Tectona Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:42:00 +0000

NEW SKIPPER, REFIT, V.O.R. and THE ALBUM – due out soon!

It's got a bit harder since the temperature plummeted, but Conall and Ryan are hard at it (with occasional help from other Island Cutter colleagues Tom, Jim, Liz, Kate and Darren) sanding and scraping… Tectona is sitting quietly in the mud at Millbrook with the rest of the weather passing overhead, just the cold penetrates, and how! In 4 weeks she will be going on the slip at Mashfords for a bottom-paint, new anodes and a general inspection of the hull.

We are very pleased to welcome Conall Morrison as Tectona's new Skipper. Conall is an experienced seafarer and has for several years been skippering with our operating charity Cremyll Sailing (now combined with the Island Trust and renamed Island Cutter) and we are delighted that the job has gone to someone of his excellent capabilities. Those of us who do occasional volunteer mate work are really looking forward to sailing with him, though we have been warned to watch out for the unexpected practical joke!

Fundraising has begun for the Voyage Of Recovery in August, with Phoenix Futures showing their professionalism right from the start. The first payment to island trust has been made as required by Island's booking rules. We are very grateful to Peter Morris and Island Trust for handling this large and complex booking directly with Phoenix.

We shall be leaving Plymouth for a special delivery voyage to Portsmouth (where our friends at Phoenix Alpha are based) on Wednesday 1^st August, and leaving Portsmouth for Milford Haven on the first official rehab voyage a week later on 8^th.

COME AND SEE US! The voyage will then call at the following ports:

Milford Haven (arrive Tues 14^th Aug)

Holyhead (Tues 21^st Aug)

Liverpool (Tues 28^th Aug having visited Isle of Man)

Glasgow (Tues 4^th Sept)

There will be an 'open boat' day on Wed 5^th Sept in Glasgow.

Fort William (Wed 12^th Sept)

Aberdeen (Wed 19^th Sept)

Hartlepool (Wed 26^th Sept)

Ipswich (Wed 3^rd Oct)

London (Wed 10^th Oct)

There will be an 'open boat' day on Thurs 11^th Oct in London.

Portsmouth (Wed 17^th Oct)

There will be a special delivery voyage back to Plymouth, arriving on Wed 24^th October.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

As a major fundraising creation, the surprisingly musical members of Tectona's crew (past and present) have joined Darren Long – second mate elect – in recording the first ever album from the Bilge Rat Band (no relation to any pre-existing band of that name). The songs are all original Darren, many of them composed on board Tectona during the long night watches with the spars a-creakin' and a lop of sea surgin' down the deck to leeward… (you get the picture). Some of the stories are not for the faint-hearted, but every penny of the proceeds will go to the VOR fund. The album will be released in early March, well actually as soon as we can get it printed!

Priced at any amount of £5 or over, if you'd like a copy, please contact us via the "If you'd like to be kept informed…" blue panel on the left hand side of this page.

MORE ANON – 2012 turning out excellent so far!

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:33:00 +0000

At the end of a very successful season, Tectona is now snugly laid up in her mudberth at Southdown, after a couple of tides laying over while she dug herself in (see photo). Southdown has the advantage of being well sheltered from winter gales, being reasonably priced (thanks to Huggins Bros), and perhaps most important having the expertise and commitment of Nathan the Manager who seems to like Tectona and knows every inch of the mud like the back of his hand.

Before we look forward to an exciting 2012, we have to say goodbye to Rob Shaw who has been Tectona's skipper for the last 2 years. Rob has made a massive contribution to Tectona and the work of our Trust. Over 20 adults in recovery on Tectona Trust voyages, and many dozens of young people who have sailed with Island Trust voyages on Tectona will always remember her young captain. Their experience has been framed by his massive competence as a sailor, his huge sense of fun, and above all his interest in them as individuals who can make something of their lives. His insight and thoughtful contributions to the way we have developed what we do, have been very significant. So we are truly grateful to Rob and wish him all the best as he adopts a new lifestyle, where he aims to be non-materialistic and to promote peace and love as he finds new unpaid work in the community among like-minded people. He has already given away most of his possessions, but however much good he does in his new life (and it will clearly be great) he has already achieved a massive amount as a sail training skipper. He knows we will all be rooting for him to find what he seeks in the months ahead, though it has to be said that the risk of being waterbombed is now a lot less since he left…

2012 is set to be a challenging and formative year for Tectona Trust. Not only will we be welcoming our new skipper Conall, an experienced and very popular sail training skipper who has been with Cremyll Sailing for several years, but we also have the 2012 VOYAGE OF RECOVERY! A quick outline: this is a 12-week round Britain voyage and is a joint Tectona Trust / Phoenix Futures project. Phoenix is the UK-wide organisation we have been working with for the last 2 years to set up the 3 rehab voyages we have done so far. These have been very successful not only in terms of the feedback from people who came on them, but looking at their progress after they were on Tectona, it really seems that many more have stayed clean since the experience compared with non-Tectona clients.

This underlines the effectiveness of adventure sailing for this group of people. Having overcome their physical addiction, they are still left with deep personal issues like lack of confidence and self-value, and this is where adventure sailing really helps. What is it about sailing an old boat that can achieve this? It is probably The Sea. We are continuing to work with Plymouth University to research this effect.

At the start of August 2012, Tectona will set sail from Portsmouth and sail in 12 stages clockwise round the UK, taking the Caledonian Canal through Scotland. Each of the 12 stages will be crewed by a team from one of Phoenix's 12 residential units. There will be plenty of publicity about each of these locally, and in addition 2 large scale promotional days in Glasgow and London.

Dates and full details coming soon – watch this space!

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:21:00 +0000

WOW! WE DID IT!

Tectona wins the 2011 Phoenix Futures Innovations competition, and the 2012 Voyage Of Recovery is within our grasp.

