan and crew than our outward leg. It wasn't only Fred who perked up . . . </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7eGvQX3yVakR_0JlZiulD71wevGUwipprmdJNqumC4xlNownh7uYz_sz0x4hA-UwcIpMvVpjXoNF5HufSO8b0YHlby7uEEyLh8HbaPvnyUF0kyvp8GnuhGfVLSuBUcIK4qN66HDMTDs/s1600/Fred-with-sea-legs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7eGvQX3yVakR_0JlZiulD71wevGUwipprmdJNqumC4xlNownh7uYz_sz0x4hA-UwcIpMvVpjXoNF5HufSO8b0YHlby7uEEyLh8HbaPvnyUF0kyvp8GnuhGfVLSuBUcIK4qN66HDMTDs/s1600/Fred-with-sea-legs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7eGvQX3yVakR_0JlZiulD71wevGUwipprmdJNqumC4xlNownh7uYz_sz0x4hA-UwcIpMvVpjXoNF5HufSO8b0YHlby7uEEyLh8HbaPvnyUF0kyvp8GnuhGfVLSuBUcIK4qN66HDMTDs/s320/Fred-with-sea-legs.gif" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7eGvQX3yVakR_0JlZiulD71wevGUwipprmdJNqumC4xlNownh7uYz_sz0x4hA-UwcIpMvVpjXoNF5HufSO8b0YHlby7uEEyLh8HbaPvnyUF0kyvp8GnuhGfVLSuBUcIK4qN66HDMTDs/s1600/Fred-with-sea-legs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7eGvQX3yVakR_0JlZiulD71wevGUwipprmdJNqumC4xlNownh7uYz_sz0x4hA-UwcIpMvVpjXoNF5HufSO8b0YHlby7uEEyLh8HbaPvnyUF0kyvp8GnuhGfVLSuBUcIK4qN66HDMTDs/s1600/Fred-with-sea-legs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXGJUq8NZSac4XVoRK639vJq2TA7KQ9jS42IzMulJKfQ1CILrEeYt24hwBirJhrvm6Sq0T8cwo7RkoyoqVkUhUKq830PhNQbEJwoxEsVY4UdQ6AZo9_b4A-CuQpP8Q7rtdfvcNjjB4Cw/s1600/reefing-tackle.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXGJUq8NZSac4XVoRK639vJq2TA7KQ9jS42IzMulJKfQ1CILrEeYt24hwBirJhrvm6Sq0T8cwo7RkoyoqVkUhUKq830PhNQbEJwoxEsVY4UdQ6AZo9_b4A-CuQpP8Q7rtdfvcNjjB4Cw/s320/reefing-tackle.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">and although we needed a reef it gave time for
reflection and consideration of the experience whilst we took in the view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFzKzukOHqxEfeUIRF1qxo_VkOyDEtBgKywyB3Wne27sYWj38gKzXxVRs5NrSTNxm8sZf8H4AI9odYVfor2uZnfTxVqsL_5GBQIbpG34QY2f1at51plzF7W2HAlQh9wPRpFPG0ZtxgSw/s1600/rig-%2526-shrouds.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFzKzukOHqxEfeUIRF1qxo_VkOyDEtBgKywyB3Wne27sYWj38gKzXxVRs5NrSTNxm8sZf8H4AI9odYVfor2uZnfTxVqsL_5GBQIbpG34QY2f1at51plzF7W2HAlQh9wPRpFPG0ZtxgSw/s320/rig-%2526-shrouds.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m7kJkmaD2U5A0-oOqwvUK7AlbbnJXEAvBv-lg1MF_DbAm9nO7ApSgz-ReoT9IjcX8awaEs9jPAwk1O1cXYLXeg8d6tIDpfSnyUa19yc0bL9bzT5hQVG1xeFUF67D-RZpSdrcMb3WaNo/s1600/under-construction.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m7kJkmaD2U5A0-oOqwvUK7AlbbnJXEAvBv-lg1MF_DbAm9nO7ApSgz-ReoT9IjcX8awaEs9jPAwk1O1cXYLXeg8d6tIDpfSnyUa19yc0bL9bzT5hQVG1xeFUF67D-RZpSdrcMb3WaNo/s320/under-construction.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">In my next missive I will reflect on the trip and share my thoughts on its highs and lows.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-7390414678549882362013-07-16T14:52:00.003-07:002013-07-17T12:44:55.466-07:00Norway Part 1<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Immediately prior to departure for Norway, Swan had been at
the Portsoy Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The name hints at the importance of the event in her annual calendar and
indeed she is paid to attend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Portsoy
is a picturesque small harbour and town on the north coast of the Murray
Firth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The festival follows the expected
format of such events with craft, food and music now almost more evident than
the boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also attending was the
herring drifter “Reaper”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_K3wk-H9fQH5hs-BIFnxIhBqpVb0MYVQ6OjeJes15BUoCTiXfg-pwI_cB2Gex90Rnxus_S4L3_yAlR8spMwkkNcQSb8-zFtkRotW6WGHE1BPylJ2mIWlxCuiDmzInjIgdWOcSQrq9-ls/s1600/DSCN2413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_K3wk-H9fQH5hs-BIFnxIhBqpVb0MYVQ6OjeJes15BUoCTiXfg-pwI_cB2Gex90Rnxus_S4L3_yAlR8spMwkkNcQSb8-zFtkRotW6WGHE1BPylJ2mIWlxCuiDmzInjIgdWOcSQrq9-ls/s320/DSCN2413.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Reaper is a
lug rigged boat and larger than Swan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The other evident difference is their current roles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reaper is a museum ship and makes no attempt
to comply with the code of practice for passenger vessels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An example of which is that she does not have
a guard rail fitted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is therefore a
far closer representation of the “authentic article”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This hints at a continuing debate in all
“preservation societies”, preservation for what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many possible answers and my own
take is “preservation for purpose”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
other words decide the purpose and then preserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It chimes with the military emphasis on “get
the aim right and the rest will follow”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Within the Swan Trust, Portsoy is also spoken about in hushed tones
because it represents a challenge for skipper and crew in entering a very tight
harbour with very limited time afloat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Local krill boats vacate but their mooring buoys and rising pennants
reduce engine use and it was therefore necessary to warp her out. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4GXDl0s26bSLK7V_7KYL6NxQjpFykyrPcEo60z6FoqQ86XroG1-4kwhT75iVQMKXxf84fCFSK00MSlSSBcAEZTfw0PlAnDXvfOgNqdt0e6rYwqbOCR9rEEXUXlyn8aSVzAfzoEXkOyk/s1600/DSCN2450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4GXDl0s26bSLK7V_7KYL6NxQjpFykyrPcEo60z6FoqQ86XroG1-4kwhT75iVQMKXxf84fCFSK00MSlSSBcAEZTfw0PlAnDXvfOgNqdt0e6rYwqbOCR9rEEXUXlyn8aSVzAfzoEXkOyk/s1600/DSCN2450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4GXDl0s26bSLK7V_7KYL6NxQjpFykyrPcEo60z6FoqQ86XroG1-4kwhT75iVQMKXxf84fCFSK00MSlSSBcAEZTfw0PlAnDXvfOgNqdt0e6rYwqbOCR9rEEXUXlyn8aSVzAfzoEXkOyk/s320/DSCN2450.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4GXDl0s26bSLK7V_7KYL6NxQjpFykyrPcEo60z6FoqQ86XroG1-4kwhT75iVQMKXxf84fCFSK00MSlSSBcAEZTfw0PlAnDXvfOgNqdt0e6rYwqbOCR9rEEXUXlyn8aSVzAfzoEXkOyk/s1600/DSCN2450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">warping her out</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEptgTEqrklRZGQEG48g5gzs1H_OrDZlfQGTkxiQwHoSc7vPxRoRVPYJzEuOwS_O2SK4my-G5krV7DNdds2IxJygwM2l_ImJIcZeNU7teNoRcP1cVe0wAFCfJAhmUgOVp2nISK6cfc0w/s1600/DSCN2459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEptgTEqrklRZGQEG48g5gzs1H_OrDZlfQGTkxiQwHoSc7vPxRoRVPYJzEuOwS_O2SK4my-G5krV7DNdds2IxJygwM2l_ImJIcZeNU7teNoRcP1cVe0wAFCfJAhmUgOVp2nISK6cfc0w/s320/DSCN2459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2, 6 heave!</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
It was therefore with some satisfaction that Swan both
entered and left harbour without mishap, the more so that the latter was in
very public gaze and rising winds with a nasty swell running.</div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdLiR8IPCJptryH8nn7CuGqM-jVKtgOXbSlK6Q1UPVdDPOv2sQQTJbpATKxGZui-zmR30by2CBNQtSAOZXpNbUDYAv6y508OejNMV5fMTD59mUsFbJKUnFhtHc1crn3uyvYSkCcfnpVA/s1600/DSCN2470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdLiR8IPCJptryH8nn7CuGqM-jVKtgOXbSlK6Q1UPVdDPOv2sQQTJbpATKxGZui-zmR30by2CBNQtSAOZXpNbUDYAv6y508OejNMV5fMTD59mUsFbJKUnFhtHc1crn3uyvYSkCcfnpVA/s320/DSCN2470.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Taking local advice and noting the crew
capabilities, we headed down the coast to Buckie and a more secure berth in
which to lie storm bound for 24 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even here the waves were crashing over the breakwaters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The planned 36 hour timetable between return and slipping
for Norway was always tight – the more so that there was also an Operations
committee meeting but when the weather Gods intervened, it became unachievable.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trainees reporting time was slipped
from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning and it was 1500 hrs before we slipped
Lerwick and headed out through the Bressay Channel into a rising wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The forecast for sea area Viking was 5-7
possibly 8 for a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However initially
we did have every stich of canvass flying but by midnight we had dropped the
mizzen and jib and run in the bowsprit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were to finish with 2 reefs in the main.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxHdeq6FWwuISujWCW4k5VVASbshdf_kSleIJDFwgiuqxojOd-HOWHd7-CBjvhvgbcfNqGGOcqvorAfeRCC8EUf256ydt00dYi5XqDhTYAfr1QB8zpEoRg8B29ufq72aMAFJvO7TpaMo/s1600/2-reefs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxHdeq6FWwuISujWCW4k5VVASbshdf_kSleIJDFwgiuqxojOd-HOWHd7-CBjvhvgbcfNqGGOcqvorAfeRCC8EUf256ydt00dYi5XqDhTYAfr1QB8zpEoRg8B29ufq72aMAFJvO7TpaMo/s320/2-reefs.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Force 8 and 2 reefs in the main.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Whilst Swan simply rode the waves and was
alive, the same cannot be said for her crew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiix4PTDmFVQxGrUW09JpYwkCOudYyFnqxbfyDROQuwHfNNMnOmU5agtJnHUS-RTtN6OkVrb2VM_a0lDmZu8Rm2KDzr5Fvx_Oky52xT8KwWOQDXU5khk75T6hhJWenfr3JJKqfwU6ILRTs/s1600/no-one-was-as-sick-as-Fred.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiix4PTDmFVQxGrUW09JpYwkCOudYyFnqxbfyDROQuwHfNNMnOmU5agtJnHUS-RTtN6OkVrb2VM_a0lDmZu8Rm2KDzr5Fvx_Oky52xT8KwWOQDXU5khk75T6hhJWenfr3JJKqfwU6ILRTs/s320/no-one-was-as-sick-as-Fred.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">No one was as sick as Fred</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Those too ill to work had a miserable experience in their bunks and
those well enough to work were dead on their feet with the additional work of
looking after and covering for their shipmates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no complaint here since it as a crew that we live and
survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RyOF9fhpuNhNSVKWUR3L46ooKs7JOGj2AUaNtfFUNYaI5U7olVSCeZajkYFbCzoy0ye_MNdx-gBeS5rc7foSmnUVTsHf-9y9mSUNE7upfOin8ycNpoXOIoVA81slDKa81OX5rlrkMzA/s1600/we-shipped-%2527em-green-not-one-went-by.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RyOF9fhpuNhNSVKWUR3L46ooKs7JOGj2AUaNtfFUNYaI5U7olVSCeZajkYFbCzoy0ye_MNdx-gBeS5rc7foSmnUVTsHf-9y9mSUNE7upfOin8ycNpoXOIoVA81slDKa81OX5rlrkMzA/s320/we-shipped-%2527em-green-not-one-went-by.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Closing the Norwegian coast in reduced visibility was a
challenging but welcome experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
winds had fallen away dramatically and we were now under motor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crew started to surface in various degrees
of consciousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For most the proximity
of land and the promise of Stordfest produced a rapid recovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Delaying our arrival so as to join the
“Parade of Sail” gave us some time to practise man over board drills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Initially using the traditional fender we
progressed to yours truly in the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This also gave us opportunity to rehearse the normally neglected drill
of actually picking up a person from the water to the deck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this case we assumed a conscious casualty able
to help themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Stordfest” was a bit like a big Portsoy and is hosted in Leirvik
which you will not be surprised to learn is twinned with Lerwick and has the
same derivation and meaning; muddy bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnpYNopMfu-4lgb9XH0AAN70f7sNQsbLK8KIolshz7Dabf2ka3piztQwKZkwJSCYIZ-jouOONu8GCHiBsUeIOdDXlJ8Wy_2GdrX4-SjaTOnchBf7luFjNKZn5DtOsbn4Q1O9EDCOi5DM/s1600/Lervig-kirke.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnpYNopMfu-4lgb9XH0AAN70f7sNQsbLK8KIolshz7Dabf2ka3piztQwKZkwJSCYIZ-jouOONu8GCHiBsUeIOdDXlJ8Wy_2GdrX4-SjaTOnchBf7luFjNKZn5DtOsbn4Q1O9EDCOi5DM/s320/Lervig-kirke.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>For me there was the frustration of discovering that “Blackberry” phones
aren’t supported in Norway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact the
frustration turned to inconvenience and then to release.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you accept that there is nothing to be
done, you can enjoy the reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swan
proved something of a point of interest and we hosted many hundreds of admirers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were also welcomed on board other vessels,
many of which are old friends to Swan and in some cases to me as well since
they had visited Shetland earlier this season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-LzVPfzLRiBvQMzZEaFhZLBzBS_85UIFfy4EZGH5McKW-SPyvtU9SzGx52DA70R99GCbEp1hyxwN3oHZCU0tcsZyyVZAHKDn-IvTRWsfRtevBGcOJfbpNqQiCciFKH9ctGz-U44jIaY/s1600/DSC_0007.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-LzVPfzLRiBvQMzZEaFhZLBzBS_85UIFfy4EZGH5McKW-SPyvtU9SzGx52DA70R99GCbEp1hyxwN3oHZCU0tcsZyyVZAHKDn-IvTRWsfRtevBGcOJfbpNqQiCciFKH9ctGz-U44jIaY/s320/DSC_0007.gif" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The traditional sailors activities of drink and singing flowed although
of course the former in suitable moderation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was also an opportunity to make new friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One such friend offered to show us part of the local area
and his 300 year old house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
coincidence it was in the same bay that that we had practised MOB drills a few
days earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faced with a time issue
and assurance that we could lie on the pier head we approached gingerly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result was not one of my finest moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With hind sight it would have been far more
sensible to have anchored and gone ashore with the inflatable, which is what we
did but only after having cleared the prop of a fouled rope and the assistance
of our own inflatable and a local boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With Swan in a somewhat exposed anchorage with poor holding, I remained
aboard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once ashore the others discovered
that this was not to be a quick visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hold to a maxim of taking opportunity but this was a finally balanced
call between enhancement and distraction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Back to perspectives!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However an
upside was the opportunity to sail of the anchor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This gave me a real buzz and challenge but I
still don’t think the trainees appreciate the significance of what they did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One consequence was a later than hoped for arrival on the
island of Espevaer and it set in motion a train of events that culminated the
next day in a “show down”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having been told to be back on the boat at a certain time
the trainees arrived 30 minutes late. This combined with a general apathy of
engagement meant that I did not let it pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I told them that not only were they late, but no one had apologised and
all had simply sat down waiting for Peter to serve tea and coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also told them that I did not hold grudges
and that we should draw a line under it and move on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later that day we returned to the ring for
round two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One or two were again feeling
a bit sick but the others who were fine were behaving like passengers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No attempt to look after their friends or
interest in running the boat and an expectation that “we” should be doing
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time I was less restrained
about their attitude and that if they wanted to be passengers then they could
be passengers on an aircraft back to Shetland I invited comment (as I always
do) and was pleased that two people in particular offered three comments and
whilst I think only one of their points of detail had merit, their willingness
to speak out was testament to their own confidence and they did give an
alternative and helpful perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
not sure that morale was high but the air was cleared and we were all able to
take account of others perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
this sort of situation it is not helpful to dwell on issues but rather to take
the opportunity to gain understanding and “get on with it”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The air cleared we went into a lesson on helming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was an uneasy truce on the boat but
deciding that manoeuvre is more effective than attrition, I let matters rest
and that night we put into the delightful fishing port of Skudeneshaven on the
southern end of Kamoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
delightfully place and combines a picturesque waterfront of traditional
fisherman’s houses with a thriving maritime town industry of ship building and
fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDoEAdreaf2-2ZRds9_JTbSXom6BB_iQz1FiWlddd4aN-Cr5Y3fksFKLnRGfXrc9TfXMjsSmC3nWOvt4Bcfzu-8ag1Wx0oA4UtcLiSZJLwh_GNFhf25T6RhP_az5F1Kppu9Iq-UyfbLc/s1600/waterfront.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDoEAdreaf2-2ZRds9_JTbSXom6BB_iQz1FiWlddd4aN-Cr5Y3fksFKLnRGfXrc9TfXMjsSmC3nWOvt4Bcfzu-8ag1Wx0oA4UtcLiSZJLwh_GNFhf25T6RhP_az5F1Kppu9Iq-UyfbLc/s320/waterfront.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The next morning I initiated
some of my aspirational add ons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hahn
notes the distinction of training for and through the sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This trip is about the latter and so In an
attempt to encourage team working and communication skills, the watches were
tasked with writing a blog for the sail train Shetland web site and preparing a
presentation for the other watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9blIr5ubkTjOqgNmC_OGubAJU_smvLCJdsXvLkTlmsUdm1s_7f5bBaxiOFJRp1CAG0LjGHhKK1WoUm4r1CB0CFJv9kw4ELulPVgx8i5sgdOdx1K3ernd9tZatQ7SGSrqmcWxn8CNufA/s1600/DSC_0078.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9blIr5ubkTjOqgNmC_OGubAJU_smvLCJdsXvLkTlmsUdm1s_7f5bBaxiOFJRp1CAG0LjGHhKK1WoUm4r1CB0CFJv9kw4ELulPVgx8i5sgdOdx1K3ernd9tZatQ7SGSrqmcWxn8CNufA/s320/DSC_0078.gif" width="212" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The
presentations were about differing aspects of sailing Swan and also acted as a
confirmation and reinforcement of their knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the afternoon, with the challenges of
yesterday behind us we sailed to Stavanger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a great sail although the wind died towards the end and tacking
