Around Britain With A Sound Crew
Summer 2007
 
Notes for Potential Crew
The purpose of these notes is to make sure everyone understands what sailing around Britain involves and to discourage those who had the impression that it will be all about "gin & tonic on the sun deck".
 
Trip Overview
Circumnavigation of Britain's mainland, anti-clockwise from Fowey, Cornwall on a Westerly GK29. The aim is to start at the beginning of July and return to Fowey approximately 6 weeks later. The GK29 is not luxuriously appointed and not particularly large, but none the less she's a fine boat with easy handling and good performance.
 
Boat Details Name:
Name: Gamaldansk Builder: Westerly Model: GK29
Year Built: 1979 Rig: Sloop Hull Id: B102
Length: 8.84m (29') Beam: 3.15m (10'4") No Berths: 5 (3 singles and 1 double)
Considerations for Potential Crew
Now follows a few things that should be foremost in the mind of any potential crew member before committing themselves to any part of this trip.
 
Comfort - spending time on Gamaldansk is a bit like spending a holiday in a caravan - sleeping bags and mugs of tea - that kind of thing. You can also expect to be a little damp at times. There is no hot water, no shower and the head (marine toilet) requires practice to operate. If you can deal with the immediate surroundings, trips to the launderette and cold floors in the marina washrooms, then the rest is what you make of it. With a little imagination, it is even possible to get good results from the 2 ring gas stove - funnily enough it takes no imagination for the beer to taste good.
 
Challenges - there will be some challenging moments along the way, i.e. there will be occasions when something unexpected has to be overcome when it is least expected. By this definition there will be more challenges for the less experienced. Sailing is usually pretty straightforward but there will be times when you will just need to trust your skipper or be agile minded enough to understand what's going on. Depending on the challenge and how fast it's unfolding it will often mean trusting first and understanding later.
 
Endurance - there will be moments when endurance is stretched especially when passage making overnight. This will often be due to a lack of sleep rather than a physical exertion, but it is important to understand that in this context endurance is not simply a matter of staying awake. You may feel mildly excited when setting off at 23:00hrs to catch the tide but this will turn to irritation when you are shaken from sleep to help change a sail at 03:30. At some point you will knock your head on something. As you emerge from the cabin in warm dry clothes a gentle wave will envelope and soak you. Your shock will turn to anger as someone urges you to get a move on. The weather worsens, dawn seems to be holding back, you are tired, wet, anxious, but are desperately needed on that winch as the boat is tacked, tacked and successively tacked, in a cross swell, in an area confined by dangers that cannot be seen, except by the skipper, at his chart, in the cabin below - where it is warm.
 
Seasickness - this can put an end to your trip. Seasickness will probably affect; a) those who suffer from any kind of motion sickness (quite rare) and b) those who suffer mildly on the odd occasion (most people including me). Those in the first category will find it difficult to overcome, the only recourse being to stay ashore or to try various drugs, some of which may work but never completely. Those in the second category may be ill, (possibly violently and possibly for the first few days) but almost always manage to overcome it. Seasickness is catalysed by mild fear. Those new to sailing should not underestimate the ill-ease one feels when in a small boat on open water for the first time. As one becomes more familiar with the surroundings the seasickness will generally pass, however each increment in weather severity can re-induce sickness. The more experience you gain the less likely you are to feel ill. If you are worried about seasickness then discuss it with me beforehand. NB. The combination of a hangover and a swell is probably the most effective way of being seasick!
 
The purpose of this trip - you may be wondering what the purpose of this trip is after reading all these negatives. I've highlighted the negatives in an attempt to keep your expectations realistic - there will of course be many positives!! The purpose of this voyage is about setting a challenge for me to safely skipper Gamaldansk around Britain, to raise money for the RNLI, to give others the opportunity to join me and experience sailing for the first time or to sail somewhere new. It's about going with the flow, settling in with the tides, the weather, the sea, the life in it and the life ashore. Challenges and endurance are for the racing fraternity and will be avoided wherever possible unless everyone on board is well rested, comfortable with one another, and ready for a work out. This trip is primarily a cruise, for relaxation and above all enjoyment.
 