Tectona Trust's aim to provide adventure sailing voyages for people recovering from drug abuse received a real boost at the end of July. After months of preparation and negotiations, Stuart and Darren from Phoenix (www.phoenix-futures.org.uk) presented their bid in London on 28^th July. The proposal is to sail Tectona round Britain in a clockwise direction starting from Portsmouth in August 2012. A team from each of 12 Phoenix UK residentials will be the crew for a week each during the 3-month Voyage Of Recovery. The presentation began with a rousing sea shanty from Darren which set the mood for Stuart's salty slide show to the judging panel and an invited audience of some 40 people.

There is much to do, not least to raise at least £10,000 which is our Trust's contribution to the voyage costs. Our arrangement with Island Cremyll is to charter Tectona for a contribution to the cost of running the voyages – mainly staff salaries. We are very grateful for Island Trust's support and enthusiasm for this project. The use of the vessel is of course given free by the Tectona Trust.

The success our Phoenix crews have already had is a significant element in the case for sailing on Tectona as a part of drug recovery. An excellent example is D.L., a Phoenix graduate who has worked on board Tectona as a volunteer this year, and who is likely to make a new career in the sail training industry as a result.

We are about to up-grade this website, so there may be some instability in the next week or so. More anon. Otherwise it's full steam ahead for the Voyage Of Recovery!

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:49:00 +0000

WOW! WE DID IT!

Tectona wins the 2011 Phoenix Futures Innovations competition, and the 2012 Voyage Of Recovery is within our grasp.

We are about to up-grade this website, so there may be some instability in the next week or so. More anon. Otherwise it's full steam ahead for the Voyage Of Recovery!

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:47:00 +0000

From: crabeducation@hotmail.com
To: tectona.blog.bowline@blogger.com
Subject:
Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:41:33 +0000

WOW! WE DID IT!

Tectona wins the 2011 Phoenix Futures Innovations competition, and the 2012 Voyage Of Recovery is within our grasp.

We are about to up-grade this website, so there may be some instability in the next week or so. More anon. Otherwise it's full steam ahead for the Voyage Of Recovery!

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:41:00 +0000

WOW! WE DID IT!

Tectona wins the 2011 Phoenix Futures Innovations competition, and the 2012 Voyage Of Recovery is within our grasp.

We are about to up-grade this website, so there may be some instability in the next week or so. More anon. Otherwise it's full steam ahead for the Voyage Of Recovery!

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:55:00 +0000

WOW! WE DID IT!

Tectona wins the 2011 Phoenix Futures Innovations competition, and the 2012 Voyage Of Recovery is within our grasp.

Tectona Trust's aim to provide adventure sailing voyages for people recovering from drug abuse received a real boost at the end of July. After months of preparation and negotiations, Stuart and Darren from Phoenix (www.phoenix-futures.org.uk) presented their bid at Phoenix HQ in London on 28^th July. The proposal is to sail Tectona round Britain in a clockwise direction starting from Portsmouth in August 2012. A team from each of 12 Phoenix UK residentials will be the crew for a week each during the 3-month Voyage Of Recovery. The presentation began with a rousing sea shanty from Darren which set the mood for Stuart's salty slide show to the judging panel and an invited audience of some 40 people. After deliberation, the judges who included Phoenix's Chief Executive Karen Biggs agreed to back Stu and Darren's idea.

There is much to do, not least for us to raise at least £10,000 which is our Trust's contribution to the voyage costs. Our arrangement with Island Cremyll is to charter Tectona for a contribution to the cost of running the voyages, mainly staff salaries. We are very grateful for Island Trust's support and enthusiasm for this project. The use of the vessel is of course given free by the Tectona Trust.

We are about to up-grade this website, so there may be some instability in the next week or so. More anon. Otherwise it's full steam ahead for the 2012 Voyage Of Recovery!

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:47:00 +0000

WOW! WE DID IT!

Tectona wins the 2011 Phoenix Futures Innovations competition, and the 2012 Voyage Of Recovery is within our grasp.

Tectona Trust's aim to provide adventure sailing voyages for people recovering from drug abuse received a real boost at the end of July. After months of preparation and negotiations, Stuart and Darren from Phoenix (www.phoenix-futures.org.uk) presented their bid at Phoenix HQ in London on 28^th July. The proposal is to sail Tectona round Britain in a clockwise direction starting from Portsmouth in August 2012. A team from each of 12 Phoenix UK residentials will be the crew for a week each during the 3-month Voyage Of Recovery. The presentation began with a rousing sea shanty from Darren which set the mood for Stuart's salty slide show to the judging panel and an invited audience of some 40 people.

There is much to do, not least for us to raise at least £10,000 which is our Trust's contribution to the voyage costs. Our arrangement with Island Cremyll is to charter Tectona for a contribution to the cost of running the voyages – mainly staff salaries. We are very grateful for Island Trust's support and enthusiasm for this project. The use of the vessel is of course given free by the Tectona Trust.

We are about to up-grade this website, so there may be some instability in the next week or so. More anon.

Otherwise it's full steam ahead for the Voyage Of Recovery!

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:22:00 +0000

Thirty one years on - Marine Studies under graduates re-board TS Tectona.

Dr Paul Wright sent us the following:

In early May 2011 more than thirty years after the Plymouth's School of Navigation training ship, TS Tectona, was sold to French interests, trainee officers undertaking the University of Plymouth's BSc Marine Studies programme leading to careers in the merchant navy and the super yacht industry were back on board. Presently the TS Tectona is administered by the Tectona Trust and chartered to Island Cremyll Ltd , a charity involved in the provision of sail training for young people.

Built in 1929 the TS Tectona was purchased in 1964 by Plymouth City Council for the Plymouth's School of Navigation where she served for 16 years. A large number of today's senior Bristish mariners learned to sail on TS Tectona as cadets. It is said to be 'almost impossible to take her into any port on the south coast of the United Kingdom without her being recognised and regaled with tales of adventure on the high seas.'

TS Tectona is now being used to provide for young people, from all walks of life, a shared sailing adventure, to build their confidence, self-belief and awareness of the needs of others. In particular Tectona Trust is interested in helping victims of mental health and substance mis-use problems through the experience of sailing. To this end Dr Mat White of the School of

Psychology of Plymouth University is involved in a project looking at the quantification of the value of sailing in traditional ships to disadvantaged persons and those with mental health problems.