was not to everybody’s taste or enjoyment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Still harmony and laughter had returned and that is worth a very great
deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next day after completing boat chores, there was an
opportunity to explore Stavanger and whilst some went off to search out Burger
King and “Macy Ds”, I headed for the maritime museum and then a museum
recalling the fish canning industry; a truly fascinating and thought provoking
visit on how fish, smoke, tins and wealth were intertwined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkxWcCHLXGUSpwmiI2U6zs5l8gmyzRLG-t8qk9GaVQb_gV21YKiX2ZX7C7Qs2QxWXHeCyV9BSijCPrnaLyzpiidhPkMYu-qKIiIOE5BiVrWfHtkiuPTLXyQkMUaAEkIxvPq8pJZowgk4/s1600/DSC_0093.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkxWcCHLXGUSpwmiI2U6zs5l8gmyzRLG-t8qk9GaVQb_gV21YKiX2ZX7C7Qs2QxWXHeCyV9BSijCPrnaLyzpiidhPkMYu-qKIiIOE5BiVrWfHtkiuPTLXyQkMUaAEkIxvPq8pJZowgk4/s320/DSC_0093.gif" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly neither visit was long enough to do
justice to either place. I also squeezed in a brief visit to the
Cathedral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHIVdskKP7DRUTM1jVCdly7e-3FNRYdtUXkX0H8xqzJVAcEExs58LnJWPkfvB_ZzcOPuRciHpdWKYrlExTKSupJ1tzcLSpqcG-W8GLbS1_baChYx1sG5Xk39uqLv2Yi4Igldo5HzWcF8/s1600/stavanger-cathedral.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHIVdskKP7DRUTM1jVCdly7e-3FNRYdtUXkX0H8xqzJVAcEExs58LnJWPkfvB_ZzcOPuRciHpdWKYrlExTKSupJ1tzcLSpqcG-W8GLbS1_baChYx1sG5Xk39uqLv2Yi4Igldo5HzWcF8/s320/stavanger-cathedral.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>And then the boring
part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave people 50 minutes notice to
get tidied up and be ready to slip immediately after one of our “big”
neighbours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To much excitement I
explained that we would go to anchor and take the opportunity to use the
inflatable In fact people appeared on deck after 50 minutes and expected it to
be all right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no time to
adjust lines or brief people on departure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So it wasn’t all right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
result being that we didn’t slip and were delayed until after the next big ship
left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hugely frustrating and
disappointing.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_Ny-CXzA8yU9RljI-zuAwOl7cagnxGIKcOAX2KEZu4S3CLsu-8BDFpVu2NwK4cknPf6mJHvYWCOPUyk0nVAiSKxCzArDWQqJQUhBv0I3kXQlVnAbwdCgpr3erv1pwk_6VhsaI99bFRw/s1600/big-sister.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_Ny-CXzA8yU9RljI-zuAwOl7cagnxGIKcOAX2KEZu4S3CLsu-8BDFpVu2NwK4cknPf6mJHvYWCOPUyk0nVAiSKxCzArDWQqJQUhBv0I3kXQlVnAbwdCgpr3erv1pwk_6VhsaI99bFRw/s320/big-sister.gif" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><o:p></o:p></span>
To be continued . . . . <br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-19558606728034641922013-06-18T15:57:00.001-07:002013-06-18T15:57:35.679-07:00There is more in you than you yet know (Part 2)
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Of
course this was a rapid and highly selective discourse of some key events only
and a deliberate omission was my family and in particular parents who gave me
my initial introduction to sailing and hill walking from which so much as
flowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was also lucky to have
benefitted from some highly inspirational school teachers including Richard
Armstrong who was the master in charge of rowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far so good but what of it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why share a brief and highly selective
sample of my biography?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Well
I want to try and give a background to how I have arrived at some key ideas
that influence the way I approach the next phase of skippering Swan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus far I have in the main focused on the
boat but that emphasis must now switch and broaden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The switch is to the people and the
broadening is because the boat will continue to demand attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A
key element of the sort of leadership that I espouse is the development of
subordinates and to do so there needs to be an underpinning philosophy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mine is derived primarily from the life
experiences I described in the last post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So my approach is a mongrel mix of Hahn, Army core values and ethos,
South Georgia, Antarctica and LTTA experience, NLP and CBT, Pete Allison’s
Virtues and Values, ILM coaching and mentoring programmes at a variety of
levels. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is I think a balance drawn
from both my own experiences and also from my reading and research into other
people’s ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These ideas and
influences have been stirred and discussed with peers, tutors and
students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t claim originality nor
admit to plagiarism but rather a mix of influences and reflections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I’d share just two, Hahn’s and then
my own observations fron LTTA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hahn’s
approach lies at the very heart of my approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the latter stages of the First World War he was working for </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Prince Max of
Baden,</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Germany's last
imperial chancellor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two men became
convinced a lack of character in the German people was a significant
contribution to Germany’s defeat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
aftermath of the war they founded the Salem schools with the philosophy
"to effect what they have recognized to be right, despite hardships,
despite dangers, despite inner skepticism, despite boredom, despite mockery
from the world, despite emotion of the moment"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such a philosophy put Hahn on an inevitable
collision course with the rise of the Nazi party and in 1933 he went into exile
in Britain where he founded Gourdonston school and the Moray badge scheme which
was a forerunner of both the Outward Bound movement and the Duke of Edinburgh
award scheme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Time
and space precludes a detailed analysis of Hahn but the following gives a brief
overview of his ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Firstly he
articulated what he called the 6 declines of modern youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the declines :in</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> <span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Fitness <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Initiative and Enterprise <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Memory and Imagination <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Skill and Care <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Self-discipline<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Compassion</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">He considered The decline in compassion as the
most significant and although his language is perhaps dated ( I choose to talk
about challenges rather than decline) I consider they remain relevant today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hahn went on to propose 4</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> antidotes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Fitness
Training <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Expeditions
<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Projects
<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Rescue
Service <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Hahn recognised that </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">People discover
their abilities, values, passions, and responsibilities in situations that offer
adventure and the unexpected. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
teacher’s or skipper’s primary task is to help students overcome their fears
and discover they can do more than they think they can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">learning </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">happens best with emotion, challenge and the requisite support. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">These ideas developed further by Hahn and others into <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ten Expeditionary Learning Principles</span>
which seek to describe a caring, adventurous school culture and approach to
learning are summarised below, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The primacy of self-discovery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ideas and curiosity <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Assume responsibility for your
own learning <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Empathy and caring within the group
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Experiencing success and
failure <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A balance of collaboration and
competition<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diversity and inclusion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Respect for the natural world <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Creating opportunity for solitude
and reflection <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Service and compassion to each
other<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">During LTTA, I tried to represent my own ideas
which served both as a guide to the training but also as an articulation of
ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that in introducing them
now no one will think that I believe they stand alongside Hahn’s ideas as in
any way equal, rather they represent another strand to my own approach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Take
responsibility for your actions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Do
it now not later<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Always
have contingency<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Take
calculated risk but never sleepwalk into danger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Check
and double check<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Know
your limits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Follow
your gut but there is no place for bravado<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Listen
to your doubts <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Never
pass up an opportunity, it might not represent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Discomfort
is more rewarding than a missed opportunity <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Humour
and determination will move most mountains<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Don’t
confuse success, experience and wisdom <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I hope I have already brought some of this
approach to bear in the way I conduct staff training and that it will also benefit
the 16-18 year olds on the forthcoming trip to Norway which I look forward to
sharing with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-75256108361013323812013-06-18T15:53:00.000-07:002013-06-18T15:53:24.534-07:00There is more in you than you yet know (Part 1)
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Firstly
an apology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A combination of Internet
access issues and some time off have conspired to impose a lack of recent
posts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than play catch up I want
to try and paint a backdrop to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not I
hope in some self-seeking vain but rather to try and explain what has helped
shape me and my approach to not only to The Swan but also to the development
of those who sail on her this season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In
1991 I was a member of a 7 weeks expedition to South Georgia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now is not the time to retell the story but
if I had been possessed of foresight, then I doubt that I would have believed
myself capable of what I did on that expedition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It drew on my physical, mental and emotional reserves
in a way that nothing before or since has. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By way of illustration, let me take just one
aspect; the physical. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran my first
marathon at 14.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 17 I sculled the 31
mile Lincoln to Boston rowing marathon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words I was accustomed to physical
endurance challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Army had also
pushed me in much the same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>South
Georgia added a new and significant aspect; there was no certainty of when or
how the course would end and no alternative to completion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Physically it was far harder than the
marathons but it also required something else. The expedition and the group
that I spent most time in were utterly alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No safety vehicle, no outside help short of a major rescue mounted from
the Falklands Islands, and even then probably no outside intervention for at
least 5 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stood alone utterly
reliant on each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d recognised
the role of mental resilience in physical challenges but this was more than
just bloody minded will power, this was accepting total responsibility for
every aspect of the expedition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
faced greater single challenges but by a margin the combination of physical,
mental and emotional stamina required by that expedition was quite simply the
hardest thing of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a pivotal
experience which continues to have a profound influence on me and I continue to
reflect on the experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On return I
became a “South Georgia bore”; within 5 minutes of any conversation I had engineered
an “I like me” account of my exploits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rather less embarrassingly I also started to analyse the experience and
its impact on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recognised that I
had grown in stature and that it had profoundly changed and shaped my attitude
and confidence to my own capability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
even went as far as articulating some of them in strap line maxims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“little steps make big steps” was one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a lecture tour of schools I suggested that
this applied as much to learning French vocab as hauling a pulk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today I still reference that experience on
South Georgia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">At
about the same time I became aware of the philosophies of Kurt Hahn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By complete chance I was introduced to Ali
Hahn and I also listened to the experiences of Richard Clements who had been at
Gordonstoun, the school founded by Hahn after his escape from Germany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This brief dalliance got subsumed in the pace
of life but never totally left me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
next foray in this area was not for several years when I came across part of
Steven Covey’s book “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A part had been placed on the intranet at MOD
Abbey Wood were I was working (I use the word loosely) on the Bowman radio
programme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The habits” made sense and I
couldn’t help but observe how at odds they were with what I observed going on
around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bought the book and read it
avidly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well as interesting me, it
seemed more profitable than the nugatory work that was expected of me and I
could make a slight case that it was in fact work related.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact I stayed at Abbey Wood for 3 years
and the work remained nugatory, so I threw myself wholeheartedly into
organising an Antarctic Expedition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
least it seemed like a project in which I could make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That expedition did come fruition and much to
my surprised spurned a further two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Each
of these Antarctic expeditions had its own ambiance, significance and
outcomes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the first I forged a
strong friendship with the yacht skipper, Andy Bristow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I helped sail the yacht back from the
Falkland Islands with Andy and that 3 months was another pivotal
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did my seamanship
improve dramatically under his tutorage but his methodology and approach made
an impact that extended way beyond sailing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andy sailed through Lerwick last week on his
way north to Svalbard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
third of the Antarctic expeditions incorporated another symbiotic expedition
called “Leadership Through The Atlantic” (LTTA). The concept was to sail a
circuit of The Atlantic including both Antarctica and The Arctic with novice
crews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gave young soldiers (most had
been in the Army for less than 6 month and were aged 18-20) an opportunity for
a highly beneficial experience at the start of their service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never viewed it as a sail training
expedition but as a personal development exercise for life and of course
leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hahn, I later discovered had
typically trod this path and put it very succinctly, noting the difference
between “training for the sea” and “training through the sea”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My ambition for the later put me on a
collision course with the Services sailing community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rubbed along because we had to (which in
itself is not a bad lesson or akin to getting on with shipmates) but were probably
both relieved when the expedition finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am pleased to say that today we enjoy a much more open and comfortable
relationship. (last week one of their yachts sailed into Lerwick.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">LTTA
was certainly not plain sailing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well
as the professional challenge, I faced two concurrent personal challenges, two
