Category Archives: Sailing

The ship…

Well, no, You didn’t ask, But perhaps you were wondering? [To be honest I was putting this off, I was going to seek advice, just how big a wreck could Kenny reasonably be expected to have? But I didn’t have time, so it seems I’ll need to make it all up] Kenny had always wantedContinueContinue reading “The ship…”

To take leave of the land

All you had to do was provision your ship and have enough crew on board to keep a twenty four hour watch. Sounds easy doesn’t it? You were supposed to have something called a passage plan, alternative plans for when conditions might change, to have assessed risks of a given route, crew should also beContinueContinue reading “To take leave of the land”

A place called home

Kenny lived in a small semi detached house under the Erskine Bridge, on the River Clyde. The house had begun to go to rack and ruin pretty much simultaneous to the marriage, it was hard to know which was chicken and which the egg. Most of the stuff that Rose had planted was still there,ContinueContinue reading “A place called home”

A day waiting for the tide

Years ago, morning and evening tides would be a perfect excuse for a day out over the saltings, or a trip to Sheerness Beach and Rico’s Caff. But Boy how times have changed. I’ve decided that sailing alone, though ok, is always inferior to a sail in company. And recently I’ve come to peace withContinueContinue reading “A day waiting for the tide”

Millie joins the race.

Millie, and I, and my dear friend Deaf Gerald got out on Sunday and sailed from our sheltered creek to, near as damn it, the Red Sands Towers in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The race start time was 07.30hrs BST. HW was 06.45 And we snuck out under oars from the jetty, (havingContinueContinue reading “Millie joins the race.”

Who is Millie?

This was my unnerving thought as I woke this morning. The 1st day after putting the clocks back for winter morning light. I was unnerved because I was remembering the name “Millie” with the warm affection usually reserved for my dear wife, companion of twenty years, guardian of my healthy diet, my moral compass, andContinueContinue reading “Who is Millie?”

Reintroduction

Back in December of 2019 just as we were first hearing of a new virus that you could get from eating bats in China, that obviously would never be a problem to us, the Schnark burst onto the internet amid a whirlwind of stillness with this introduction https://schnark.home.blog/2019/12/07/example-post/ I think it is time for theContinueContinue reading “Reintroduction”

Crossing the estuary.

1978 Thames Estuary Chart This has become an obsession of mine, to say the least. The Thames Estuary is more of a concept, than an easily definable area that one could draw a line around on a map, it is most easily defined as where the river meets the sea, but since the river, andContinueContinue reading “Crossing the estuary.”

The wrong beach

I had been sitting on this groyne for over an hour, waiting for the tide to float my boat so that I could escape upwind within the narrow gap between the groynes, and hoping that some friendly soul would happen by and exchange the time of day; none had. I hadn’t intended to come here,ContinueContinue reading “The wrong beach”

Searching for a relevant parallel

“Molecular clock estimates, genetic studies and archaeological data all suggest the initial colonisation of Sahul and Australia by modern humans occurred around 48,000–50,000 years ago. Over the last few decades, a significant number of archaeological sites dated at more than 30,000 years old have been discovered. https://australian.museum › science When did modern humans get to Australia? -ContinueContinue reading “Searching for a relevant parallel”

A visit to Ardrishaig

The gate opens out of the last lock onto a small pool before the sea lock, A tiny idyll abound with wild flowers and skitting birds. Several startled swallows are rattled from their hidey-holes in the structure of the lock gate. The old canal wall curves around from our right to describe a circle, SlopingContinueContinue reading “A visit to Ardrishaig”

A month of stormy Sundays

The third weekend of “Wet Play” in a row. A challenge for someone “in his prime”, who is imprisoned at a desk through the week. The short days mostly passing by unseen, or unnoticed, Outside the office window.   I pour all my soul into dreams of things to come, Not minding whether they doContinueContinue reading “A month of stormy Sundays”

Capsize report

Sailing clubs tend to hold their AGMs in the depth of January when conditions are considered least suitable for sailing. My last club was a dinghy racing club and although they race throughout most of the year including new years day, they accept that there should be a gap between the end of one seasonContinueContinue reading “Capsize report”

Reflections of the Schnark

The beginning   The fires this year in Brazil and Australia along with the failure of governments around the world to wipe their own bottoms allow me to conclude briefly and without ambiguity that humanity will self-destruct. Right, got that out of the way. I find pleasure in nature, in escape from crowds, in discoveringContinueContinue reading “Reflections of the Schnark”