The invitation to trainee officers and members of the Marine Studies staff of Plymouth University was to show the ship to a new generation of young seafarers and explore ways in which the ship could be used to help provide a practical training platform for tomorrow's officers. Also how through voluntary activity individuals could become pragmatically involved in supporting the charity.The opportunities for further collaboration between the Plymouth University and the Tectona Trust are substantial and links already made are proving of great value.

For further details see Island Cremyll Ltd, http://www.cremyll-sailing.org.uk

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:08:00 +0000

Thirty one years on - Marine Studies under graduates re-board TS Tectona.

Dr Paul Wright wrote:

TS Tectona is now being used to provide for young people, from all walks of life, a shared sailing adventure, to build their confidence, self-belief and awareness of the needs of others. In particular Tectona Trust is interested in helping victims of mental health and substance mis-use problems through the experience of sailing. To this end Dr Mat White of the School of

Psychology of Plymouth University is involved in a project looking at the quantification of the value of sailing in traditional ships to disadvantaged persons and those with mental health problems.

For further details see Tectona Trust http://www.tectona.org Island Cremyll Ltd, http://www.cremyll-sailing.org.uk

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:49:00 +0000

"STORM OVER SAILING TRIPS" IN SOMERSET!

The Somerset County Gazette has today (Thursday 9^th June) a front page report that local councillors have put an embargo on the money earmarked to send a further 36 Somerset youngsters on Tectona this summer. There have been 4 very successful such voyages in the last 18 months.

The debate seems to have been mostly about the way the youngsters are chosen, and whether it is good value for money.

On the first point, there must be many opinions about the kind of young people who benefit most cost-effectively from Sail Training, admittedly an expensive option when it comes to spending public money. At this point there is simply no evidence for or against sending people who have ASBOs compared with sending perhaps younger people who are identified as "the NEETs and ASBOs of the future."

But what we can say is that youngsters in this latter group, expertly chosen by Jeannie Lillywhite's team of Somerset teachers, have not just seemed to benefit but been proven to benefit from the trips already undertaken.

What perhaps makes trips on TECTONA unique is the close study given to the outcomes for youngsters going on our working voyages. Not only has the ASTO / Edinburgh University 2006 study proved that trainees benefit in terms of their social confidence and self-worth; we have our very own Tectona/Plymouth University study providing serious independent evaluation of what we do.

£300 per Trainee per voyage is certainly not inconsiderable, but compared with the costs of a dysfunctional future it is excellent value even in purely financial terms.

With luck the situation in Somerset will be resolved in due course, but in the meantime it's perhaps worth remembering some of the feedback we've had from Somerset youngsters, their parents and their teachers:

"Best experience of my life so far"

"I have grown up from the trip and feel better about myself"

"My son is a different person at home, since the sailing trip on TECTONA"

"She has renewed self-belief and a new positive focus in life"

"He has now found he can work with others as equals, and no longer needs to be the centre of attention to gain positive rewards…"

It will certainly be a great pity if Somerset youngsters can no longer gain these valuable benefits. More anon! Roger.

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:08:00 +0000

READY FOR THE OFF!

Sunday 28^th March 2011.

Tectona is by now heading down-Channel on the tail end of the easterlies, en route for Helford or the Scilly Isles with the prospect of a fast blast back to Plymouth powered by the weather fronts prophesied for later in the week. On board are the first group of trainees of the 2011 season; 12 young people with the 3 professional crew: Rob the Skipper, Jim the Mate and Ryan the Bosun.

This is the start of Tectona's 3^rd season back in harness sailing out of Plymouth to give young people the adventure sailing experience of a lifetime. Typically they will be a group of young people from Cornwall most of whom, despite living within a few miles of the coast, have never been to sea before. They have been chosen because in one way or another they 'need a boost' and their teachers and/or social workers have seen how effective this activity has been with people facing similar challenges in the past.

A typical day on Tectona.

0730 Get up, help prepare breakfast at anchor.

0830 Group planning meeting with Skipper.

0900 Help wash deck then raise anchor and hoist sails.

1100 Free time until On Watch

1200 On watch: Steering / Trimming Sails / Lookout / Learning chart-work.

1230 Lunch while on watch.

1600 Off watch. Tea. Free time / catch up with sleep for 2 hours.

1800 Help prepare Supper. Supper in saloon with other off-watch people.

1900 Help wash up.

2000 Group meeting in saloon with Group Leader

2100 Catch up with sleep.

0000 Wakened to go on watch on deck. Steering / lookout etc.

0400 Off watch. Back to sleep!

0730 Get up, help prepare breakfast at sea…

Delivering the goods.

Tectona Trust has 3 main remits: to oversee the development of Tectona as a sail training vessel, to develop a programme for clients with mental health and rehab problems and to raise money to fund these clients on working voyages.

Tectona is operated by Cremyll Sailing, a charity now combined with the Island Trust. Our Rehab Working Voyages are fitted into their main programme of 'normal' S-T trips for young people. As a result we are very fortunate to be working with some outstandingly capable sail training staff. Each of Tectona's 3 crew would be sought after as sailing instructors, working on 'corporate entertainment' vessels or in the boatbuilding trade. Instead they choose to go to sea with young people some of whom have been seen as problematic ashore. The average age of our crew is 22½ yet they have wisdom beyond their years. Their credo is that life is not about money, but about appreciating the planet and helping other people. They are as high-tec as any other young people, but they see beyond the digital TVs and games consoles which have been so comprehensively sold to their peers. I-pods abound, but music feeds the soul so that's OK!

They understand completely where their young charges are coming from, and what to do about it. Two examples: When Tectona puts to sea, she is well stocked with food for meals and biscuits and fruit for snacks. Once the biscuits are gone, they will not be replaced. If the fruit gets eaten, it will be topped up at the next port of call. Again, there is no TV on board. Evenings are spent talking around the large saloon table, listening to or playing music (Rob is a very fair guitarist) or anchoring off a deserted beach for a BBQ and a game of cricket on the sand.

