Calviere II is now back on her mooring at Queenborough
Harbour.
And have I had a wonderful time! There are so many people
that I’m grateful to:-
- UKPN – thank you for giving me the time and resources. Sailing round the British Isles had been a long held ambition for me, partly inspired by Libby Purves’ book, ‘One Summers Grace’. One of those things for ‘when I retire’ which may not have happened were it not for UKPN. I may have needed to continue working into my sixties. With a state pension age of 66, I may have got there and been too old to consider the perceived hardships. I was lucky that I was chosen for redundancy whilst still relatively young.
- My wife, Chrissy, has supported and encouraged me. Without her collaboration the adventure would have been impossible. As my Mum often remarks, ‘Chrissy doesn't deserve you!’
- All the various crews who have joined in along the way:-
- David H, who endured the two coldest legs, taking the first leg of each year with the worst of the weather. David had to carry me back to the boat when I sprained my ankle at Mallaig.
- John N, my brother in law. He managed to find some spectacularly good restaurants on the two legs he completed.
- Peter H, who did three legs, and travelled the greatest distance. I feel guilty about inflicting so much pain in the form of seasickness on Peter. Fortunately, our last leg home was fine and settled all the way. We have enjoyed some really excellent sailing together. Peter also helped to prepare Calviere II for the trip.
- Eddie, who cooked some amazing shepherds’ pies on board and rounded Lands End.
- Colin, who joined me at short notice for the difficult and challenging passages across the Seven Estuary and the Irish Sea.
- Dorril, who, whilst not a sailor, tackled every challenge and carried on smiling. The dolphins that joined us to celebrate her birthday will miss her. The scallops around the Isle of Man are hoping she never returns.
- John D was greatly in tune with my way of thinking. Snooze in the afternoon, Archers in the Evening. Dinner helped down by a small single malt.
- John E, another crew member press ganged at the last minute and took on the most daunting of the legs, from Stornoway, round Cape Wrath, out to the Orkneys, round Duncansby Head and into the Moray Firth.
I need to thank the spouses of all the crew members for
helping me on my way. Tina, Sharmon, Glynis, Ann, Mrs Drewer, Irene and Jenifer.
Thank you to Bob & Pat for coming up to Oban to assist with the antifoul etc.
Thank you to Bob & Pat for coming up to Oban to assist with the antifoul etc.
Thank you to all the harbour masters & marina staff who went
out off their way to assist and advise.
Thank you to the fellow sailors & yacht club members,
who drove me about, arranged laundry, provided meals, helped with mooring
lines, guided tours of lifeboat stations, and allowed me to crew for them in
races etc.
Thank you for the RNLI. Without the reassurance of knowing
that they were available should they be needed, I don’t think I would have set
out.
Libby Purves sailed round Britain in the 1980 and much has
changed for the small boat sailor since then. Nearly everywhere I stopped, I
was alongside a marina pontoon. I was always in contact with home via my mobile
phone and the GPS plotter has made navigation very simple. I was able to have
good, reliable weather forecasts delivered direct to my phone, without ringing
the met office. I reread her book during my voyage and counted my blessings
that I didn't have two small children on board, and I had a far more leisurely
pace.
I also grieved for Libby & Paul’s son, Nicholas, who
should have become a fine young man, but took his own life, suffering from
depression. I had been taking anti depressants for the last ten years and have
finally come off them during my voyage. Hopefully that dark period of my life
is behind me. I have often thought that there is a relationship between depression
and miles travelled on the M25. I now have a similar theory that depression is inversely
proportional to miles travelled in a small boat. It is a well known premise
that days spent afloat aren't included in our ‘three score and ten’. Physically,
I have never felt better.
I think the journey has changed me for the good. I feel very
content with my life. I have learnt that I have some wonderful and supportive
friends and family. Distances don’t seem so great, when measured in hours.
I have saved my final big thank you for Calviere II. She is
a small ship, with a big ship heart. She has tackled some wet & wild
passages and carried on, even when her crew could barely hold on. She has kept
us secure, dry and snug, although if I go round again, I'm going to fit a
heater first.