people very close to me died that year within a few months of each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both had faced lingering deaths with great
courage and fortitude. Their individual journeys had been eased by the way
their own primary carers had responded with physical and emotional love and
support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each had taken on more than
could ever be reasonably asked of them and they had done so at great personal
cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like South Georgia, there was
no certainty of how the course would run or when it would end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stood (and stand) in ore of how all four of
them faced that journey. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to
support all four but in truth probably failed to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My
day to day boss was the chief of Staff of the Army’s recruiting and training
organisation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The post holder changed
during the expedition but both Philip Astell and Charlie Knags were equally
supportive and very tolerant of my sometimes unconventional approach and
manner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that I tried the patience
of both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My small expedition was a blip
on their radar; they were running what was at the time (and might still be) the
largest training organisation in Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amongst the big issues of the day was implementing the recommendations
and reaction to The Blake Report, the independent report into the deaths of
young soldiers at Blackdown camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
started off as identifying a need to better prepare instructors in the pastoral
and welfare support of young teenager trainee soldiers rapidly expanded to include
not only how best to communicate with them over welfare issues but also in
their approach to learning and developing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Charlie Knags suggested that I might usefully attend, a new pilot course
designed to look at the role and benefits of transformational leadership as
opposed to the more traditional transactional approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The course chimed with much of what I had
observed and reflected on during Leadership Through The Atlantic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I struck up an immediate rapport with the
instructor, Mark Woodhouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark is also
a former soldier who now runs a niche personal development company called
Performance People.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since that initial
pilot course I have attend several others with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They include coaching and mentoring as well
as a couple of NLP courses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All this
learning also rekindled my interest in Kurt Hahn and I started to read more about
his philosophies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Another
of the big issues of the day was the Army’s response to the Iraqi prisoner
abuse episode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>British Army Doctrine is
concerned with how the army delivers something called “fighting power” In
essence fighting power is the combination of three components; the physical
(what we fight with, tanks guns, men etc) the doctrinal (how they interact and
are employed) and finally the moral (why we fight and keep fighting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It emphasises the intangibles encompassed by
and dependant on moral courage).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
this last one that appeared to have gone wrong and there was an immediate
effort to reinvigorate something that we had perhaps taken for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our core values were restated and emphasised at
every level and opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Values
based leadership chimed with the transformational Leadership model and the
pre-eminence of the moral component was unashamedly and unambiguously
trumpeted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some years earlier my own
interest had been heightened by a dissertation I wrote for my Master’s degree
entitled “A changing Society, Military Ethos and the Moral Component”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Throughout
LTTA I had sought to build inclusive partnerships wherever possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the short term and for relatively little
effort and investment these had maximised and created opportunity for the
benefit of participants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One such
contact was with the British Schools Exploring Society and these bore longer
term benefit when it became a launch pad for a group of Army bursars (FE
collages students who had decided to join the Army and were being support by
the Army) and junior soldiers at the Army Apprentice College joined an
expedition to Greenland. I was lucky enough to join them as chief boatman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The expedition leader, Pete Allison, is at
the forefront of developing outdoor education philosophies and practices as
well as being one of the foremost authorities on Kurt Hahn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learnt a huge amount during that expedition
and on return continued to develop my own ideas based on these influences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One
final ingredient came from a very unexpected and unwelcome series of
events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2010 whilst serving in Iraq,
a number of allegations were levelled against me by the Brigadier I worked for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were dismissed at a hearing in front of
a more senior general but the experience rocked me to the core but not as hard
as the Army’s lack of response to the dismissal of the allegations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My professional, domestic and personal world
collapsed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a more complex story
than time allows but often it is when life is at its toughest that our
character is not only most tested but also that we learn most. I was diagnosed
with clinical depression and a number of people, whose debit I am in and who I
hold in the highest esteem, helped put me back together but it took 2 years and
was a painful and exhausting process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(This
experience was perhaps tougher than South Georgia but I exclude it because
mental illness attacks the very essence of who we are and when our brain and
rational no longer function in the way that defines us individually then we
cease to be the person we are.) I would not wish it on my worst enemy but in
the process of recovery forced me to take a long hard look at myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I digress but want to make an aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mental health remains a taboo, perhaps not
unlike cancer 30 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s spoken
about in hushed tones and there exists still a stigma that hinders diagnosis
and recovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mine was probably at the
lower end of the spectrum and still crippled me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One in four people will suffer during their life
time, its more common than breaking a leg and it destroys the very essence of
self. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are lucky enough to be one
of the 3 in 4 please support the other and if you are one of the 1 in 4 then
please know you are not alone and do not suffer alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
recovery process introduced me to CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) and as I
started to recover I started to draw strength and meaning from some of the
previous experiences and learnings I have referred to here. But above all I remain an unremarkable and very ordinary person who has had the good fortune to enjoy some extraordinary experiences. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-6436492162417018142013-05-28T14:57:00.000-07:002013-05-28T14:57:00.178-07:00Reflecting on a busy week away
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTF_Y7oORk9pMCpCXSjZQCiZGmmOg1LA-U5jZCPmfK4EQq2tspe_5au9NbQF6zYwCrkv6qUqiqbSKxq086z8wBFLSFP6-NYtP9nEVuEGv2SsuI5b3PLekZ_v9ttG50Deax_yS5y-TTEI/s1600/Pictish-Castle.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTF_Y7oORk9pMCpCXSjZQCiZGmmOg1LA-U5jZCPmfK4EQq2tspe_5au9NbQF6zYwCrkv6qUqiqbSKxq086z8wBFLSFP6-NYtP9nEVuEGv2SsuI5b3PLekZ_v9ttG50Deax_yS5y-TTEI/s320/Pictish-Castle.gif" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9inalr_ZhyphenhyphenSeA4o9OPD5_BlHettanArEzug_ZJQHj8IPgvgQcX4R1MxCg4q3QZMp1-S-0mAYJ1wAspteii0LEK_du7ShNfGTw6CNTiLwiRcg8e6wfGyle_C0ofA8DdjHOGV0kBTn3aQ/s1600/pictish-castle-background.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9inalr_ZhyphenhyphenSeA4o9OPD5_BlHettanArEzug_ZJQHj8IPgvgQcX4R1MxCg4q3QZMp1-S-0mAYJ1wAspteii0LEK_du7ShNfGTw6CNTiLwiRcg8e6wfGyle_C0ofA8DdjHOGV0kBTn3aQ/s320/pictish-castle-background.gif" width="320" /></a>Heading north from Sumburgh we transited Mousa Sound, which separates the
Mainland from the Island of Mousa, on the south west of which lies the largest
and most complete <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">surviving Iron Age
round tower or broch</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>E<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ven without the opportunity to land and
visit it is a most impressive sight and I hope somewhere that I can return to
for a closer look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime you
can read more at </span><a href="http://www.shetland-heritage.co.uk/mousa"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.shetland-heritage.co.uk/mousa</span></span></a><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have also been unsuccessful in my efforts to find and insert a suitable map but
suggest that google maps do give good coverage; on the satellite view you will
get an impressive bird’s eye view of the broch of Mousa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Search on Mousa first and then the broch is
labelled.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Arriving
in Lerwick we said goodbye to one crew before spending an uneventful Saturday
night and awaiting the arrival of a new crew before heading north through Linga
Sound which separates Whalsay Island from The Mainland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swan was fished from Whalsay in her early
years and today it has a reputation as the home of the pelagic boat
owners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly there was no time to
linger and we continued north to The Island of Yell and into Burra Voe, a small
village with a primary school of 11 pupils (in two classes). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were greeted on the pier side by the primary
school headmistress and made to feel most welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53Yl8bBZqElWYowyO1nUy_NO9tiDJsBAQjOlldhR-zJ-h_Ngs62qmflcIi5gyznPnx3goi2Olh6lAKF5vUXWdswM2TJE6aVngU5_Aa_xzrcFnQUqHUr4QpBVNg0aDlk_E9mOFDWsG9R8/s1600/pulley-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53Yl8bBZqElWYowyO1nUy_NO9tiDJsBAQjOlldhR-zJ-h_Ngs62qmflcIi5gyznPnx3goi2Olh6lAKF5vUXWdswM2TJE6aVngU5_Aa_xzrcFnQUqHUr4QpBVNg0aDlk_E9mOFDWsG9R8/s320/pulley-1.gif" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv_jKRt70dHr-uZa5IQMHLhszDc1KtdcT2N1A1iZ5jTviJGbPDxjFbkxVtluSQWryYOY6hXgsvk_6MYQHO70-7bh23p-IGUlOChHeJsJnY3i553dNAylCzKiOjvuOceF6bfv9Cc9T3zs/s1600/pulley-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv_jKRt70dHr-uZa5IQMHLhszDc1KtdcT2N1A1iZ5jTviJGbPDxjFbkxVtluSQWryYOY6hXgsvk_6MYQHO70-7bh23p-IGUlOChHeJsJnY3i553dNAylCzKiOjvuOceF6bfv9Cc9T3zs/s320/pulley-2.gif" width="223" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
following day we started this season’s school programme with two separate
trips, each aimed at slightly different age groups but with children of between
5 and 9 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each trip was only
about an hour and a half long and combined an introduction to the boat,
including climbing into the bunks which for some was the highlight, with
experiments with pulleys to lift the table top and finally a short trip under
engine during which all took the helm for long enough to have their mantelpiece
photo shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Afterwards we had lunch in
the school before returning to the Swan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKPBukXRIwbF0UoEOr70APLAz3BBpSPIAmo8fxTWXD1WgwW8hgEL4Dq5hh-nm0Ft5gFLeDc_dkNpoFXWQ8IWoy6hyphenhyphenY3o_EVDIQar6Cv-u02PUjowJ-irdZpFhWExSIei3N2Ly_k7faMc/s1600/Buravoe-school.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKPBukXRIwbF0UoEOr70APLAz3BBpSPIAmo8fxTWXD1WgwW8hgEL4Dq5hh-nm0Ft5gFLeDc_dkNpoFXWQ8IWoy6hyphenhyphenY3o_EVDIQar6Cv-u02PUjowJ-irdZpFhWExSIei3N2Ly_k7faMc/s320/Buravoe-school.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxG9NUTEmCtSBgPxZw0z87JjgLITEqz4U6-J8UXXOB0mjCE7jnTEJMsGzln7iD3_EqbV0qFwmuIV8xfNjoLH794IRG7KQ27435OnWQCwFVTO7wGMn3q9glGgiy5zXc8lAkHds1OMzdtIY/s1600/baravoe-helm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxG9NUTEmCtSBgPxZw0z87JjgLITEqz4U6-J8UXXOB0mjCE7jnTEJMsGzln7iD3_EqbV0qFwmuIV8xfNjoLH794IRG7KQ27435OnWQCwFVTO7wGMn3q9glGgiy5zXc8lAkHds1OMzdtIY/s320/baravoe-helm.gif" width="212" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
following day we embarked a group of 14/15 year olds for an overnight trip to
the Outer skerries. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trip out was
somewhat lively and it took its toll on some of the crew and school staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is absolutely no doubt that sea
sickness is a physical condition and that it can be very debilitating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Equally there is no doubt that mental
resilience and robustness are either negative or positive contributors to speed
of severity and recovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One member of the
school staff suffered but worked through it whilst the youngsters were, generally,
too ready to give up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whilst
disappointing it is perhaps not too surprising and mirrors Kurt Hahn’s work on
survival during the battle of the Atlantic (I fully intend to pick up on this
work soon!!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another striking observation was the
reluctance of any of these youngsters, without significant encouragement, to
help look after each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead
there was an automatic assumption that the staff (sea or school) should be
doing this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no disagreement with
the notion of my duty of care or leadership role but equally “God helps those
who help themselves” conveys a powerful philosophy and approach to
interdependence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might be tempting to
ascribe, at least in part, this observation to the uncertainty of the
environment of being at sea but this is not supported by another observation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My initial welcome on the quayside included
the mandatory brief on taking care boarding the boat which included crossing
the decks of another boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also asked
that they help each other by passing bags between them and so forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact not one of them did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again there was both an expectation and actuality
that the school staff do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After explaining
and demonstrating the fitting of life jackets I asked them to work in pairs to
assist and check each other, with limited results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I accept that as a former soldier I might
have a different expectation on how people form teams and look after each
other, and I also accept that these children were younger than the soldiers (or
British Schools Exploring Society young explorers) that I have previously
worked with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this automatic
reliance on teachers or adults is both striking and disappointing; it seems to
me to point to both an unwillingness to accept responsibility and to a system
that is reluctant to empower people by accustoming them to exercise
responsibility. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have observed this in
another setting during Army life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some years
ago I worked in the army “basic training” organisation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The army doesn’t use the term basic training
but it concisely describes the scenario.) After about 3 weeks in the Army every
soldier is required to pass a series of tests about safe weapon handling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The test is classroom based and in a standard
format.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is mandatory that all
soldiers pass before progressing in training (and at 6 monthly intervals
thereafter regardless of rank or experience).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Move forward to week 20ish of their training course and these same young
soldiers are now taking part in demanding field firing exercises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are firing live ammunition during
practice attacks (or similar).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Occasionally their weapon might jam and malfunction. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The correct response is one of the tests that
they passed in week 3 and have to re-pass within a short period before taking
part in these battle exercises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other
words we know that they are capable of carrying out the drill . . .and yet
their first reaction is typically to turn to the range safety staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It
seems to me that in both cases there has been a failure to develop not the
skill but the confidence to enact the skill in a real situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this has enormous implications and ramifications
which posse a challenge to all concerned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRmDI5fGQ_jQotrQOiUV4tM1cYUc0CFLsCf28m9sd6CJnRvp27aEDPv41jBmjkeBkogj8SLDoppiOtPnLhCUcpThFnptg4Bmj7SN-K1CJehj8135D7i1zggEBH4FKnW3TuYfz9gKU0KM/s1600/sunset-outer-skerries.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRmDI5fGQ_jQotrQOiUV4tM1cYUc0CFLsCf28m9sd6CJnRvp27aEDPv41jBmjkeBkogj8SLDoppiOtPnLhCUcpThFnptg4Bmj7SN-K1CJehj8135D7i1zggEBH4FKnW3TuYfz9gKU0KM/s320/sunset-outer-skerries.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
Outer Skerries are an extraordinary place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At one level not so very different from the Mainland or the rest of
Shetland but the community of about 70 people live on about two and a half
square miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few fishing boats work
out of the harbour which whilst secure enough is subject to the vagaries of weather
and sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A salmon farm nestles in the
shallower and more tranquil water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
won’t dwell on it but it must take a very particular person and attitude to
live and work in such a place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVagAhFTXepgw3yQT8zyY9GETQVemc9Js8NSJ0YwcGiVM8HxmwGh6CaAVNHaOPHle06Sohqg63-032JDT34x7xT-SI-Va8TFxZuqfnS5XgBEy0tIkBxpmkrfUj3qgnFlS68bh9EB_Yt0/s1600/Swan-Skerries.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVagAhFTXepgw3yQT8zyY9GETQVemc9Js8NSJ0YwcGiVM8HxmwGh6CaAVNHaOPHle06Sohqg63-032JDT34x7xT-SI-Va8TFxZuqfnS5XgBEy0tIkBxpmkrfUj3qgnFlS68bh9EB_Yt0/s320/Swan-Skerries.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
following day was more kindly and we sailed back to Mid Yell in almost ideal
conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me the highlight was one
14 year old girl who displayed that little bit extra when taking her turn on
the helm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked her if she wanted to
take the wheel whilst we gybed the boat and she said yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that we would have to gybe that day
and so had explained the concept before departure. (For the non-sailors, a word
of explanation but without the benefit of the white board. You are probably
familiar with the term tacking; its when a boat changes direction by turning
her bow through the wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sails then
set on the “other side” and is considered a routine manoeuvre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can go wrong but is seldom, of its self, difficult
or dangerous. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gybing is changing
direction by turning the stern through the wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a relatively more dangerous manoeuvre
with more potential for things to go badly wrong if it’s not done under
control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The consequences of an
uncontrolled or even accidental gybe can be sever.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having set up the gybe, I then coxed her
through the procedure whilst she gave the orders and with a little mentoring
executed it very competently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her
to “midship your wheel” and without even a blink she glanced astern noted the
rudder position and gave a turn of the wheel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perfect!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I congratulated her
she appeared non pulsed and didn’t really appear to understand why I was so
impressed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Returning
to Lerwick on Thursday evening we were in something of a choppy sea and a foul
but falling wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Volunteer crewman,
Nat (the one who is always in his shirt sleeves) was at the wheel as we entered
Bressy sound into Lerwick and half in jest asked him if he wanted to bring her
alongside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To my absolute delight and
surprise he said he’d give it a go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was not an easy first “park” and required some toing and frowing with a tight
turn and then some gentle manoeuvring to come alongside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time the helmsman did realise what he’d
just accomplished and he had the broadest smile I have seen for a long time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We celebrated with a pint. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
I completed my first week of the schools programme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one level it has been very satisfying but
at another posses many questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
suspect though that it is the latter which gives me most cause for reflection
but for the moment I shall keep my own counsel whilst I mull the experience and
consider how it might help shape future events.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4JwY6jxzobsu6_8zp8aCtjDSd8Bddwr1KBrWDMyDdNDU0vx7KxbVelA-WBPCA5sTYWQHq_k1QAIVpLs2UGvdrSXzheONddB6RsBIzyRumyOrO_COK4Psr5QFKGmzj3SSYaay3La1U4w/s1600/Self-%2526-Shetland-Bus-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4JwY6jxzobsu6_8zp8aCtjDSd8Bddwr1KBrWDMyDdNDU0vx7KxbVelA-WBPCA5sTYWQHq_k1QAIVpLs2UGvdrSXzheONddB6RsBIzyRumyOrO_COK4Psr5QFKGmzj3SSYaay3La1U4w/s320/Self-%2526-Shetland-Bus-2.gif" width="303" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The following day I returned to Scalloway to join a short but moving ceremony to commemorate the Shetland Bus operation. Shetlanders and Norwegians have always enjoyed a close and kindred relationship and this sometimes little known wartime operation carried out in secrecy with foe ,sea and weather as enemies cemented that friendship in an enduring bond. Although not conventionally dressed for such an event, I like to think that it was in someways an appropriate attire in which to commemorate the courage and sacrifice of these men. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So to finish on a lighter note; the Shetland Boat Show provide a weekend of water inspired activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boats have a distinctly local flavour</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTn5tZI65dMOlPsekW1GjiAMjE53HVqEJe5WC-lZ5PhEcL0MM-j8gNlHKTfsKcB7kGGSsI5e2BqL-RI_w5fY-N0WoMDjZC7ysmTeO2uetucnUzyQQFZWWaGu-Dn6iZ7YWxiFWGkE-AYZo/s1600/boatshow.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTn5tZI65dMOlPsekW1GjiAMjE53HVqEJe5WC-lZ5PhEcL0MM-j8gNlHKTfsKcB7kGGSsI5e2BqL-RI_w5fY-N0WoMDjZC7ysmTeO2uetucnUzyQQFZWWaGu-Dn6iZ7YWxiFWGkE-AYZo/s320/boatshow.gif" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBeKkBoRAo92OLQyo_TgaiHud-FG4CAsyYfZPkS_rKyjko93gICcdveML_yA0VMmI3BEydWRY5KrQwNESjyLcr3JJvnpOW5J3iaPAhT1UrBO8M8dOWzvuZlpv63k-_KbodlCFvccXaxo/s1600/Yell-shantymen.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBeKkBoRAo92OLQyo_TgaiHud-FG4CAsyYfZPkS_rKyjko93gICcdveML_yA0VMmI3BEydWRY5KrQwNESjyLcr3JJvnpOW5J3iaPAhT1UrBO8M8dOWzvuZlpv63k-_KbodlCFvccXaxo/s320/Yell-shantymen.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The shanties sung by the Yell Shantymen aboard Swan over lunch were universal and even persuaded me to join in!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCnxX4TMIJ0jrrhLIpVj-vUTUQaBkzAx_HFcXyMRyW3H2mBlec2dFGVNF4FckXYx_1C7LBk8CEu-RIrGV5C9AXRxVog8fZcY_QJftZzdGivZIQ5qZXbIL6B3YprbSxVVVNAFE021cxio/s1600/Westward-ho.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCnxX4TMIJ0jrrhLIpVj-vUTUQaBkzAx_HFcXyMRyW3H2mBlec2dFGVNF4FckXYx_1C7LBk8CEu-RIrGV5C9AXRxVog8fZcY_QJftZzdGivZIQ5qZXbIL6B3YprbSxVVVNAFE021cxio/s320/Westward-ho.gif" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But a highlight was the Faeroese sailing trawler "Westward Ho TN 54". When the British fishing fleet converted to steam, the Faeroese fisherman brought up many of the sailing boats and continued to fish them under sail. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“westward Ho” is one of only two survivors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Built at Grimsby she now proudly flies the Faeroe’s flag and is much loved by not only her crew and community but by the wider historical maritime fleet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And The Faeroese hospitality aboard
Westward Ho was something else!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gkPUlNrviEzGUekXWioXDurOh9Lf9F_2TobwUHgBgskBMxEJLqcbizXLtaDXi9s6kmgQZLVnTfdXySDJi_d-dLZ7i1nL4jZM9-4wXdZvWjq8w4KMLIgAge23Y9QLd4lFSS0HwebBfsk/s1600/Faeroise-Crewmen.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gkPUlNrviEzGUekXWioXDurOh9Lf9F_2TobwUHgBgskBMxEJLqcbizXLtaDXi9s6kmgQZLVnTfdXySDJi_d-dLZ7i1nL4jZM9-4wXdZvWjq8w4KMLIgAge23Y9QLd4lFSS0HwebBfsk/s320/Faeroise-Crewmen.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCnxX4TMIJ0jrrhLIpVj-vUTUQaBkzAx_HFcXyMRyW3H2mBlec2dFGVNF4FckXYx_1C7LBk8CEu-RIrGV5C9AXRxVog8fZcY_QJftZzdGivZIQ5qZXbIL6B3YprbSxVVVNAFE021cxio/s1600/Westward-ho.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-70773974259342535072013-05-20T14:29:00.000-07:002013-05-20T14:32:53.964-07:00The Leaving of Scalloway<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVTUJQmba2Dg5VNfn5OO4ppp-7FJVPD165axsLh_Cf5Rp9I_3qyE5sfA722D73RzbqJb3fkXsP3FPRmHlq1e42XYJVXK1c_2ALViKTJihYL3drJ1neYc-XtrZ5NZX3wdhdNTpzpg0w0Q/s1600/sign-%2526-daffs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVTUJQmba2Dg5VNfn5OO4ppp-7FJVPD165axsLh_Cf5Rp9I_3qyE5sfA722D73RzbqJb3fkXsP3FPRmHlq1e42XYJVXK1c_2ALViKTJihYL3drJ1neYc-XtrZ5NZX3wdhdNTpzpg0w0Q/s200/sign-%2526-daffs.gif" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It occurs to me that I have been rather remiss in not giving any form of description of Scalloway which has been my temporary home since I arrived in Shetland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that I am on the eve of departing and although I will be back later in the summer, I confess to a twinge of regret at the prospect of leaving.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such is the sense of community pride for
“Swan” that everyone is keen to support her and there is no doubt that I derive
considerable spin off and benefit from that good will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hotel allows me internet access and only
require me to buy a moderate amount of beer in recompense!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Port Authority have given me use of their
washing machine and been very helpful to the “baby skipper”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHWdqYPEXVHDSRVhb79yAK7TqlTqY1VLJB1rCdWreiYX8-TQIe_4K0y8WnyjDzx-nyabp6TaaxPSh7g1BsNFbXYSQAHbVDc4ClZPN0yK63rYO6h-pZ1TtMLMtU1TDcG-TxJJlra3sHMg/s1600/working-port.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHWdqYPEXVHDSRVhb79yAK7TqlTqY1VLJB1rCdWreiYX8-TQIe_4K0y8WnyjDzx-nyabp6TaaxPSh7g1BsNFbXYSQAHbVDc4ClZPN0yK63rYO6h-pZ1TtMLMtU1TDcG-TxJJlra3sHMg/s320/working-port.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">Scalloway is a working fishing port and boats
off load catch here and prepare for sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In bad weather the pier side fills up as current EU fisheries
regulations limit the number of days a fishing boat can be at sea; so rather
than ride it out, boats run for port so as to save days for fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This same regulation includes time spent
steaming to and from the fishing grounds, thus landing at the nearest port
rather than steaming to mainland Scotland preserves days for fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So not only are there local boats but also a
steady stream of visitors to the fish landing wharf where there is a processing
plant, net repair business and lorries leave at all times of the day
bound for Lerwick and on to Aberdeen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhev7BeEWNrAYYXb-zBhB46ho3KBNWeMv9BaLGcNZoSSm_qcOrRIXsJloSsO82GODK9xpz3G8ehWO5vxR4IYoQfA2aHCe0Mnle2x8H9eUh_WC_IES_wHe3VYdgXGM-mdR5X797xa6oUYec/s1600/from-scant.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhev7BeEWNrAYYXb-zBhB46ho3KBNWeMv9BaLGcNZoSSm_qcOrRIXsJloSsO82GODK9xpz3G8ehWO5vxR4IYoQfA2aHCe0Mnle2x8H9eUh_WC_IES_wHe3VYdgXGM-mdR5X797xa6oUYec/s320/from-scant.gif" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">With a population of about 800, Scalloway is Shetland’s
second city and in the foreground you can see the new housing development which underscores the strong links with Norway and Scandinavia in general. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5pB9TQur1beQY-phPEPBeL1thVDQH8EaiDI0AXyAc8BUupFURYCZG1vMR8f14KAvn-wHl6HnPe0LLDZAhvnN86rsh-sY6jblcAwgCg-qOYqHrep_wiLu8EfGIREWEWZ9G6zd7YlgELU/s1600/traditional-cottages.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5pB9TQur1beQY-phPEPBeL1thVDQH8EaiDI0AXyAc8BUupFURYCZG1vMR8f14KAvn-wHl6HnPe0LLDZAhvnN86rsh-sY6jblcAwgCg-qOYqHrep_wiLu8EfGIREWEWZ9G6zd7YlgELU/s320/traditional-cottages.gif" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> I expect that back in the early 1800's others were commenting on the then new estate:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyKtFtNG5Mtyf20k6IITapTi55RA0h0ABf7OoclqRtsS-txJDwusKPHOIPgDM9BV6cybYGITZaKZA-B8Rw4K4B2_Jf-aeofm6wmzJnR84FV3EkJnJmi3UEXlYnypnKK5T937gvif0t7g/s1600/welcom.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyKtFtNG5Mtyf20k6IITapTi55RA0h0ABf7OoclqRtsS-txJDwusKPHOIPgDM9BV6cybYGITZaKZA-B8Rw4K4B2_Jf-aeofm6wmzJnR84FV3EkJnJmi3UEXlYnypnKK5T937gvif0t7g/s320/welcom.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It was also the ancient capital </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTTpQErPOdzRJC6SwhUzZ2Kv99oJ1qXTxr2Vj4qEUkowfNnwKJ4h_VLUZWZAT4dQpD-OZwDXCfTnb9JigRfIwiputGoldFBe0SkWDPIEccb5uCYtmlgVuogsW2VfMgWThP9DZooKG9oE/s1600/castle.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTTpQErPOdzRJC6SwhUzZ2Kv99oJ1qXTxr2Vj4qEUkowfNnwKJ4h_VLUZWZAT4dQpD-OZwDXCfTnb9JigRfIwiputGoldFBe0SkWDPIEccb5uCYtmlgVuogsW2VfMgWThP9DZooKG9oE/s320/castle.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">and today there is a friendly rivalry
with its near neighbour the current capital, Lerwick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also a microcosm of the wider “east and
west coast” divide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well as the
expected school and shops, it boasts a swimming pool, a Chinese take away and a
youth club.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAfIMDVkjC9-0LyPTf0H2hT7SSuBnnWx3079zNRG4RWmCVh-FhHhDIVBrbrl6pMJDgYnCz2_f-dy1h6VCmB778qw5gqelypiq3YcKm0gysqi5TqMLAH8DeRYgWO3wMuZe5Mm46CFPHso/s1600/castle-sunset.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAfIMDVkjC9-0LyPTf0H2hT7SSuBnnWx3079zNRG4RWmCVh-FhHhDIVBrbrl6pMJDgYnCz2_f-dy1h6VCmB778qw5gqelypiq3YcKm0gysqi5TqMLAH8DeRYgWO3wMuZe5Mm46CFPHso/s320/castle-sunset.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtLpAV4Cv-9BN3bVJgQGVRVHATLcgIweW9BCbWvsga88LyWKaNC4Db630tQ8WGrMwZ897q8lz7kBTcV0p48DDdtCVtIPfrMMJNhZe2snUs7qF2dP4oejpTFb8UKUFVXwnTzTHszSNl4Q/s1600/shetland-bus-memorial.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtLpAV4Cv-9BN3bVJgQGVRVHATLcgIweW9BCbWvsga88LyWKaNC4Db630tQ8WGrMwZ897q8lz7kBTcV0p48DDdtCVtIPfrMMJNhZe2snUs7qF2dP4oejpTFb8UKUFVXwnTzTHszSNl4Q/s320/shetland-bus-memorial.gif" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Scalloway was also home to the Shetland Bus operation of
World War Two that played a critical role in supporting Norwegian
resistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many Norwegians fleeing
Nazi occupation it represented the end of a perilous escape route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For others it was the last place of safety
before setting off to face the dangers of return through arctic waters and the
covert courage of fighting with the resistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today several houses routinely fly the Norwegian flag and the local museum
was opened by the Norwegian Prime minister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">As we slipped out we were also privileged to see an Orca
mother and calf </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-zzjXzAWw03nJ26V2bTw3wpU2uMGvu_gG2vyP6UfJcGxAxW3GuWCPfFVGhxwFderxHNJrzuarFjXlwFvq1VkL7pU6IwY6Og4izo5xGAwhXnYK0_q7nrdc9XisMZTACQf7osqYtHGVDE/s1600/orca-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-zzjXzAWw03nJ26V2bTw3wpU2uMGvu_gG2vyP6UfJcGxAxW3GuWCPfFVGhxwFderxHNJrzuarFjXlwFvq1VkL7pU6IwY6Og4izo5xGAwhXnYK0_q7nrdc9XisMZTACQf7osqYtHGVDE/s320/orca-1.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98skCO-ifVNregKKdRnTQjoF47FkEtZqFL96mGW0OCTgg10HDBAK5QIDrDqroIk3hLwtPyZFQY6WZ_qEf6eSpK7XbQ0cnGbuM5SdbRORVH08tnsggBg8LjBR1x5JwoA52zwvnj4exkN0/s1600/orca-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98skCO-ifVNregKKdRnTQjoF47FkEtZqFL96mGW0OCTgg10HDBAK5QIDrDqroIk3hLwtPyZFQY6WZ_qEf6eSpK7XbQ0cnGbuM5SdbRORVH08tnsggBg8LjBR1x5JwoA52zwvnj4exkN0/s320/orca-2.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-3awsKFMw9FfIro5Ws3CY6oSnLFWsoIG4C9c_KVrL_RJZ43ob84aQueoYpi2JqYrNoRSxTMhsWGejrb-6IlcUG7EABPsJqzvNcUua9qeNL9_8pViSlHp6L4imyCRGiscj7ih1u4xBWE/s1600/mother-%2526-calf.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-3awsKFMw9FfIro5Ws3CY6oSnLFWsoIG4C9c_KVrL_RJZ43ob84aQueoYpi2JqYrNoRSxTMhsWGejrb-6IlcUG7EABPsJqzvNcUua9qeNL9_8pViSlHp6L4imyCRGiscj7ih1u4xBWE/s1600/mother-%2526-calf.gif" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfjojT41HJm47PN4Mu-pd9tlIM5rZUZXRq6R4dis4TOFjHgZ61-ZnSL00EiQH17JU-Ej2AaSPjhE4ck8Jl4d8vbzJDRFjxmIdpTtRpr8FbyUw7w9RL7Q1qui78fhpCQdC3TZftwWTxow/s1600/sumburugh.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfjojT41HJm47PN4Mu-pd9tlIM5rZUZXRq6R4dis4TOFjHgZ61-ZnSL00EiQH17JU-Ej2AaSPjhE4ck8Jl4d8vbzJDRFjxmIdpTtRpr8FbyUw7w9RL7Q1qui78fhpCQdC3TZftwWTxow/s320/sumburugh.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfjojT41HJm47PN4Mu-pd9tlIM5rZUZXRq6R4dis4TOFjHgZ61-ZnSL00EiQH17JU-Ej2AaSPjhE4ck8Jl4d8vbzJDRFjxmIdpTtRpr8FbyUw7w9RL7Q1qui78fhpCQdC3TZftwWTxow/s1600/sumburugh.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfjojT41HJm47PN4Mu-pd9tlIM5rZUZXRq6R4dis4TOFjHgZ61-ZnSL00EiQH17JU-Ej2AaSPjhE4ck8Jl4d8vbzJDRFjxmIdpTtRpr8FbyUw7w9RL7Q1qui78fhpCQdC3TZftwWTxow/s1600/sumburugh.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><div style="text-align: left;" unselectable="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">As we headed south about to Lerwick I made the first of what
I am sure will be several roundings of Sumburgh Head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course to Shetland seafarers it’s a
routine event, but for me a significant UK headland and a moment to
savour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shipping forecast will never
be the same again.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-9400661394542049352013-05-10T14:20:00.001-07:002013-05-10T14:20:52.285-07:00Final Preparations For Sea.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In
the same week that we are in the final stages of preparing for the start of the
school’s programme, there have been two nationally reported tragedies at
sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The death of a father and
daughter, and life changing injuries to four other members of their family in a
powerboat accident in Cornwall was followed by the news of the death of a gold
winning Olympic sailor in a high performance multihull yacht preparing for the
America’s Cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elsewhere there will have
been numerous other accidents and “near misses” at sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the face of it these may have little
relevance to the Swan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
relevance is, I suggest, a stark reminder that no matter how much fun or how
professional and prepared you are; there are inherent risks associated with
boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(But keep it perspective because
there are inherent risks associated with life.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So rather than these tragedies being a reason to stop going to sea they
are a reminder of the necessity to prepare and plan for the unexpected and not
simply leave things to chance or hoped for good luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Failing to prepare is preparing to fail and
at sea the stakes are high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An in vogue
saying as I was leaving the Army, coined I believe by the Americans was “hope
is not an acceptable action or measure”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It
won’t surprise you to learn that commercial sailing is subject to a regulatory