So whatever the weather, the outlook is good for the youngsters who get to go on Tectona and the other Island Cremyll vessels this year. We are used to thanking the donors and benefactors who make this possible, but equally important are the highly professional crews who deliver the goods; safely, imaginatively and very clearly 'making a difference.'

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:52:00 +0000

READY FOR THE OFF!

Sunday 28^th March 2011.

Tectona is by now heading down-Channel on the tail end of the easterlies, probably en route for the Scilly Isles with the prospect of a fast blast back to Plymouth powered by the weather fronts prophesied for later in the week. On board are the first group of trainees of the 2011 season; 12 young people with the 3 professional crew: Rob the Skipper, Jim the Mate and Ryan the Bosun.

A typical day on Tectona.

0730 Get up, help prepare breakfast at anchor.

0830 Group planning meeting with Skipper.

0900 Help wash deck then raise anchor and hoist sails.

1100 Free time until On Watch

1200 On watch: Steering / Trimming Sails / Lookout / Learning chart-work.

1230 Lunch while on watch.

1600 Off watch. Tea. Free time / catch up with sleep for 2 hours.

1800 Help prepare Supper. Supper in saloon with other off-watch people.

1900 Help wash up.

2000 Group meeting in saloon with Group Leader

2100 Catch up with sleep.

0000 Wakened to go on watch on deck. Steering / lookout etc.

0400 Off watch. Back to sleep!

0730 Get up, help prepare breakfast at sea…

Delivering the goods.

Tectona is operated by Cremyll Sailing, a charity now combined with the Island Trust. Our Rehab Voyages are fitted into their main programme of 'normal' S-T trips for young people. As a result we are very fortunate to be working with some outstandingly capable sail training staff. Each of Tectona's 3 crew would be sought after as sailing instructors, working on 'corporate entertainment' vessels or in the boatbuilding trade. Instead they choose to go to sea with young people some of whom have been seen as problematic ashore. The average age of our crew is 22½ yet they have wisdom beyond their years. Their credo is that life is not about money, but about appreciating the planet and helping other people. They are as high-tec as any other young people, but they see beyond the digital TVs and games consoles which have been so comprehensively sold to their peers. I-pods abound, but music feeds the soul so that's OK!

R.C. 28.3.11

WINTER DRAWS TO A CLOSE...

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:35:00 +0000

WINTER DRAWS TO A CLOSE [WE HOPE!] and Tectona's refit is nearly finished. March 2011.

WINTER REFIT FOR TECTONA.

It seems like forever since we came off the slip at Toms Yard Polruan on 19^th November after some very necessary remedial work on the deck, including extensive re-caulking. We now hope that wet bunks are a thing of the past! The launch was suitably dramatic [see photo] and as Tectona's 74 tons gathered speed towards the water, we had a full 2 minutes to get the engine going, check the skin fittings and manoeuvre her away from the rocky outcrops close astern.

All went well and we were soon off Lantic Bay rolling home in an unseemly way for a sailing vessel, but the topmast spars and sails were all off being overhauled so there was no option but to motor into the lumpy sea brought up by a chill SE breeze [see photo].

GLORIOUS MUD.

Skipper Rob had decided for her once again to spend the winter in a mud berth at Southdown on the Cornish side of the Tamar. This has the benefits of being very well sheltered, virtually devoid of swell, and having deep squishy mud of the kind that old boats like to settle comfortably into for a winter rest. Southdown also has their manager Nathan, a complete master of the behaviour of that wonderful substance, mud.

Rob and Jim got stuck enthusiastically in to stripping out anything that could be taken off Tectona and stored ashore, leaving the hull accessible for interior painting and some minor alterations to the accommodation over the worst of the winter. To their credit, the Big Freeze made little impact on their progress with the long list of jobs.

NEW CREW MEMBER.

At the end of January we were delighted to welcome a new member of the crew; Ryan Lloyd is very experienced in all aspects of traditional sail as well as being a qualified boatbuilder from the Falmouth school. As 2^nd Mate Ryan [note professional saw grip in photo] is already a very valued member of the team and now with 3 people working on board with an average age of 23 the quantity of humour can be imagined; its quality best not. With the slightly warmer weather, Jim has been burning off the topsides ready for several new coats of paint [see photo]. We've all been pleased to find the hull in excellent condition, not even requiring much filling though the starboard quarter has strikingly more dings than anywhere else. It would be fascinating to discover in which of her previous lives these arose.

TECTONA NOW OPERATED BY ISLAND CREMYLL.

The season ahead is looking promising. Cremyll Sailing has now combined with the Island Trust, based in Exeter and quite separate from the struggling Island Cruising Club. Island Trust has a long history of successfully providing adventure sailing for young people, and has recently built a new pilot cutter Pegasus for this work. Tectona Trust are delighted about this new alignment which we believe will strengthen the "normal" sail training arrangements on Tectona which helps us by giving a robust business platform, for us to develop our work with Mental Health and Rehab people.

FUNDRAISING – TAUNTON ROTARY.

Tectona Trust has been chosen as one of the Taunton Rotary Club President's charities for 2011. We are very grateful to them for a donation of £3000, which we plan to spend on our new Fundraising Adviser, Liz Shirely-Smith. In addition to this, Taunton Rotary have been very keen to send youngsters to sail in Tectona, with 3 voyages last year and more planned in 2011. Thank you, Taunton Rotarians!

PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH ON TECTONA.

As mentioned in detail elsewhere on this website, we are also very grateful to be part of the Blue Gym research project at the University. This studies the effects of water-based [makes it sound like glue, perhaps quite appropriately] activities; from surfing and rock-pooling to swimming and sailing. Their team of Mat, Kat and Abby have carried out preliminary interviews on board and we look forward to working with them in the next year. We all know sail training works, and now we can have an official explanation of why, how, and how we can do it better.

So to all our friends and benefactors, a hearty Thank You for your on-going support; more anon! 1.3.2011

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:19:00 +0000

WINTER DRAWS TO A CLOSE [WE HOPE!] and Tectona's refit is nearly finished. March 2011.