What you will need: With everything you bring remember "Small, light, soft is good" as we don't want to be climbing over your huge hard suitcase or camp bed for the duration of your stay aboard.
 

·    Bedding    

–  

Pillow, sleeping bag.

· Shoes

–  

Ones that don't slip on a smooth, hard, wet surface. Deck shoes and deck wellies are ideal. Bare feet also work well, but not at night where stubbed toes and cold feet become a problem.

·    Wet Weather Gear

–  

Jacket (with hood) and trousers. These ought to be waterproof – not just splash or shower proof. Ideally you should be able to take your rain trousers on/off without removing your shoes/wellies. Gamaldansk has some wet weather gear on board for guests – check with me to see if your size will be available.

·    Warm Clothing

–  

Including, tops, bottoms and a hat. Lots of easily removable layers work well.

·    Spare Clothing

–  

In case the first set gets wet.

·    Shorts

–  

and/or swim suit.

·    Sunhat

–  

With something to prevent it from blowing away.

·    Sun Block

 

 

·    Sunglasses

 

 

·    Retaining Strap

·    Head torch

–  

For your glasses/sunglasses to prevent them from being knocked off.

·    Seasickness Pills

–  

Or other remedies. Even if you don’t think you will need them bring them just in case. Ginger biscuits and ginger sweets work very well (if you like ginger). I've heard more than once that bottled lager also works (in small quantities).

·    Toiletries & Towel

 

 
You will not need to bring a life jacket as one will be provided.
 
What you will be expected to pay for:
· Your travel to and from Gamaldansk
· A donation to the RNLI
· Your meals ashore
· Your laundry bills
· Any other shore based activities
 
You will not be expected to pay for:
· Meals on board (although contributions will be very welcome).
· Provisions, cleaning materials, toilet paper etc.
· Diesel fuel, cooking gas, water
· Marina fees
· Boat maintenance/servicing
· Any other boat or crew related charges
 
Commitment

It is not my intention to sail any leg of this trip single-handed. Despite having an autopilot and Gamaldansk is easily sailed single-handed, quite frankly, sailing single-handed for more than an 8 hour stretch in coastal waters is down right dangerous and exceedingly boring - it would be safer to cross the Atlantic or circumnavigate the globe where there is less to collide with and the weather is easier to predict. Therefore, any of the time you offer me must be considered a commitment.

To help me plan this trip you will need to let me know the date(s) you will be available from and to, or if your dates are flexible, the location(s) you would like to sail from and to. This is all I ask. I can't guarantee I can accommodate every request but I will respond to everyone. Priority will be given to those who can be the most flexible.

After talking to some of you already it has become increasingly obvious that there are certain parts of the route which are more popular than others - this is not a surprise! Before simply saying you would like to join us, say, in NW Scotland rather than elsewhere please do consider the following:
 
 
Your travel to/from Scotland will take time and be at your own expense. With all the will in the world I can't guarantee to pick you up and drop you off at a certain location on a certain date although every effort will be made to do so. I've set an itinerary that should give us days in hand but the location of Gamaldansk at any point in time will be affected by weather and tides. It may be that you fly into Glasgow and then have to find your way by bus and/or train and/or ferry to wherever we are located. If your leaving date is fixed then your drop off point may be somewhere remote and somewhere you had not anticipated!
 
Your Current Level of Experience

No previous experience is necessary. For those of you who have not sailed before, have only a limited experience, or are nervous about making a commitment, then there will be (some) opportunities to sail on Gamaldansk from the beginning of May. These will be day trips from Fowey both during the week and at weekends. If you can't make any of these familiarisation exercises then don't worry - I will try to place you on the main trip with other crew.