frame work and all vessels and crews required to meet and adhere to a code of
practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than seeing this as an
onerous bureaucratic hurdle, I choose to see it as an articulation of sound
seamanship and a navigation aid or check list of good practise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, in all walks of life, we know that
common sense is not always common practice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times the code might sometimes appear
pedantic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example we now have a full
functioning fire fighting capability (following my bath in paraffin!!) in
addition to 4 fire extinguishers, an internal engine room fire fighting system,
two pumps and a fire blanket, we needed to purchase two buckets with lanyards to
complete compliance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
how do you prepare for sea and how do you know when you are ready?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s potentially quite a deep question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Complying with the code is a possible answer but
not one that sits easily with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Equally if you take the view that you can always be better prepared then
you might be tempted to say “never” because there is always something else to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there is a judgement to be
made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this case there is also a
timetable to be adhered to, or if it can’t be then there needs to be a very
good reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
Italian economist, Pareto was studying wealth distribution when he noticed that
80% of Italy’s wealth came from 20% of the population.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To his surprise the same ratio appeared again
in a different studies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Intrigued he now
set out to find other examples, which he did in abundance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today The Pareto or 80-20 principle is a well-recognised
guide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suppose you are going to repaint
the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could burn back to the wood,
prime, undercoat and apply two top coats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let’s call that the 100% job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Alternatively you could rub down, scrap badly damaged areas, spot prime,
spot undercoat and reapply two top coats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lets call that the 80% job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chances are that you will have an 80% result that only took you 20% of the
time it would have take to do the 100% job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The question is how important to you in absolute and relative terms is
it to paint the door?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now apply the same
thought process to getting ready for sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Clearly there are some jobs where a 100% solution and nothing less will
do, but equally there are some jobs which only merit an 80% solution using 20%
of the time and freeing up time to tackle the 100% jobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trick is to identify which is which.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact apply it to what is important in your
life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">So lets think about preparing for
sea. The principle suggests that 20% of the hazards will cause 80% of the
injuries, so it makes sense to target those 20% but how do you know which are
the 20% to focus on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well if you had a
system of accident and near miss reporting, that might be a good start point,
so why not go to the old cutlery draw and have a look? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So efficient accident reporting informs
efficient accident prevention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A word of
caution though, not all accidents have the same consequence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact MOB is very unlikely, but very high
impact if it does occur, so don’t just use empirical mathematics, temper it
with good old common sense. </span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Scott and I <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have been completing work in two other vital areas; bungs and Medical 1<sup>st</sup> aid. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mLgHa48K2k36fjuV1RzgCkAr0lcld07ns_SzyYSgDXqH23Ra_uDMSqidX3NPqDFpILhgbjNkdsJPfup9o4ow_m4NEZ_sP-f0OGdz22hwz9mTy7ueQuIg20DuZaSb2s4jKv6LSiJPT0Y/s1600/bungs-and-med.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mLgHa48K2k36fjuV1RzgCkAr0lcld07ns_SzyYSgDXqH23Ra_uDMSqidX3NPqDFpILhgbjNkdsJPfup9o4ow_m4NEZ_sP-f0OGdz22hwz9mTy7ueQuIg20DuZaSb2s4jKv6LSiJPT0Y/s1600/bungs-and-med.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mLgHa48K2k36fjuV1RzgCkAr0lcld07ns_SzyYSgDXqH23Ra_uDMSqidX3NPqDFpILhgbjNkdsJPfup9o4ow_m4NEZ_sP-f0OGdz22hwz9mTy7ueQuIg20DuZaSb2s4jKv6LSiJPT0Y/s320/bungs-and-med.gif" width="320" /><br />
<br />
<br />
</a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhpFXqluB0BmzUJc74Wm8Jd8K5QjXohDmoDoi3CE-TvRqTAhfsRGwUIbtWaB2f1YujH7Axv7EKIbicg3ASUOy7itzKo4R_6eWc5YVZqpLyqzOk8OcycWKvllBG3xXkQa0sDEXvQR4-r0/s1600/bungs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhpFXqluB0BmzUJc74Wm8Jd8K5QjXohDmoDoi3CE-TvRqTAhfsRGwUIbtWaB2f1YujH7Axv7EKIbicg3ASUOy7itzKo4R_6eWc5YVZqpLyqzOk8OcycWKvllBG3xXkQa0sDEXvQR4-r0/s320/bungs.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For non-sailors bungs might need some
explanation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Firstly they are nothing
to do with a backhand bribe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
vessels will have some through hull fixtures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, our fire pump draws water from the sea through a pipe
intake in the hull, so does the engine cooling system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact we have 9 holes through the hull
below the water line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of these is
fitted with a seacock (which you might think of as being a big tap).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Question: what happens if the seacock
fails?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Answer: potential disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However a simple conical soft wood bung
banged into the pipe or hole could be a life saver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(common sense let alone the code of practice
require in place measures. )</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> So measure the size of hole, get a bung made and
tie it in place next to the hole and you will always know where it is and that
you have the right size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soft wood
because it will swell and seal more effectively than anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyBGviACbyFEzX3VYQ8iNTexUjjDEK4bP3yykhaH0vKljkOkwoq-CzJT9jPawfCXwdQq3LS6Mebpm13RLorasNMRFoutVC7myfprN_VPux191Ff3aL1THo3Lzn2n_soutUc_eECeuml4/s1600/bung-and-outlet.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyBGviACbyFEzX3VYQ8iNTexUjjDEK4bP3yykhaH0vKljkOkwoq-CzJT9jPawfCXwdQq3LS6Mebpm13RLorasNMRFoutVC7myfprN_VPux191Ff3aL1THo3Lzn2n_soutUc_eECeuml4/s1600/bung-and-outlet.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyBGviACbyFEzX3VYQ8iNTexUjjDEK4bP3yykhaH0vKljkOkwoq-CzJT9jPawfCXwdQq3LS6Mebpm13RLorasNMRFoutVC7myfprN_VPux191Ff3aL1THo3Lzn2n_soutUc_eECeuml4/s320/bung-and-outlet.gif" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>When I came aboard I couldn’t find any soft
wood bungs let alone any tied in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was on my must do list and last week during routine maintenance of an
inlet pipe, the pipe sheered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately
the sea cock was closed but it doesn’t require much imagination . . . </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMsTx8-kwM61VFT6P5mQ7zbzFb8ucq-Yti3s51nbJj_iN7ZuX3IO-3bb4Mip3mLZxTO-usgvojWpi76gXGGBg__yTtpFs-CgeoXBeqKGaM25x0MK9HQePMJez21S3hlZYt5elHzhPaF4/s1600/in-situ-bung.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMsTx8-kwM61VFT6P5mQ7zbzFb8ucq-Yti3s51nbJj_iN7ZuX3IO-3bb4Mip3mLZxTO-usgvojWpi76gXGGBg__yTtpFs-CgeoXBeqKGaM25x0MK9HQePMJez21S3hlZYt5elHzhPaF4/s320/in-situ-bung.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
a bung: that's the wooden conical thing not the porridge</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Most
of us are used to the idea that we can dial 999 and have a paramedic with us
very quickly then medical emergency is not something we regularly plan for or
think about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times this year Swan
will be more than 20 hours from shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact even if she is only a few hours from harbour then it could still
be a long few hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again the regulatory
framework requires the carriage of certain medical stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are ordered through a local chemist who
is used to supplying boats of all type.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The medicines arrived shortly after I did, unsorted and in a big bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus far my main interaction with medical
matters on board has been to discard out of date medical stores and to note that
reorganisation was needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtUsefgcGB9FEGJF8thB4ThjNKLYL1XO9EndieJxIZ8y-PenHaeAYt_P9ldc-pFlkv5WmM-jYd8ZqlODOn37rtN25FObtuqo0qk93sm-yurKOrB7nnYjgEVL6JmsHq2KPECG4ojzx4t4/s1600/med-stores.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtUsefgcGB9FEGJF8thB4ThjNKLYL1XO9EndieJxIZ8y-PenHaeAYt_P9ldc-pFlkv5WmM-jYd8ZqlODOn37rtN25FObtuqo0qk93sm-yurKOrB7nnYjgEVL6JmsHq2KPECG4ojzx4t4/s320/med-stores.gif" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to be
able to tell someone to get the burns pack or the minor injuries 1<sup>st</sup>
aid without having to sort through the indigestion tablets and cough medicines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjja0J3Kn83tXWMs5vR9NPQtsaL4odbm_p3Ja-Vx3z5f9Z-6WjTD9Bz5ZML_teY1gpyLGaGpyqr0sYzQ9Uq5gPa3U1Ze3Gb8rQSLCIgWU0tIzXOQ6WmNV7Twq33x0zXxdiGdF7j_jRJL_A/s1600/med.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjja0J3Kn83tXWMs5vR9NPQtsaL4odbm_p3Ja-Vx3z5f9Z-6WjTD9Bz5ZML_teY1gpyLGaGpyqr0sYzQ9Uq5gPa3U1Ze3Gb8rQSLCIgWU0tIzXOQ6WmNV7Twq33x0zXxdiGdF7j_jRJL_A/s320/med.gif" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So I feel much more comfortable but there is still some work to do an boxing it up.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I want to close with two thoughts.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
first is that the Swan has always complied with her legal responsibilities to
carry medical stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So too did the majority
of our MPs when they claimed their expenses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We oft heard them say that their claims were within the rules and
legal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Equally we know that what they
did was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tax loop wholes might be
legal but we regale about transgression of a moral responsibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my moral responsibility with the medical
stores didn’t end with compliance with the regulations, it extends to being
able to do my absolute best for any injured person, whether it’s having
tweezers (which aren’t part of the legal requirement) to remove a splinter or
ready access to the flamazine which is. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So compliance is necessary but not sufficient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope that we won’t need the flamazine or the bungs and most people who
sail on this boat won’t ever know what it took to get them organised but I will
sleep a little easier and know that tomorrow morning when we slip I have done
my best to prepare for a medical (and other) emergency and not just fulfil a
legal requirement or hope that it will be OK but I also know that the sea and
life can never be made completely safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mLgHa48K2k36fjuV1RzgCkAr0lcld07ns_SzyYSgDXqH23Ra_uDMSqidX3NPqDFpILhgbjNkdsJPfup9o4ow_m4NEZ_sP-f0OGdz22hwz9mTy7ueQuIg20DuZaSb2s4jKv6LSiJPT0Y/s1600/bungs-and-med.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-19173120822032295812013-05-04T13:47:00.001-07:002013-05-04T13:47:11.087-07:00Lest I sound too grumpy . . <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> There are some pleasures to my day; like the fisherman who asked if I wanted some scallops?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhN3gyGvxVFTBgG4gaXJ2B3U6S-FUU9dsGhlfvZLdCAXXi_gC-zt7UyISUp4eWbSgNWbnK1Phyphenhyphennuri8LfzC_pjhdtR3nyjvDhPNZHYwsc9Wbh36HlM05xvKoY9ff_xbZlaj0e6eguFHg/s1600/some-compensations-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhN3gyGvxVFTBgG4gaXJ2B3U6S-FUU9dsGhlfvZLdCAXXi_gC-zt7UyISUp4eWbSgNWbnK1Phyphenhyphennuri8LfzC_pjhdtR3nyjvDhPNZHYwsc9Wbh36HlM05xvKoY9ff_xbZlaj0e6eguFHg/s320/some-compensations-1.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0t5PruT4tOKQcyYHFtE_UqSjepqjOohgYplatYHhatUaaERPJsWMu80o5WIn1btf4JWPjZ0hhNNvMA_Pp1rIWZxifv2_zjgCEdxOYxE7sbLGrhmAt7LCcXshC1VokZCyet_UD0UCB_4/s1600/some-compensations-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0t5PruT4tOKQcyYHFtE_UqSjepqjOohgYplatYHhatUaaERPJsWMu80o5WIn1btf4JWPjZ0hhNNvMA_Pp1rIWZxifv2_zjgCEdxOYxE7sbLGrhmAt7LCcXshC1VokZCyet_UD0UCB_4/s320/some-compensations-2.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-67640453736875612382013-05-04T13:45:00.001-07:002013-05-04T14:43:09.371-07:00Little steps make big steps<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Three recalls from previous posts:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Frustrating shopping trips with little obviously achieved and time eaten up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes a necessary evil and an essential precursor to success. <o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The little issue of the cutlery draw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Recovering Fred in a simulated MOB exercise. <o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now hold those thoughts – or go back and reread them?!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Today three little steps bore fruit; emergency torches
housed throughout the vessel, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gDibcZgn4tIyRlxF0WgdDl8Del8JGpCISLf3PYlXWFP6SzIGmC-buW1p_dGSmB2s1pbtYFi_Nx_wsVdvxDjKP-Nv3YzpUzsCstc37ELAFU2Jch_A68GLZpCWaic-bfrH_rcbOzey6-Q/s1600/emergency-torch.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gDibcZgn4tIyRlxF0WgdDl8Del8JGpCISLf3PYlXWFP6SzIGmC-buW1p_dGSmB2s1pbtYFi_Nx_wsVdvxDjKP-Nv3YzpUzsCstc37ELAFU2Jch_A68GLZpCWaic-bfrH_rcbOzey6-Q/s320/emergency-torch.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;">we also have a prototype boom crutch<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYC20N_mBUG3AVjTwmeC8s31MJlRUOwF2kPpifVUUfMZXMbujkDHDiNcAnkZq7t-fsAKydG3VNd-5PcW927xknhoB4xNYDf295ZZ1pMbcdbha3wZ6LX50S7uQFzRsNIu1agy6hISxQcc/s1600/boom-crutch-protype.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYC20N_mBUG3AVjTwmeC8s31MJlRUOwF2kPpifVUUfMZXMbujkDHDiNcAnkZq7t-fsAKydG3VNd-5PcW927xknhoB4xNYDf295ZZ1pMbcdbha3wZ6LX50S7uQFzRsNIu1agy6hISxQcc/s320/boom-crutch-protype.gif" width="212" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no idea how it will be received but
both Scott and I are delighted that it has reduced deck clutter and made
getting about much easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also think
it brings additional safety benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
hope that it won’t stumble against the “that’s not how we have done it before”
argument.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Just to be clear I completely
understand and support authenticity as a powerful argument in the preservation
of the vessel.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now for the third; spot the two differences:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaj4aAjUE1nX14bMzuP8OvdcqyLraxEXj6iBHLWdKiiYCeEG-Gg8zCKRsVVASGy-uiKhGo8mhV2s5u8GllwKQm86ourHIw1ex4DlNDqlj8SS5y5Wwen_ZCWAUlLuDrxBCRKv2io3nNuA/s1600/spot-the-difference-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaj4aAjUE1nX14bMzuP8OvdcqyLraxEXj6iBHLWdKiiYCeEG-Gg8zCKRsVVASGy-uiKhGo8mhV2s5u8GllwKQm86ourHIw1ex4DlNDqlj8SS5y5Wwen_ZCWAUlLuDrxBCRKv2io3nNuA/s320/spot-the-difference-2.gif" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-uUVD_EEaZJZcQGMecL5_FCh9GDImJwgZfmSfRmgBmrDYkUtCrZbXaeb0l6CJ9rjnOf2qY8ROQrfUogsIAqMTg6C1SqAsJQh9lks-Ng0VhjF7jioIN3_Qb3qAHu46s91I4fdZx4YsWc/s1600/spot-the-difference-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-uUVD_EEaZJZcQGMecL5_FCh9GDImJwgZfmSfRmgBmrDYkUtCrZbXaeb0l6CJ9rjnOf2qY8ROQrfUogsIAqMTg6C1SqAsJQh9lks-Ng0VhjF7jioIN3_Qb3qAHu46s91I4fdZx4YsWc/s320/spot-the-difference-1.gif" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Give up? OK, they are very small but here they are:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhzgMhZZyles9fLCkTYRVkaPd22BRiDtE-hGz1MYwCts2yXue4tjBz9euQIJMOI1SSfQLa25aqHefvMsBo5iyMDsV_oUTo4fyw4qwPI7gzCTB06YvxLnRUOT5coNNhhX4j6Hg0DIA880/s1600/R-clip-bolt.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhzgMhZZyles9fLCkTYRVkaPd22BRiDtE-hGz1MYwCts2yXue4tjBz9euQIJMOI1SSfQLa25aqHefvMsBo5iyMDsV_oUTo4fyw4qwPI7gzCTB06YvxLnRUOT5coNNhhX4j6Hg0DIA880/s320/R-clip-bolt.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Replacing the nuts and bolts with R-clips to hold the
stantion posts in their housing might seem like semantics and not worth two-man
days of shopping and work with grinders, punches, heavy hammers, socket sets
and some cursing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZIXmnmYGJJNSLOoAZ5EH-MYi2e65nSJOmWHNdpsW7xqRKJFdxE5aij4BgT4wukFYZ-fU_3CzFihOutv8jDRo-v8iuejVLcpy1Ca5WPvh-N-kt1hMVt1RiPTgbESe2IU5kodxAYgBOmg/s1600/line-bottle-screw.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZIXmnmYGJJNSLOoAZ5EH-MYi2e65nSJOmWHNdpsW7xqRKJFdxE5aij4BgT4wukFYZ-fU_3CzFihOutv8jDRo-v8iuejVLcpy1Ca5WPvh-N-kt1hMVt1RiPTgbESe2IU5kodxAYgBOmg/s320/line-bottle-screw.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">And why replace a
bespoke shiny rigging bottle screw with a lashing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, in an emergency we can now rapidly drop the guard rail
and stantion posts with a pull of a clip and the slash of a knife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFjdm6gzAvR_5Q6Yk_x0T_45pq9JBSAk0WzkvilzaNsRfn8HVkSQQJWMAGu2I2uTqjHup6sDNasby-Gi0Tm_UgpeySomNn28hCNnAFJKUuUuKFTgl9d3r00Ng-0Olurb0wVya1mRI9ZQ/s1600/lashing.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFjdm6gzAvR_5Q6Yk_x0T_45pq9JBSAk0WzkvilzaNsRfn8HVkSQQJWMAGu2I2uTqjHup6sDNasby-Gi0Tm_UgpeySomNn28hCNnAFJKUuUuKFTgl9d3r00Ng-0Olurb0wVya1mRI9ZQ/s320/lashing.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Quite useful to say, launch the life rafts or
recover a man over board. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So again it’s the little things that are important detail.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Now it’s back to work; I have also discovered that although
the fire pumps work, the hose fitting doesn’t connect properly to the pump. . .