WINTER REFIT FOR TECTONA.

It seems like forever since we came off the slip at Toms Yard Polruan on 19^th November after some very necessary remedial work on the deck, including extensive re-caulking. We now hope that wet bunks are a thing of the past! The launch was suitably dramatic, and as Tectona's 74 tons gathered speed towards the water, we had a full 2 minutes to get the engine going, check the skin fittings and manoeuvre her away from the rocky outcrops close astern.

GLORIOUS MUD.

The decision had been taken for her once again to spend the winter in a mud berth at Southdown on the Cornish side of the Tamar. This has the benefits of being very well sheltered, virtually devoid of swell, and having deep squishy mud of the kind that old boats like to settle comfortably into for a winter rest. Southdown also has their manager Nathan, a complete master of the behaviour of that wonderful substance, mud.

NEW CREW MEMBER.

At the end of January we were delighted to welcome a new member of the crew – Ryan Lloyd is very experienced in all aspects of traditional sail as well as being a qualified boatbuilder from the Falmouth school. As 2^nd Mate Ryan is already a very valued member of the team and now with 3 people working on board with an average age of 23 the quantity of humour can be imagined; its quality best not. With the slightly warmer weather, Jim has been burning off the topsides ready for several new coats of paint. We've all been pleased to find the hull in excellent condition, not even requiring much filling though the starboard quarter has strikingly more dings than anywhere else. It would be fascinating to discover in which of her previous lives these arose.

TECTONA NOW OPERATED BY ISLAND CREMYLL.

FUNDRAISING – TAUNTON ROTARY.

PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH ON TECTONA.

So to all our friends and benefactors, a hearty Thank You for your on-going support – more anon! 1.3.2011

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 06:51:00 +0000

This is going to be a bit of a long blog, but a lot's been happening...

TECTONA: Trip with Phoenix Alpha rehab clients, Sept 19th to 24th 2010.

THERE WERE two stories unfolding at once. At one level, 3 crew [Rob, Connall, Roger] with 12 guest crew from the Phoenix Residential Rehab Community sailed Tectona from Plymouth to Portsmouth via the Channel Islands. Distance covered = approx 200 nautical miles. Max wind speed = approx force 6. Additional activities: walks ashore, rowing, swimming. Medical incidents = Nil. Trainees failing to respond to crew requests = Nil. Incidences of trainees volunteering / anticipating = Numerous. Level of humour during trip = over 90%.

One thing bothered me as I walked down the pontoon toward Tectona on Sunday 19th: Was our previous trip with rehab people just a one-off, and to try and do it again wouldn't work?

In the car park, we had just met Stu and 11 new people who were going to crew Tectona. They clearly knew each other well. They were buzzing with anticipation, but in a free-rolling devil-may-care way that had me worried. I'm apt to worry anyway. These were people who had signed themselves up to the hardest challenge of their lives: to come off their drugs or alcohol, and to take anything that was thrown at them. Mainly themselves; their therapeutic community's ethos is that of an encounter group giving no hiding place; every person's most private thoughts and innermost fears must be dragged out for all to share; nothing is off limits. On the positive side the result seemed to be some serious warts-and-all support by their peers, but anything could be questioned at any time. They had been in rehab for anything from 4 weeks to 18 months. Tough assignment, and an unknown and potent force to take offshore in a sailing boat.

The assignment for Tectona had seemed tough enough in itself. We expected half a gale from the south west, giving us a fair breeze but a bumpy ride to the Channel Islands. It was dusk as we hoisted mizzen, main and headsails on the mooring off Mashfords.

As we cleared the Eastern Entrance to Plymouth Sound after dark it was lumpy. Once off Bigbury Bay the Channel chop came on the beam and Tectona romped away. The rehab crew, despite scopolamine patches, nearly all suffered seasickness. It was hardly surprising but a remarkable thing was happening. They were cheerful, laughing and joking and enjoying themselves despite the conditions. Dim yellow-clad figures [clipped on, confirmed] sat in small groups on deck intermittently showered with heavy spray from the weather rail. What's going on? I asked one of them: "You seem very light hearted, but it's fairly rough, isn't it?" The reply should not have surprised me and explained it all: "If you've been through detox, this is nothing!"

As usual, the grey dawn brought a cold shaft of reality to the scene, but we were soon past Les Hanois and in more benign waters south of Guernsey. At 1800 on Monday, Tectona was alongside the fuel pontoon in St Peter Port. The previous 22 hours since leaving Plymouth seemed like a blur. Rob the skipper said, "We'll make for Sark. Get there by dusk. Everyone needs some sleep."

The passage between the islands was timed to be with the tide; we swooshed towards the top end of Sark, and crept into Greve de la Ville bay. A heavy mooring buoy was vacant and we secured for the night. The wind fell light. A low swell found its way past the off-lying rocks, but failed to animate Tectona. We slept like babies.

Stuart is an amazing guy. He has an absolute belief in what he is doing, and well he might; sailing has made all the difference for him. His own successful progress from heroin addiction has been offered for all to see. He now has a steady job, the joy of a loving and hugely capable wife and two wonderful toddlers. We all know the importance of "communication skills" but Stu has raised these to an art form. The level of mirth surrounding his interactions with his clients attests to this; on Tectona, we were all soon aching with laughter.

An important aspect of these trips is that trainees can earn an RYA competent crew certificate, and rowing a dinghy is on the syllabus. One lap round Tectona, lying to a mooring with a knot of current, is enough to prove competence, learning as you go, and the clinker dinghy was ideal. Three trainees at a time took the boat and everyone else voiced encouragement of one kind or another from the deck. There were some serious surprises. L would admit that she struggled getting off Tectona and into the boat [manuals of seamanship should include "Don't laugh too much"], but once the oars were in her hands she rowed like she had done it all her life, with an extra lap to prove it. S set off at boat-race speed, only to struggle with getting back again like many others did; and M was quickly up to speed with an expression of intense concentration.

At 1400 on the second day we slipped the mooring and pointed Tectona's bowsprit several degrees up-tide of Alderney where we duly arrived at 1900, motoring crab-wise into Braye harbour abreast the strong tidal stream in the Swinge. There is plenty of space and we dropped the hook, or rather the half-ton fisherman's anchor, with space to swing in 7 metres of water. Our third Channel Island.

Rob holds an evening meeting every day, and the simple format is remarkably effective at building relationships: What was best, what was worst about the day? Of course these people were well up to speed with this kind of interaction and had some extra set pieces of their own including going round the group and everyone saying "How I'm feeling." For those of us who weren't used to this, statements like, "I'm very happy you're having a good time," or "It's good to be with such a friendly group" wouldn't wash and caused an immediate request from Stu to "be more honest." I learnt a lot!

Dusk found us heading back across the English Channel, and watch succeeded watch in a rhythm which was now becoming familiar. The shipping lanes provided their usual need for close attention, and we motor sailed in light winds until we were approaching the Dorset coast. The promised brisk south-westerly then filled in, but with low cloud and rain which meant we were well into Poole Bay before we saw any land.

Rob's inspired choice was to take the North Channel into the Solent, providing some interesting pilotage on a beam reach, and avoiding an inevitably rolly run up the Needles Channel. She went like a train and we anchored off the IoW east of Yarmouth. After a good meeting we rested for a couple of hours. Fishers fished, talkers talked, smokers smoked.

We were due in Portsmouth by the end of that day, and our competent crew now had a chance to prove themselves. After some carefully constructed teaching by Rob, three groups of trainees worked out the lights and courses to take us up the Solent and safely into port. We got the anchor up after some difficulty - it was probably caught on a rock and had to be motored out - and set off under power following the courses plotted by the trainees. Identifying lights in the Solent is not easy - there are so many of them - but they soon got the hang of looking down a compass course to where the light should be, and then counting "One little monkey, Two little monkey..." to get the characteristics. By 10pm we were comfortably alongside at Gunwharf Quays.

Tectona's saloon can seat all 15 of us round the long table. With everything squared away on deck, we soon find nearly all of us are chatting round it. This time there's no need for "Best bits / Worst bits" and the discussion flows freely around how people are feeling on their last night on board. Everyone admits to being fearful about this trip, but went ahead with it anyway. But everyone now says they have had the experience of a lifetime, they feel sea-changed by this. We try to dig a little deeper to understand how this has happened. It seems that the main feeling is of having successfully overcome a major personal challenge. Rehab people live with constant nagging self-doubt, because they know they have come unstuck in the past. Though now shared and weakened by the Phoenix experience, their demons are all still there. None of this struggle is tangible, it is all inside your head.

Out at sea, the struggle is right there for all to see. But now afterwards the results are certain, concrete, undeniable. We are in Portsmouth because we did it ourselves. We hoisted reefed and trimmed the sails. We anchored and navigated. We washed down the decks. We put up with seasickness and did our bit. We have been in danger and come through. We have worked together to pull up heavy sails which we initially did not seem strong enough to do. We have succeeded collectively and as individuals. You only have to look around you to see this, and the sense of satisfaction is tangible.

So for the second time, a group of rehab people seem to have benefited hugely from a week on Tectona as an informal addition to their programme at Alpha. This is very much in line with Tectona Trust's charitable aims and we plan to build on this promising start in the months ahead, meeting everyone again in November for some more feedback. At least one trainee will be joining us to help Tectona's refit. Many questions remain, and it is very good to be working with Plymouth University to research this process. More anon!

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:02:00 +0000

This is going to be a bit of a long blog, but a lot's been happening...

TECTONA: Trip with Phoenix Alpha rehab clients, Sept 19th to 24th 2010.

THERE WERE two stories unfolding at once. At one level, 3 crew [Rob, Connall and Roger] with 12 guest crew from the Phoenix Residential Rehab Community sailed Tectona from Plymouth to Portsmouth via the Channel Islands. Distance covered = approx 200 nautical miles. Max wind speed = approx force 6. Additional activities: walks ashore, rowing, swimming. Medical incidents = Nil. Trainees failing to respond to crew requests = Nil. Incidences of trainees volunteering / anticipating = Numerous. Level of humour during trip = over 90%.

One thing bothered me as I walked down the pontoon toward Tectona on Sunday 19th: Was our previous trip with rehab people just a one-off, and to try and do it again wouldn't work?

The passage between the islands was timed to be with the tide; we swooshed towards the top end of Sark, and crept into Grève de la Ville bay. A heavy mooring buoy was vacant and we secured for the night. The wind fell light. A low swell found its way past the off-lying rocks, but failed to animate Tectona. We slept like babies.

An important aspect of these trips is that trainees can earn an RYA competent crew certificate, and rowing a dinghy is on the syllabus. One lap round Tectona, lying to a mooring with a knot of current, is enough to prove competence, learning as you go, and the clinker dinghy was ideal. Three trainees at a time took the boat and everyone else voiced encouragement of one kind or another from the deck. There were some serious surprises. Lorraine would admit that she struggled getting off Tectona and into the boat [manuals of seamanship should include "Don't laugh too much"], but once the oars were in her hands she rowed like she had done it all her life, with an extra lap to prove it. Sohail set off at boat-race speed, only to struggle with getting back again like many others did; and Martin was quickly up to speed with an expression of intense concentration.

So for the second time, a group of rehab people seem to have benefited hugely from a week on Tectona as an informal addition to their programme at Alpha. This is very much in line with Tectona Trust's charitable aims and we plan to build on this promising start in the months ahead. Many questions remain, and it is very good to be working with Plymouth University to research this process. More anon!

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:04:00 +0000

Photo: Mike Greaves.

A SUMMER TO REMEMBER.

This is proving to be an excellent summer for Tectona. The season, her second since she has been operated by Cremyll Sailing, got off to a flying start with "challenged" kids and challenging weather in March, and the combination proved to be a winner in terms of productive experiences for the youngsters. Beating seasickness, successfully handling the boat in some hard weather, discovering good things about their own abilities and the true value of other people, all combined to give some life-changing outcomes. Several trips this year have been funded through Taunton Rotary Club, and their interest is much appreciated.