. .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>probably a bath in paraffin will do
the trick, that’s the connector not me!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepdSL3240ZSiYO2GS3zNDbnzUOb8dsVcIlV4m9Y7LuYxXmv3RmDnCMXWhzFWJipMC76flNjvsgzd0RyUq8zRo1xlb7A50ylhnvx6AqpnyI1fInsvUq6xp7CfDAd8vWwkh5YeVX5Lfg3U/s1600/some-compensations-3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-90674541121205006902013-04-30T10:56:00.000-07:002013-04-30T10:56:00.513-07:00More Sailing<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Scott
and I had a satisfying week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
endless shopping (typically a 15 mile round trip) to secure the often minor but
essential items to complete a job, Friday saw a coming together of
endeavour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also saw the last minute
“crisis” when the engineer appeared with a water intake pipe in his hand with a
broken fitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately the seacock
closed and the vessel was not about to sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At a minor level it produced an inconvenience of no generator whilst
also bringing into sharp focus some rather more critical issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Fortunately
all came together in time for a weekend of staff training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately the weather Gods hadn’t read
the script and contrived to foil the intention of a weekend away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The result was another very enjoyable day sail followed by a good force
8 overnight blow from the west and then for some a day alongside for more
training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYltZRKCjap-VMDjcZiDJxPqluiOnBQjttb9oHdhs9oYzL2lo-7AbbvJmrkd7qmM9xXAU5eQ6PrevRw1fjn4KVTIavtEYv7b5k6mYU0BIuRCZ24OU0nYDsaqf90jGY3H81sErUS_htVXw/s1600/the-belly-of-the-main.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYltZRKCjap-VMDjcZiDJxPqluiOnBQjttb9oHdhs9oYzL2lo-7AbbvJmrkd7qmM9xXAU5eQ6PrevRw1fjn4KVTIavtEYv7b5k6mYU0BIuRCZ24OU0nYDsaqf90jGY3H81sErUS_htVXw/s320/the-belly-of-the-main.gif" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p>The main starts to draw</o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
volunteer sea staff come from an eclectic background and bring a wide array of
relevant skills and experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
have spent a life time at sea, although not necessarily under sail; it might be
fishing or in the merchant navy, perhaps with local coastal experience or vast ocean
voyaging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others have relevant shore
based experience, perhaps with the coastguard or similar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few are experienced yachtsman, including
one who has sailed his own boat to The Antarctic Peninsula, but they are the
minority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others are at various stages
of gaining RYA qualifications (as required by MCA regulations) but Swan is not
a yacht or even like one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes for a
diverse range of crew experiences and sometimes debate which reinforces the
importance of learning from each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It also poses a few challenges for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The most daunting is that as skipper, I have a responsibility to
“decide” and lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a very simple
issue; how to tie off a cleat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
a host of ways; too many to list here, all have their advocates and
advantages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again it’s a “small issue”
but the ship is fundamentally safer if everyone is using the same system, it
makes it far easier to see if something is wrong and at 0300 “on a dark and
stormy night” it might be very important that when you go forward to adjust a
line tied by someone else who is now off watch, you know exactly what you are
going to find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No escaping my
responsibility to define the method but far harder to achieve consensus to
enact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One
of our projects this week had been getting the inflatable tender ready for
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its included splicing lifting
strops (a lesson learned from Fred’s boating excursion) , testing the outboard,
making up a tender pack including spares, flares, tools, first aid and the
like) this gave us a first class opportunity to sail out of the harbour with
Nat (who is a photographer) and Scott in hot pursuit for the photo opportunity
of Swan under sail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also gave me
something to think about whilst sailing in close quarter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I admit to leaving the engine running but
point out that given my “baby skipper” status that is prudent rather than
cowardice.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYHTBQq1f90kt6j2VfzaOhC9KJUN6dXTh2N73_BEhYwg-8k5e0urnYMWoClR-PI7q_vk3XEDgEyh8EDCMi7wJg22jZ_mfS70Pfz-qRwBS9Rm0hFEep3Pmylcge0dULsRxeThn-HYfj0c/s1600/sailing-in-scalloway-harbour.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYHTBQq1f90kt6j2VfzaOhC9KJUN6dXTh2N73_BEhYwg-8k5e0urnYMWoClR-PI7q_vk3XEDgEyh8EDCMi7wJg22jZ_mfS70Pfz-qRwBS9Rm0hFEep3Pmylcge0dULsRxeThn-HYfj0c/s320/sailing-in-scalloway-harbour.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Recovering the inflatable
was not as smooth as I had hoped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d
miscalculated on a fundamental issue and forgotten how much harder this would be
underway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d also planned the recovery
in such a way that we couldn’t easily use the winch to assist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both were valuable lessons but I also had the
distinct impression that my mistakes were the subject of close scrutiny by the more
experienced members of the crew, particularly if I hadn’t supported their
particular preference in how to tie off a cleat!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Close
scrutiny of Google maps does not allow for easy access to our route but heading
north up the coast from Scalloway you will find Stromness Voe (named).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The voe to the east (unnamed on the map) is
Whitness Voe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a better feel switch
to the satellite image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Half way up its
length you will notice Kirk Skerry a rock that presents what is sometimes euphemistically
called “ a hazard to navigation”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Relax –
we missed it!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did however provide a
worthwhile mark to round and some sharp tacking practice to get back down the
Voe into a rising wind before returning to Scalloway and doubling the mooring
lines!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That evening there was a good
blow outside and a good blowout below. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAW8abxDSdJchH5C3JwgyzdyjGC9XVe6GsKg0nUoZ5vXh6upjR8nnBhvnXwkKPWQ91bthLMUEzOM2yzwo-60AzrdifHuBA7cMFkF1NAfqjrj1btYgY1dGbH012M8WgzAB5wG0FdubUu8o/s1600/salting-beach.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAW8abxDSdJchH5C3JwgyzdyjGC9XVe6GsKg0nUoZ5vXh6upjR8nnBhvnXwkKPWQ91bthLMUEzOM2yzwo-60AzrdifHuBA7cMFkF1NAfqjrj1btYgY1dGbH012M8WgzAB5wG0FdubUu8o/s320/salting-beach.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ruins at the entrance to WhitnessVoe. this beach was a salting where fish were landed, salted and dried</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDg3eOWf0EPZRNfrhaXE_SSSf8v7dLMjB3SlsS3yNuQqOVcoIRet1mFj7nxXI9m9XQwA_kk2WCPeQ6CaOfd_TV0HR4vV0YMY-T2lkEyGlhGPzlKyXMldqU9SkiXQI7pNaTfRD3l3BFH8U/s1600/follow-the-Bowsprit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDg3eOWf0EPZRNfrhaXE_SSSf8v7dLMjB3SlsS3yNuQqOVcoIRet1mFj7nxXI9m9XQwA_kk2WCPeQ6CaOfd_TV0HR4vV0YMY-T2lkEyGlhGPzlKyXMldqU9SkiXQI7pNaTfRD3l3BFH8U/s320/follow-the-Bowsprit.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<div align="center">
Following the Bowsprit up Whitness Voe</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse-zetcfB1zPW1y4AVrxvwK42YyGLVID_84uE8LldpQEtDG0tDXBNlYV3uGkD6SWcXL8OfwyJand_KOg7eC1fZ31S08LTIxdsNQ-x4chF7ONWP7r6_11a7Wplu20xjjM1pSYXmbPLLvc/s1600/mast-hoops-and-home.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse-zetcfB1zPW1y4AVrxvwK42YyGLVID_84uE8LldpQEtDG0tDXBNlYV3uGkD6SWcXL8OfwyJand_KOg7eC1fZ31S08LTIxdsNQ-x4chF7ONWP7r6_11a7Wplu20xjjM1pSYXmbPLLvc/s320/mast-hoops-and-home.gif" width="212" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">looking up the mast hoops, a traditional way of climbing aloft </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
decision not to sail on Sunday might be rega</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">rded as over cautious but on
balance I think it was the right call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two
of my previously articulated maxims are “always have contingency” and “listen
to your doubts”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Successful risk
management is in part about weighing risks and benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swan and I are still in our work up phase for
the season and I know that not everything is yet as it should be, that includes
my state of preparedness and hers; better to conduct alongside training then
court an epic . . . .!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
on Sunday we focused on some rope and knot work as well as some deck work and
sequencing of bowsprit and jib drills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It
was an interesting weekend, I made some mistakes but learned much more – and not
just about sailing and weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYltZRKCjap-VMDjcZiDJxPqluiOnBQjttb9oHdhs9oYzL2lo-7AbbvJmrkd7qmM9xXAU5eQ6PrevRw1fjn4KVTIavtEYv7b5k6mYU0BIuRCZ24OU0nYDsaqf90jGY3H81sErUS_htVXw/s1600/the-belly-of-the-main.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
Heading for home on Saturday evening ahead of the closing gale<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse-zetcfB1zPW1y4AVrxvwK42YyGLVID_84uE8LldpQEtDG0tDXBNlYV3uGkD6SWcXL8OfwyJand_KOg7eC1fZ31S08LTIxdsNQ-x4chF7ONWP7r6_11a7Wplu20xjjM1pSYXmbPLLvc/s1600/mast-hoops-and-home.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAH_tJqWtSqTiA-1KrnU4mKzz8CHr-U61KOwWqZRLB2Cq0T2ucnphqxutXdIISu19D6lQwYUmWhbEXzSK81oiiYo76GkZz6M_RutnNLorPYJn_ZTwxBsnmGdpETa5ILqiO35sJwCzuxss/s1600/evening-home.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAH_tJqWtSqTiA-1KrnU4mKzz8CHr-U61KOwWqZRLB2Cq0T2ucnphqxutXdIISu19D6lQwYUmWhbEXzSK81oiiYo76GkZz6M_RutnNLorPYJn_ZTwxBsnmGdpETa5ILqiO35sJwCzuxss/s320/evening-home.gif" width="212" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAW8abxDSdJchH5C3JwgyzdyjGC9XVe6GsKg0nUoZ5vXh6upjR8nnBhvnXwkKPWQ91bthLMUEzOM2yzwo-60AzrdifHuBA7cMFkF1NAfqjrj1btYgY1dGbH012M8WgzAB5wG0FdubUu8o/s1600/salting-beach.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-91082806743554357892013-04-26T15:22:00.000-07:002013-04-29T13:07:20.195-07:00Sailing<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been forced into action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Saturday we went for a day sail, and it
ought to be easy to write an account of it but I am suffering from writers
block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until a month ago I was a
recreational sailor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sailed for
pleasure and I suited myself, my decisions, my choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And whilst I believe I am a responsible
sailor, I was responsible to no one but myself and my crew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could simply write about the pleasures of
sailing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not so now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a commercial seafarer, I am subject to and
must comply with a statutory regulatory framework.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(E-mail me for a full list of the appropriate
documents!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fundamentally there is
little change, if you have been making responsible decisions at sea, then
recreational or commercial should make no difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However it is different; Saturday’s sail was
about volunteer sea staff training.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sea staff are volunteers and give off their time and
experience for a variety of reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
common one is that like me they enjoy sailing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However their volunteering must encompass more than recreational
sailing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Avoiding a detailed discussion
on the legal framework, and cutting to the chase, as well as enjoying
themselves, they also need to be trained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A great deal of discretion exists with regard to the latter but there
are some red lines, which I am required to comply with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know that anyone was expecting to
enjoy a lazy day sail, but if they were, then they would have been
disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course the holy grail
is to keep it fun, thus encouraging them to return, whilst at the same time
delivering the “documented and structured” training required by the MCA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope I got the balance right; proof will
be as to how many turn up next weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alongside we did four separate exercises or lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Firstly, we looked at the anchor and
windless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The windless is a manual hand
turned one and although not normally thought of as a safety system, it can be
and in any case needs to be handled safely as heavy chain, cogs and fingers can
be an undesirable mixture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going below
for coffee, we embarked on the first part of a lesson on mainmast running
rigging which included how the various halyards and hardners interact and tie
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it was back on deck for a
practical familiarisation, including identification of ropes, overhauling
tackles and by way of confirmation “teaching” the same to each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bythen it was time for a warm up, so down to
the engine room to run through engine checks and starting. The engine is
not normally thought of a s a safety system but it is not hard to imagine a
scenario when it is precisely that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
now came to the infamous MOB or man over board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">MOB is an interesting example of how we manage or mismanage perceptions
of risk and safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have developed some
firm and contentious views on the same. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Trust has an unambiguous policy of always wearing life jackets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an employee, I comply and as skipper, I
set an example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My views on life jackets
are not always understood and sometimes I sense that people perceive me as being
“pig (or big) headed” on the subject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last
year I was on a boat were the skipper insisted on us all wearing life jackets
but had no pump or bailer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frankly on
that particular occasion, I’d have swapped a lifejacket for a bailer or pump,
or even some engine tools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any of the
last three, would have made for far greater safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When challenged, the skipper insisted that
because we wearing life jackets we would be safe even if the boat flooded or
the engine failed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a classic example
of feeling or looking safe but actually having utterly misunderstood the
balance of risk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would have had to try
very hard to accidently fall overboard, but an open boat without a means of shifting
water is an accident waiting to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The engine was our only means of propulsion and we would have been
literally “up the creek without a paddle” if it had failed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my point is that an over emphasis on
safety being achieved by wearing a life jacket can be a barrier to a balanced
risk analysis and paradoxically life jackets detract from rather than enhance safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> An example being those whose </span>thinking runs "if I wear a life
jacket then I am safe because have adopted a safe practice" In fact they have completely misunderstood the reality of
MOB.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meet Fred. . . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrKZ0CqrprmK1ib-DdQzl_C9srBOpwPlu99w0wM__0TYPHzAMN4LHsNrhPVYMbn_NDWH3yn4G5-XobbxcTkoZlZqKGDor977BbNrwEJgPpJ8T7JEnShSFI1SOSyaPq01smeUKMQhX1tI/s1600/fred.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrKZ0CqrprmK1ib-DdQzl_C9srBOpwPlu99w0wM__0TYPHzAMN4LHsNrhPVYMbn_NDWH3yn4G5-XobbxcTkoZlZqKGDor977BbNrwEJgPpJ8T7JEnShSFI1SOSyaPq01smeUKMQhX1tI/s320/fred.gif" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fred is Scalloway harbour authority’s man sizes/weight floating dummy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if a real life Fred was conscious when I managed to successfully bring the 65 ton Swan to a halt next to him, the chances are that he would be incapable of scrambling up a boarding ladder or net let alone grabbing a rope and securing it to himself so that we could haul him aboard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So with Fred lying in the inflatable to simulate him floating on his back, we considered how exactly we could attempt to get him back on board over Swan’s four foot freeboard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many aspects of my former career that I cannot unequivocally defend or justify but one area in which the Army typically excel is realistic training that emphasises bridging a theoretical or classroom skill with the reality of practical application and rehearsal in a near realistic environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Using this technique, w</span>e spent a most interesting and informative hour discussing and enacting ways of getting to Fred and lifting him to the deck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I for one learnd a lot and it has allowed me to develop some ideas and also to make some recommendations to the operating committee on additional equipment and adaption of current equipment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a bowl of reviving soup, it was finally off for a sail
and a chance to put those mainmast running rigging ropes to work!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m now becoming more comfortable with
Scalloway harbour entrance and the channels that lead out past rocks and fish
farms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having cleared the entrance we
hoisted the foresail, and tensioned the luff with the hardner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still under engine we ran on a broad reach