The vessel has been fine, blessedly free of the teething problems of last year, and the work the crew put in over the winter has largely stayed done. There have of course been unavoidable glitches like when the Fischer Panda generator failed. Looking on the bright side this gave an opportunity to re-plan the battery charging system. Tectona relies on 24-volt battery power whenever she's away from a marina berth, which is 95% of the time. We now have a dedicated generating set which wallops out up to 60 amps to charge the temperature-sensed battery banks, needing only an hour or so's running every day. The key ingredient to this is a Sterling Digital Regulator which is a revelation compared with normal alternator charging. The only on-going issue is that we have more deck leaks than we should in a new deck [fitted 2008] and Toms yard are looking into remedial action on this currently.

Probably the most encouraging thing is that we now have the continuity of Tectona's own crew on board. Rob the Skipper has made a huge difference both to the vessel and to the trainees by being able to focus on the process of sail training on board. Emma the First Mate has also made a massive contribution to the people sailing in Tectona this year, and she will be badly missed as she leaves to take up a year's teaching degree course this autumn. Jim the Bosun has had top results from his courses with ASTO to gain his yachtmaster's ticket this year, and his knowledge of Tectona is even more comprehensive than at the end of the first winter's refit when he was a mainstay of the work on board at Southdown Marina.

Tectona has made several visits to the Scilly Isles, to Fowey, Falmouth and the Helford River, and Rob has also explored the anchorages inside the Manacles on several occasions.

We have also moved forward in the way that feedback from the trainee crews is collated, and there are some very enjoyable and positive stories on Cremyll's facebook page. We are also making progress with our project with Plymouth University, to study the methods and outcomes of sail training on Tectona. This will help to guide best practice in the future, and will lend weight to the fact that we know it works!

The Blue Mile event in Plymouth at the start of July had brilliant weather and a Maritime Plymouth networking meeting, kindly and very effectively organised by George Skinner, took place on Tectona and the Plymouth trading ketch Bessie-Ellen for the Friday evening. We were able to talk at length with a number of people who have been connected with Tectona, past and present, including meeting the grand-daughter of her original owner in 1928 and a lady who had cruised on Tectona when she was chartered from Cdr Tom Blackwell in 1962. It was also a delight to meet on the quay several people who had been Plymouth School of Navigation trainees on board in the 1960's and 70's, and to show them round the ship.

Our second Rehab Cruise is happening later in September, and the challenge for us remains to find the funds for ever more people to benefit from Tectona. We have the people, we just need the money!

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Photo: Mike Greaves.

A SUMMER TO REMEMBER.

Tectona has made several visits to the Scilly Isles, to Fowey, Falmouth and the Helford River, and Rob has also explored the anchorages inside the Manacles on several occasions.

The Blue Mile event in Plymouth at the start of July had brilliant weather and a Maritime Plymouth networking meeting, kindly and very effectively organised by George Skinner, took place on Tectona and the Plymouth trading ketch Bessie-Ellen for the Friday evening. We were able to talk at length with a number of people who have been connected with Tectona – past and present – including meeting the grand-daughter of her original owner in 1928 and a lady who had cruised on Tectona when she was chartered from Cdr Tom Blackwell in 1962. It was also a delight to meet on the quay several people who had been Plymouth School of Navigation trainees on board in the 1960's and 70's, and to show them round the ship.

Our second Rehab Cruise is happening later in September, and the challenge for us remains to find the funds for ever more people to benefit from Tectona. We have the people – we just need the money!

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 06:35:00 +0000

Photos: Mike Greaves.

MARCH 2010. TECTONA'S SEASON HAS BEGUN.

I know! This website is seriously out of date, but we have been busy. The site will very soon have new pictures and information.

For the first two trips of 2010 our partners Cremyll Sailing have welcomed aboard Tectona young people sponsored by charities from South Wales.

March in the English Channel! Rain, swell and strong winds but also some glorious days of blue skies and a solid sailing breeze. Following the usual briefing from Skipper Rob the new trainees [most of whom hadn't sailed before] stow their belongings with the help of Mate Emma and Bosun Jim, and put on oilskins before going on deck.

Even in the Sound the conditions are decidedly lumpy but for most people any initial feelings of seasickness were soon overcome by the physical activity of making sail and handling the gear. "I'll never learn which rope is which," people thought, not realising that all this would be second nature in 2 or 3 days' time.

Soon the ship was under way in the blustery wind under reefed mainsail, jib and mizzen. As the afternoon wore on, progress was getting slow against both wind and tide, and now without the distraction of working on deck the newcomers began to feel decidedly queasy in the rough seas. So Skipper Rob put about and by evening Tectona was in the sheltered waters of Cawsand Bay. In the calm conditions everyone felt better and there was still plenty to do, from preparing a meal and washing up to learning about knots and keeping anchor watch.

Dawn brought cleared skies and the wind had veered round to the north-north-west, giving a perfect slant for Fowey. After an early breakfast full working sail was set and Tectona sailed her anchor out. As she rounded Rame Head and brought the wind onto the beam, she picked up her heels and was soon thundering along among choppy seas with the occasional whitecap dancing over the weather rail onto the deck.

All too soon the week was over, and one trainee's comment sums it up: "I really enjoyed myself on the boat and although I'm only 15 I wish I could have the chance to work on the boat soon and carry on in sailing."

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:07:00 +0000

Photos: Mike Greaves

APRIL 2010. TECTONA'S SEASON HAS BEGUN.

I know! This website is seriously out of date, but we have been busy. We will very soon have new pictures and information for you. For the first two trips of 2010 our partners Cremyll Sailing have welcomed aboard Tectona young people sponsored by charities from South Wales.