for a few miles before gybing and hoisting the main.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0ajCBxuqIOE5MNj-hIv3qdBo30Bs1-Qs-6x5ozAQzIeipX5k-3VGstzwjWmTsCnuqkBd4fgbZKoB_CwF6fhhkgiROdPTkjyFedbwPToCDyJCY3D7QSpfdKDuelHlWup4VuW6tCqIZCQ/s1600/foresail-drawing.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0ajCBxuqIOE5MNj-hIv3qdBo30Bs1-Qs-6x5ozAQzIeipX5k-3VGstzwjWmTsCnuqkBd4fgbZKoB_CwF6fhhkgiROdPTkjyFedbwPToCDyJCY3D7QSpfdKDuelHlWup4VuW6tCqIZCQ/s320/foresail-drawing.gif" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">The foresail drawing</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The main is an impressive sail and her gear
is heavy and over gauge but its all good for the “full upper body work out” as
teams sweat the peak and throat to raise the gaff and sail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a far cry from the convenience of winches
on modern yachts and whilst it can be viewed as crude and backbreaking work, it
is also a tribute to a forbearers’ ingenuity that they devised a system that
allowed a few men to hoist aloft over a ton of gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now because this post is meant to be about
sailing I shall desist on elaborating on two thoughts about “frames of reference”
and sea shanties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> . . . but watch this space! </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHWcqyLMpAKD3Ai2xx7jDihy1BTXh7L-t8r0wMgag_WPWOYUVhgCCrC10TOdAN5vEVWYiKtOQNlUHdDnhnjGF0Cfme8zljkQjXICz0bafvQGAqcvcilILGgPM6P7eeSl_sH4DzMOOqNw/s1600/LK243.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHWcqyLMpAKD3Ai2xx7jDihy1BTXh7L-t8r0wMgag_WPWOYUVhgCCrC10TOdAN5vEVWYiKtOQNlUHdDnhnjGF0Cfme8zljkQjXICz0bafvQGAqcvcilILGgPM6P7eeSl_sH4DzMOOqNw/s320/LK243.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A small part of the Main Showing Swan's fishing registration</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the main hoisted we were final able to kill the “iron
topsail” as the engine is sometimes called and enjoy some quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the crew had the opportunity to helm
and we spent an all too short time tacking and gybing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbPOqrLc0HXvJ2usofAdFDIjABbuX2FOj942Re4f6Q9XsBj65da3XHh-l0Nh8r3iUyFNIrl_qWtrKkes2WKmbWlyAs00LPwQe6X7QujGaejTnCLmoPrH_p-Hs5CbbfhseKm3Eems0zcM/s1600/on-the-wheel.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbPOqrLc0HXvJ2usofAdFDIjABbuX2FOj942Re4f6Q9XsBj65da3XHh-l0Nh8r3iUyFNIrl_qWtrKkes2WKmbWlyAs00LPwQe6X7QujGaejTnCLmoPrH_p-Hs5CbbfhseKm3Eems0zcM/s320/on-the-wheel.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The helm committee</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed this but as a new skipper and very conscious
of my inexperience and responsibility it was not relaxing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still learning about the Swan and
navigation takes a goodly proportion of my time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All too soon it was time to drop sail and
return to the quayside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind ensured
it was my most difficult “park” if you are not nautical or “lay alongside” if
you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It actually involved dropping a
crewman ashore on an easier (leeward) berth and as he walked around to our
berth, I came off and onto our windward berth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Scott both assisted me greatly and then congratulated me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m reminded of an old army adage that you
can conceal your incompetence from your superiors far more easily than from
your subordinates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scott’s praise is
high praise indeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that it is one
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is stepping up fantastically and
his ability to instruct and organise novice crew is growing rapidly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfvxuhuIZ3FGRDFizkxouxwrvjkVDdgt7c7QTFXubkUNur42TYNTQWSTpSIaj_4MbnLllWGge91k6IlwIGOW3hEM528xWDJzQ0w2sh39PowFWHzm8n4EUsQQNyUitg04vZko7dBy66PQ/s1600/sail-handling.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfvxuhuIZ3FGRDFizkxouxwrvjkVDdgt7c7QTFXubkUNur42TYNTQWSTpSIaj_4MbnLllWGge91k6IlwIGOW3hEM528xWDJzQ0w2sh39PowFWHzm8n4EUsQQNyUitg04vZko7dBy66PQ/s320/sail-handling.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sail Handling. Note Nat, one of his roles is to make me look like a wimp</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I really hope (and believe) that people will return next
weekend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sensed that everyone learnt
something and felt that their time had been spent beneficially.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no reason that learning should be restricted
to an activity for the young and an important lesson in seamanship and life is
to recognise who little you know and to do something about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-34176379054698380972013-04-19T09:19:00.003-07:002013-04-29T12:51:19.956-07:00Sometimes it's the little things . . . <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know I concluded my last blog with the promise that the
next would be about sailing and that this one isn’t but please look on it as an
extra?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think that there are some top level issues to be evolved
in conjunction with the Trustees and operations committee but one of my more
unpopular decisions to date has been to change the cutlery storage drawer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m told such apparently minor decisions can
in different circumstances be a prelude to divorce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What was originally the fish hold is the principle enclosure
below decks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been converted into a
multifunctional area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It houses the
dining table (see below left), which doubles as a recreational and briefing area, it’s a
dormitory for up to eight people it’s a through way to the galley and forepeak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of which are vital functions which add to
the efficiency of the ship and comfort of the crew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same area also houses safety equipment
and the navigation chart table, along with a host of electronic aids (see below right) that I am
starting to understand (and helpfully are now working and contributing to my
understanding of what they are meant to do!!) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So a lot going on in a relatively small space
and all competing for their requirements and priority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1eghvK4oFKKRYiHqQTDEG8Am7xuWEjje8oXP14Uv4IvZw2sKB9evyN1YrmPn0G1OitwCpvOSgPFs4Vh1UeSMa_E5RmbS7rxafKw1gl-ncmICXIkc_QKmKL7y1eN1NHsoKmqaP54I_-E/s1600/DSC_0015-blog.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1eghvK4oFKKRYiHqQTDEG8Am7xuWEjje8oXP14Uv4IvZw2sKB9evyN1YrmPn0G1OitwCpvOSgPFs4Vh1UeSMa_E5RmbS7rxafKw1gl-ncmICXIkc_QKmKL7y1eN1NHsoKmqaP54I_-E/s320/DSC_0015-blog.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The table has a central, top accessed stowage drawer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This used to house charts but suffered from
the obvious disadvantage that every time someone spilt their coffee or tomato
ketchup – a not infrequent occurrence - the charts suffered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My predecessor improved the situation by a
drawer under the chart table to house the charts; a major improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cutlery lived in the drawer adjacent to the
chart table (the chart drawer is the right hand one and the cutlery the one to its left).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is undoubtedly
convenient for table laying or grabbing the forgotten spoon needed to serve the
meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My decision to reinvigorate such things as a fault and
damage log, an accident and near miss register and other, as I would contend,
priority documentation has yet to be fully enacted but I do need an easily accessible
place to house them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I have decided
to rehouse the cutlery in the table stowage and freed up the drawer by the chart
table for this purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I
understand that none of this is a priority if you are not overly concerned with
record keeping, but need to grab a teaspoon when you need it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Steven Covey urges us to “put first things first”; it’s the
third of his “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it was Rudolph Giuliani who advocates
“organise around a purpose” (and as an side made an early decision as mayor of
New York to find money from the City budget to buy filing cabinets for the
department of child protection so that they could file their case work and
start to deliver their core responsibility of protecting children.) So whilst I
understand why others might have a different perspective; I am also clear where
the skipper’s priority and prime responsibility lies. Where the cutlery lives is not my priority, what I really care about is ease of access to the higher priority documentation and record keeping log books and I am lucky that by
long established tradition, the skipper has the last word!! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my former career I was luck enough when a young captain
commanding the mortar platoon to have as my second in command an outstanding
man and Regimental character, WO2 Pete “Lofty” Woodcock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learnt a lot from Lofty (and regret having
lost touch); he made a life-long impression on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When faced with an unpopular decision, I
would sometimes be (over)concerned about the impact on my soldiers, Lofty used
to laugh and say “Sir, sod the blokes, they don’t write our annual
reports”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Just to avoid
misunderstanding Lofty was an outstanding soldier and leader who cared deeply
for his soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went on to become a
Regimental Sergeant Major and was awarded an MBE.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What Lofty meant was that sometimes as a
commander you aren’t there to be popular but you are there to provide
leadership and sometimes that is a lonely place where you can’t please everyone
or court popularity, you have to do the right thing not the easy thing and if
that makes you unpopular that’s unfortunate, try to take people with you; explain
your decision as necessary but do the right thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now if you are wondering about my views on
the fridge that sits on the navigation table, then we probably share the same
paradigm but evolution not revolution and one step at a time with some easy
wins before moving on to bigger battles!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So we now have a small block and tackle to raise the
admittedly inconveniently heavy table drawer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It will ease the chore of reaching for a tea spoon and act as a teaching
aid and demonstration for the younger children when we start our education
programme with the schools.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In case that’s all a bit too philosophical, here is a photographic
record of Scott and me painting the anchor chain and then Stockholm tarring the
locker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was horrified to discover that
we didn’t have a chipping hammer on board to prepare the metal work around the locker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now you might not know that the first present
my father bought my mother was her own chipping hammer so that she could work
on his houseboat!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scott, you just don’t
know how special you are to me!! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8BXTUnpwe12vNcdOCow7v92k5UuG1vRwxDRG5fR5Jw3YaKuzP1EGPlr8RhNqJjRC_bS2JGcabaffnMUSxc8CTmUN8uIJYIjUVHqF2L_H5YbYDEPhv6-UxMbU_VZYHkY6Tm0Kno5Ug3s/s1600/DSC_0002-blog.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8BXTUnpwe12vNcdOCow7v92k5UuG1vRwxDRG5fR5Jw3YaKuzP1EGPlr8RhNqJjRC_bS2JGcabaffnMUSxc8CTmUN8uIJYIjUVHqF2L_H5YbYDEPhv6-UxMbU_VZYHkY6Tm0Kno5Ug3s/s320/DSC_0002-blog.gif" width="212" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>Scott Paainting the anchor chain</o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_2TrLarxRRQ3Ou0ipGyLSJO-k-V-Gt7zTP7ESZtfNFaUP9Hh_lkodPFioCATZBz0r9kXpCzZypRprvOIn3c4Ec9ivbyaAz1W5oy79U5cWjY0DgmtZmtceUepL44mKjQI1oDr0Hn9Qm8/s1600/DSC_0006-blog.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_2TrLarxRRQ3Ou0ipGyLSJO-k-V-Gt7zTP7ESZtfNFaUP9Hh_lkodPFioCATZBz0r9kXpCzZypRprvOIn3c4Ec9ivbyaAz1W5oy79U5cWjY0DgmtZmtceUepL44mKjQI1oDr0Hn9Qm8/s320/DSC_0006-blog.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chipping hammer at work in the anchor locker</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXmtw_bqzrBeaRJmXuGGo0BCFCM_x5ll2NU17cAui0Cl4VjrIXU-u6DoDcblFNBUMssV3hV5BmVdDfLUQkNF6jzmusa1PZIeiSDOBmQzgr4RAryzeQ3YPiDg7oDFFvWRwT7efSRa3lB0/s1600/DSC_0010-save.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXmtw_bqzrBeaRJmXuGGo0BCFCM_x5ll2NU17cAui0Cl4VjrIXU-u6DoDcblFNBUMssV3hV5BmVdDfLUQkNF6jzmusa1PZIeiSDOBmQzgr4RAryzeQ3YPiDg7oDFFvWRwT7efSRa3lB0/s320/DSC_0010-save.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ah Stockholm Tar</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-60409434657998664622013-04-16T14:27:00.002-07:002013-04-16T14:27:42.586-07:00Settling in
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Firstly
an apology, I don’t have unlimited access to the “net” and posting is often
difficult – I hope it will improve but if you are following, I hope service
will improve. I am now settling in and getting used to Shetland Life. I am
still getting use to the local dialect and the locals do sometimes have to fall back on
sign language.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmn192E3IRWaSyFwc8hncARhBfjHFXv0zU_IXiUMrA6BILEdcjvRKQo273W3f3U21iRESx3ruzqybGt-CR-zbrhJXAar6W6LA0IEuqxaiq5b2l200YBM9Xjdq1hWoC23Wb2plK5ntSac/s1600/DSC_0148-blog.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmn192E3IRWaSyFwc8hncARhBfjHFXv0zU_IXiUMrA6BILEdcjvRKQo273W3f3U21iRESx3ruzqybGt-CR-zbrhJXAar6W6LA0IEuqxaiq5b2l200YBM9Xjdq1hWoC23Wb2plK5ntSac/s320/DSC_0148-blog.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Communication 1: Shetland for two</div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsNLsW46Ebe4yncCZ4uFd6xrxIxPZI6EUCok5CW5l53igTsyGYHB0m3Wfg_tPRGJB0WXeqGHTPEuEtxPsYQDD05S6Zto_dDHHV9mbiVSsXZ84036nnPpytxQ3koFvNsO6udTuY4aVZxE/s1600/DSC_0150-web.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsNLsW46Ebe4yncCZ4uFd6xrxIxPZI6EUCok5CW5l53igTsyGYHB0m3Wfg_tPRGJB0WXeqGHTPEuEtxPsYQDD05S6Zto_dDHHV9mbiVSsXZ84036nnPpytxQ3koFvNsO6udTuY4aVZxE/s320/DSC_0150-web.gif" width="212" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaqpdfD30s5tIeR0xydhIaBzV3aztJaxT6AGVlUgy3kstyOidbjN3m1c7RlzgJL2i4xkQ9O3xID78sfsmYb-tbyMGP_-QTaXoOACtzKfDNFlWUlxs18DAOBZoG_Ju2t2fIoCNOvjZCHI/s1600/DSC_0150-web.gif"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Communication
2: Shetland for happy</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Which might be a good moment to
introduce Scott. Fortunately I have landed on my feet with the bosun. Like me
he is newly appointed but unlike me he has sailed on swan before and he is a Shetlander.
I was spoilt by my first bosun, Si “Bosun”or Holman who taught me so much and
with whom I sailed over 10000 miles. My new bosun, Scott has a hard act to
follow but has an appetite for learning and a work ethic that bodes well. If I
can pass on half of what Si Bosun taught me then I hope I will have given Scott
as good a start as anyone could have done. I ought also to add that I am
learning lots from him. The nonchalant way in which he brings Swan along side
compares very favourably with my efforts. It’s a very good example of one of
Kurt Hahn’s contentions; that more effective learning happens when “staff” and
“students” embrace the opportunity to learn from each other, rather than the
oft seen practise that staff teach students. Scott and I have started work and
are already learning from each other as we start to gain understanding of each
other and the task ahead. At times it all seems rather daunting but little by
little we are making progress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I’m also experiencing the adage
of all four seasons in a day. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1AEon0cGCCOGU4DmatwrAukamOICgKiTirDy6eKOed9OFOaQjAJGRj3vJl8ZfFVzywPA52UKd6r75TidZOo4gT0VlaVWRoAEMvtfnBaUGrY9VY1DD9c_QHJM1DTuZsDeBvXRqnisCEk/s1600/DSC_0137web.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1AEon0cGCCOGU4DmatwrAukamOICgKiTirDy6eKOed9OFOaQjAJGRj3vJl8ZfFVzywPA52UKd6r75TidZOo4gT0VlaVWRoAEMvtfnBaUGrY9VY1DD9c_QHJM1DTuZsDeBvXRqnisCEk/s320/DSC_0137web.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhly42S8yRRdGs7OO_mIiCsa2DhC1RQtcecgC31ulJCqrgssGXpai0jr7vb5wEMlXwbZ8QG0rMus9ITtnjBF8toSv0EOOOekIVTTMMTSdL33jXyI8vpQowT7mP0K9ACYDDOr_zbD1_7N9E/s1600/DSC_0141blog.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhly42S8yRRdGs7OO_mIiCsa2DhC1RQtcecgC31ulJCqrgssGXpai0jr7vb5wEMlXwbZ8QG0rMus9ITtnjBF8toSv0EOOOekIVTTMMTSdL33jXyI8vpQowT7mP0K9ACYDDOr_zbD1_7N9E/s320/DSC_0141blog.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It's hard
to get a photograph of the wind but after doubling up the lines, Force 8 has
rocked me gently to sleep! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">On the
work front we have been rigging the boat and working through the seemingly
never ending job list. Not only are these preparing the Swan but they are also
preparing me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">All boats
are living things. My little boat Hope is simplicity as compared to Swan's complexity. On deck
she is much like Hope. I understand gaff rigged boat and Swan is a scaled up
version. Sailing Swan is relatively straight forward, understanding everything else is mind boggling complex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her Boom is a telegraph pole and perhaps 5 times the diameter of
Hope’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope’s toping lift is a simple
whip with a sheave through the mast.(The toping lift is one of the ropes -part
of the running rigging. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the one
that lifts and supports the aft end of the boom (that’s the long spar (pole) at
the foot of the mainsail.) Even with a 4:1 tackle, raising Swan’s boom is the hardest lift
aboard but, it is just a toping lift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
same can be said of almost any other part of the rigging or sails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Hope the most complicated electrical
circuitry is a torch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swan has a 9.5 KW
generator and a complexity of electronics that leaves me feeling hopelessly
inadequate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not helped by the absence of a systems
book that describes this complexity, not just the power generation and
distribution, but the array of systems that then run from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then there is the plumbing, fresh water,
sea water, heads, showers, cooling systems, bilge pumps to empty water from the
ship, firefighting systems to put water into the ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are safety systems from gas alarms to
automatically launching and inflating life rafts, and much, much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still don’t yet understand how these all
work, let alone how to get the best from them or even maintain them. Sailing
Swan is the easy part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Preparing to take
command and run her safely is the hard part. I am reminded of the truth of the
adage that “failure to prepare is preparing to fail”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I have now enjoyed a few short sails on Swan.
I had to pinch myself repeatedly particularly during the first. As well as
being fantastic, there was a sense of unreality and nervous apprehension. I
started with an apology and I will finish with one. Next time we sail, I’ll get
my camera out!!! And next time I post, I'll tell you about sailing!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-4216100155686589622013-04-08T13:37:00.000-07:002013-04-08T13:37:49.573-07:00Arrival – The same or Different
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The overnight ferry from Aberdeen is the last stage of the
journey north.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the fact that I
am travelling from one part of the UK to another, there is a distinctly
different feel – a sense of finality - to boarding a ferry and heading to a
group of Islands some 100 miles north of the UK mainland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mainland has a specific meaning here in
Shetland – it refers to the main Island of Shetland and has nothing to do with
GB or even Scotland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqelEt7mgjQB86Sny5BqmSQAh7bcvTPc-J3i4Hav-VvR1HUxjJB7QXisA-eP9PcemLypNh4kh4OoBEObWFrS-DtdYQ33_n5OlN9qXCalA-oH19LoBvs8W7shX_fUUmUl1fQzvIc6mZDMY/s1600/DSC--a-fellow-traveller.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqelEt7mgjQB86Sny5BqmSQAh7bcvTPc-J3i4Hav-VvR1HUxjJB7QXisA-eP9PcemLypNh4kh4OoBEObWFrS-DtdYQ33_n5OlN9qXCalA-oH19LoBvs8W7shX_fUUmUl1fQzvIc6mZDMY/s320/DSC--a-fellow-traveller.gif" width="236" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Fellow Traveller</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bagage for six months</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXGCzb_a2sDkVpfYjz5nrHDK2PKKsIhfsz0RQyLVvwcKLhp5UYmU0nnWwOb2LZTLzUmahiqZMdk2px4ekScZcHvZzMtDqG7BomGffJLfM8p4hQ9sjXui8N6P6Ah-ZMWtx5gyhynRppNg/s1600/DSC_0124a.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXGCzb_a2sDkVpfYjz5nrHDK2PKKsIhfsz0RQyLVvwcKLhp5UYmU0nnWwOb2LZTLzUmahiqZMdk2px4ekScZcHvZzMtDqG7BomGffJLfM8p4hQ9sjXui8N6P6Ah-ZMWtx5gyhynRppNg/s320/DSC_0124a.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a palpable sense of identity in Shetland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a start there is the very strong Viking
(and earlier) heritage but even today there are strong cultural links with
Norway and the Nordic countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last
year the Scalloway museum was opened by the Prime Minister – the Norwegian
Prime Minister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No part of Shetland is
further than 3 miles from the sea and the sea affects everyone’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Islands and islanders develop distinctive
attitudes defined by the sea as their boundary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Within which there is a curious mix of the same as the rest of the UK
and yet there are pronounced differences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whenever we view something as being the same or different
its important to understand “as compared to what”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often we don’t make this specific and thus
the implied comparison often leaves ambiguity as to what we are comparing with
what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its back to perspectives and
whether we chose to see similarities or differences as compared to what . .
.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is sometimes helpful to make our
comparisons more useful by introducing a specific frame of reference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it is as meaningless to describe yourself
as financially rich as it is poor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Describing
yourself as financially poor as compared to say Richard Branson is as valid as
describing yourself as financially rich as compared to an unemployed homeless
person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both are true but both engender
different feelings and attitudes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
aspiration is to make money then the former might spur you on but if you want
to count your blessings then the later might make you grateful for what you
have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes people say to me what
bad luck it was to need hip replacements but I usually retort how fortunate I
am to live in a time when, and a place where, something can be done about
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I vividly remember struggling to do
a group exercise at Headley Court and was on the point of giving up in
frustration until I noticed the soldier 2 ranks in front of me completing the
exercise on artificial legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave
myself a severe talking to!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8KOtTnHbSPy6UBT94pQI4_3gcTdgQvPMuw8MrF3FccoElayqXWqHUnXLaE3qAz8UoZ_6ZKdYmG11Hfta5n1NUbFZLJVAKpBuoMUET-rib9EVLv4_StAu47NXzxmFiTLB-_xFUXq78_g/s1600/DSC_Lerwick-waterfront.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8KOtTnHbSPy6UBT94pQI4_3gcTdgQvPMuw8MrF3FccoElayqXWqHUnXLaE3qAz8UoZ_6ZKdYmG11Hfta5n1NUbFZLJVAKpBuoMUET-rib9EVLv4_StAu47NXzxmFiTLB-_xFUXq78_g/s320/DSC_Lerwick-waterfront.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lerwick Waterfront</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have never arrived in Port Stanley by sea but the sea
front and feel of Lerwick is akin to Port Stanley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(A description of minimal use to most
people!) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is the frontier feeling
of an isolated community; there is the dominance of the waterfront and port,
with ships and docks being the life blood of the islands, not just in immediate
employment and wealth but also in the gateway for all that enters or
leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lerwick combines an old town
under the guns of Fort Charlotte with a modern and sprawling dock where fish
are landed and processed, oils support vessels recoup and reequip and ferries
come and go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon it will be my home but
for now it’s Scalloway where I have taken up residence on board Swan. so here she is:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQql-3Yg5rK41cAS5hW1Md4gq6MXPDD5iZ64dhKwVyu9NQ5C_XQVAY2EziQznjJQ71hONHki21yYOM9GHHUCKAmETthnwpV_inmZqepXl_0MIjdT8QN9zCENNfEliXp_fhh_RmNCMBJU/s1600/DSC_my-new-home.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQql-3Yg5rK41cAS5hW1Md4gq6MXPDD5iZ64dhKwVyu9NQ5C_XQVAY2EziQznjJQ71hONHki21yYOM9GHHUCKAmETthnwpV_inmZqepXl_0MIjdT8QN9zCENNfEliXp_fhh_RmNCMBJU/s320/DSC_my-new-home.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>Swan LK243 my new home. . . </o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>The view from the front door (main hatch)</o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn7CikgmN6M_8X-zaaeTUHbzB3q_la_7wvGdViXk1bBfVI6M4fThsCIOb2YhjyfbBDLyPsjZ2ZTbOz_sb_OEnzxCzJl2sbroijqFysQDHYTUL45polRt3D6aStlCE2RlDSNSPAiWYeis/s1600/DSC_view-from-hatch.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn7CikgmN6M_8X-zaaeTUHbzB3q_la_7wvGdViXk1bBfVI6M4fThsCIOb2YhjyfbBDLyPsjZ2ZTbOz_sb_OEnzxCzJl2sbroijqFysQDHYTUL45polRt3D6aStlCE2RlDSNSPAiWYeis/s320/DSC_view-from-hatch.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-21896718151172927412013-04-02T04:32:00.002-07:002013-04-02T09:13:29.526-07:00Slaget på Reden
<br />
Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Copenhagen. That's the one where
Nelson having been ordered by the Commander in Chief, Admiral Sir Hyde Parker,
to break off the action, is reputed to have raised his telescope to his blind
eye and said "I see no signal". Like all good stories it has suffered
from some myth making and probably didn't happen quite like that. But this is
not a history lesson so let's stick with this popular version.<o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
It does raise some interesting questions which I am not going to delve into
to deeply today but here are two to be going on with: <o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
·Who is and where is the best place to make decisions? <o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
·When is it right to break a rule or disobey an instruction? <o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
I find these questions and ones that flow from them a very interesting area.
It leads to considerations of delegation, accountability, responsibility, risk
taking, training and development and much more. I fully expect to return these
maters over the summer. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Now back to Hyde Parker. It’s interesting to note how his problem differed
from yours in interpreting the "old woman/young girl" illusion. (blog
1) You had all the facts. <br />
<br />
Hyde Parker had a different problem. He had an incomplete picture and was
missing essential facts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nelson had
deliberately chosen to sail through a shallow, narrow unbuoyed channel in order
to create surprise. Parker could see that 3 (out of 12) British capital ships
had run aground. Beyond that was the "fog of war". Its not perhaps surprising
that with a quarter of the British ships effectively out of action, he should
be concerned about what was happening. From his perspective, withdrawing might
be a very reasonable or even best course of action. Nelson had a different
perspective, he also knew that a quarter of his ships had run aground but he
was able to do something else that Parker couldn't. Parker had to rely on
visual information (backed up with some audio information). Nelson had both
these but critically he was also able to "feel" the battle. Because
he was there, he could sense things that Parker simply couldn't. It’s surprising
but undeniable how a "sense" for what is happening around you can
effect judgement and decision making. The ability to "feel” what is going
on relies on at least two things; firstly being in the right place and secondly
experienced practiced judgement.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
"The fog of war" is often taken to refer to the obscured vision
and noise of battle and thus a unique condition of the battlefield. In my view
it runs deeper and has a much broader significance that stretches into everyday
experience. The fog includes the stress, the incomplete or garbled messages,
the half truths, the misinterpreted information, the delay in accurate timely
information and much more. These conditions often abound in everyday life, for
example the tired parent with a screaming child or the businessman with
insufficient hours in the day. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
So to be an effective decision maker we often need to accustom ourselves to
working with incomplete, and at times inaccurate information in physically and
mentally uncomfortable situations when time is short, tension high and perhaps
the consequences very real. And the only way to gain mastery of such a
demanding but often critical function, is through practice backed up with some
clear guidelines and methodology. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I've sailed around Denmark and visited many times and you have probably
already guessed "Slaget på Reden" is the Danish name for the battle.
I am a great admirer of The Danes and Denmark; both hold some powerful memories
and influences for me. Not only are the Vikings a visible and verbal influence
on our own culture, language and history but Danes and Denmark are a continuing
one. As a soldier I worked with and for Danes on many occasions. My former
Regiment stood shoulder to shoulder with Danish Soldiers in Afghanistan. My
brother has a longstanding interest in the Danish philosopher, theologian and
social critic Søren Kierkegaard. <u1:p></u1:p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>So I hope that all my Danish friends will
forgive my example and discourse on this anniversary. <br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Skål.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<u1:p><o:p> </o:p></u1:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540030874688730984.post-65301547746589542012013-04-02T03:47:00.001-07:002013-04-02T09:18:06.958-07:00A New Beginning or The Continuation of a Journey?<br />
Moving to Shetland for 6 months. A new job, my first as a professional
seafarer let alone commercial skipper. My first civilian job. Easy to see why
this is a new beginning. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
A life time in developing people, in running Outdoor education and leading
adventure based projects. An opportunity to develop my previous experiences,
thoughts, learning and perspectives. Easy to see why this is a continuation.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
There is an element of truth in both these views, indeed neither of these contradictory perspectives is wrong.
<br />
<br />
You might have seen this optical illusion before, what is this a picture of? <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<a data-ved="0CAgQjRwwAA" href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=bQi6COVqODwLVM&tbnid=gAbHeUatWD1Y7M:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.madsci.org%2Fposts%2Farchives%2F2007-03%2F1172853668.Sh.r.html&ei=GbpWUcHMNciPOI6egMgG&psig=AFQjCNH734aEUSY_YWOasjkeG5idSe9-sA&ust=1364724633923470" id="irc_mil" style="border: currentColor;"><span style="color: blue; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">
</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2007-03/1172853668.Sh.2.gif" href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=bQi6COVqODwLVM&tbnid=gAbHeUatWD1Y7M:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.madsci.org%2Fposts%2Farchives%2F2007-03%2F1172853668.Sh.r.html&ei=GbpWUcHMNciPOI6egMgG&psig=AFQjCNH734aEUSY_YWOasjkeG5idSe9-sA&ust=1364724633923470" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:button="t" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 217.5pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 159pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="1172853668.Sh.2" src="file:///C:\Users\RICHAR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.gif">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span></a><br />
<a data-ved="0CAgQjRwwAA" href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=bQi6COVqODwLVM&tbnid=gAbHeUatWD1Y7M:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.madsci.org%2Fposts%2Farchives%2F2007-03%2F1172853668.Sh.r.html&ei=GbpWUcHMNciPOI6egMgG&psig=AFQjCNH734aEUSY_YWOasjkeG5idSe9-sA&ust=1364724633923470" id="irc_mil" style="border: currentColor;"></a><br />
<a data-ved="0CAgQjRwwAA" href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=bQi6COVqODwLVM&tbnid=gAbHeUatWD1Y7M:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.madsci.org%2Fposts%2Farchives%2F2007-03%2F1172853668.Sh.r.html&ei=GbpWUcHMNciPOI6egMgG&psig=AFQjCNH734aEUSY_YWOasjkeG5idSe9-sA&ust=1364724633923470" id="irc_mil" style="border: currentColor;"></a><br />
<a data-ved="0CAgQjRwwAA" href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=bQi6COVqODwLVM&tbnid=gAbHeUatWD1Y7M:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.madsci.org%2Fposts%2Farchives%2F2007-03%2F1172853668.Sh.r.html&ei=GbpWUcHMNciPOI6egMgG&psig=AFQjCNH734aEUSY_YWOasjkeG5idSe9-sA&ust=1364724633923470" id="irc_mil" style="border: currentColor;"></a><br />
<a data-ved="0CAgQjRwwAA" href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=bQi6COVqODwLVM&tbnid=gAbHeUatWD1Y7M:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.madsci.org%2Fposts%2Farchives%2F2007-03%2F1172853668.Sh.r.html&ei=GbpWUcHMNciPOI6egMgG&psig=AFQjCNH734aEUSY_YWOasjkeG5idSe9-sA&ust=1364724633923470" id="irc_mil" style="border: currentColor;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaOSmn7ENtEpHWhlHmn4m5H6XQERSNp3_l2c70RxhuViw2HKggVWdc8gktEM2-nKw03_H1kWW6fzmt1euPIHLCPamX29owqq2nWCvFVP-bRtycVo366JKSBJnSMGD_9VHelWPoS3FOMc/s1600/26745%5B1%5D.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaOSmn7ENtEpHWhlHmn4m5H6XQERSNp3_l2c70RxhuViw2HKggVWdc8gktEM2-nKw03_H1kWW6fzmt1euPIHLCPamX29owqq2nWCvFVP-bRtycVo366JKSBJnSMGD_9VHelWPoS3FOMc/s1600/26745%5B1%5D.gif" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Now can you see the "other" picture? <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
The drawing hasn't changed. Your perception has and you have interpreted the
same information to arrive at a different meaning. <br />
<br />
Initially you unconsciously interpreted the facts (the first image you saw), you then consciously looked for an alternative interpretation, put probably only because you knew the trick or were challenged to look again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How often in life are we just satisfied with our first interpretation of events or facts? And then absolutely satisfied with our “rightness”?<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
How we perceive things drives how we think and therefore how we act. For
example suppose you ask Pete to wash the car. If 3 hours later when you come
back the car is unwashed then depending on whether you believe Pete to be lazy
or conscientious significantly effects the way you at least initially react to the fact that the
car is unwashed and might make you more or less inclined to believe the reasons. The facts that the car is unwashed hasn't changed and typically we massage our perception and interpretation to reinforce our
beliefs and model of the world. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
It’s a small step to one of Steve Covey's 7 habits - seek first to
understand and then be understood. To understand often requires us to take a
new perspective and challenge our own predisposition. I recently got this very
badly wrong. (There might also have been some bad judgement with poor
communication but that's another story)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Of course there is another possibility. So far I have portrayed a new beginning
and a continuation as mutually exclusive opposites, but are they? Any physicist
reading this will know how the argument raged between rival protagonists as to
whether light was a wave or a particle. It wasn't until the start of the last century
that evidence emerged to show that neither idea was sufficient to explain the
observed behaviour of light. The dual nature of light behaving as a wave and a
particle led to the birth of quantum theory, which you might regard is
irrelevant to you, until the next time you turn on a TV or CD player and much
much more. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
So let’s finish with sailing. Consider letting go the mooring buoy or
casting off the last mooring warp or jumping aboard as you push off the hard.
As you head out of the harbour, creek or anchorage you are at a new beginning,
it might be the start of a day sail or an ocean crossing but what you have
around you be it physical, aspirational or experience is the beginning of your passage,
but it’s also a continuation of the preparation from the day, or months before.
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06544185275828631002noreply@blogger.com0