Soon the ship was under way in the blustery wind under reefed mainsail, jib and mizzen. As the afternoon wore on, progress was getting slow against both wind and tide, and now without the distraction of working on deck the newcomers began to feel decidedly queasy in the rough seas. So Skipper Rob put about and by evening Tectona was in a sheltered anchorage. In the calm conditions everyone felt better and there was still plenty to do, from preparing a meal and washing up to learning about knots and keeping anchor watch.

Dawn brought cleared skies and the wind had veered round to the north-north-west, giving a perfect slant for Fowey. After an early breakfast full working sail was set and Tectona sailed her anchor out. As she rounded Rame Head and brought the wind ahead of the beam, she picked up her heels and was soon thundering along among choppy seas with the occasional whitecap dancing over the weather rail onto the deck.

MORE ANON!

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:35:00 +0000

2010 NEW YEAR; NEW SKIPPER

The start of the new decade sees Tectona back on Plymouth's Cattewater River in the heart of the maritime port. She also has a new sail training skipper Rob Shaw, see photo above. Despite relative youth (he might not agree) Rob has been a commercial yachtmaster for 6 years, his recent commands including Chrichtons and the Ocean Youth Trust's 72 ft ketch Whitbread which he sailed from Fiji to Australia. He previously worked with our partners Cremyll Sailing skippering Moosk, and is devoted to every aspect of the sea with a passion for traditional sail. Rob says of Tectona, "She is a beautiful boat and ideal to take young people sailing. I'm really looking forward to developing her back in her sail training role in Plymouth – she's Plymouth's baby in fact!"

We are also delighted to welcome Emma Godlee as Tectona's newly appointed first mate. Emma also has a passion for traditional sail and for four years has been mate on board Jolie Brise, another fine traditional vessel damaged in the October ASTO race, owned maintained and sailed by the pupils of Dauntsey's School. Emma's prowess at a swatch of tasks on board Tectona has already impressed many people…

To complete the line-up, we also welcome back Jim Whiteford, who was a key man in the refit of winter 2008-9, where he became known as Ratline Jim, and who has at last finally rejected the siren call of boatbuilding in GRP. Jim will be working full-time with Cremyll Sailing, and also be taking part in a scheme to train as a sail training skipper with ASTO. All this is great news.

Tectona has now had all her gear taken off and Rob's winter refit is progressing well despite the great freeze up. All the usual jobs have to be done: sails taken off and sent for cleaning and minor repairs; all the running rigging taken down and put ashore to be overhauled; the topmast housed and other spars put on deck, galley equipment put in boxes ashore. The photo show the blocks hung up in the shed at Cremyll and Chris Rees's magnificent new main gaff receiving its varnish. The ship has been thoroughly cleaned below decks and painting and varnishing have begun. Various niggles like the generator only producing 220v [instead of 240] are being addressed and lockers and gear thoroughly cleaned and painted in preparation for the new season.

Plans for 2010 are taking shape, and presentations have been given to various bodies with the aim of raising money to fund our work. Our contract with Cremyll allows us to run 4 week-long trips for "our" clients later this year, and this allocation then grows year on year. There is a lot of work to do but progress is being made!

Tectona has also had a warm reception from the planners of the new Marine Academy Plymouth, and we will be working with them to keep sail training opportunities as a vital ingredient for youngsters.

In summary, there is a great feeling of renewal around the ship, and the enthusiasm of Rob, Emma and Jim is already making the winter seem like a minor period of inclement weather which in no way has slowed the productive and enjoyable work on board. As he moves on to other projects, we will badly miss Dominic's wise presence and highly accomplished seamanship; without him we would never have got this far. We wish him all the very best for his life "after sail training"!

So the portents are absolutely excellent for the 2010 season, and if you feel like giving us a hand – in return for which a bit of sailing will certainly be offered – then please contact: roger*tectona.org.uk replacing the * with an @ !

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:57:00 +0000

FIRST REHAB TRIP A HUGE SUCCESS.

SHORTLY FOLLOWED BY COLLISION IN ASTO RACE!

Tectona's somewhat chequered first summer back in Sail Training has continued with a peak and a trough within days of each other.

On Sunday 27^th September, a group of 10 clients from the Phoenix Alpha therapeutic community joined Tectona for a 5-day charter. They were led by Stuart Plant, himself a convinced advocate for the benefits of sailing for people struggling to rebuild their lives.

Putting to sea on the Sunday evening, a problem with an engine cooling pump soon caused us to change our plans and to spend the evening beating slowly but steadily back into Plymouth Sound under sail in light conditions. The next morning, thanks to unstinting help from Gavin and Mervyn at Mount Batten Boathouse, the French-built pump was soon repaired and at 1600 we again set off for the Channel Islands.

After a night passage challenged only by staying awake for your watch and the devilish behaviour of commercial vessels in the shipping lanes, we were soon off Les Hanois rocks at the top-left corner of Guernsey. By 1300 on Tuesday we were sounding our way into Sark's Dixcart Bay where we dropped anchor in the lea of the island. Trips ashore and a hilarious rowing competition which caught out even some "experts" filled a day at anchor along with normal ship's tasks such as cooking, cleaning below and washing down on deck. By now everyone was getting on well together, there had been no seasickness at all [perhaps due to the kind provision of Scopolamine patches by Phoenix's GP] and serious repartee was setting in.

The navigational challenge of the Alderney Race lay before us as we weighed anchor (verdict = extremely heavy) early the following afternoon, and as dusk fell we found ourselves shooting along at over 10 knots over the ground. This was through seas which were calm thanks to the WNW 2-3 wind but still contained ominous slicks of upwelling water, and the occasional need for a lot of helm to keep her straight. The huge Cap de la Hague lighthouse was soon astern as we were sluiced out into the Channel once again.

A night spent sailing through Channel shipping is always a challenge, but by now each of the three watch teams were comfortable and getting skilful at the tasks involved. At times all your concentration was needed to keep her on course, or to identify the lights of ships and their direction of travel. Radar was invaluable and soon mastered by those who had not come across it before.

As the eastern sky began to lighten up the number of vessels diminished to a handful and we had a couple of hours of relaxed windward sailing as we tacked toward the Needles Channel, entering with a favourable tide at breakfast time. By late morning we were alongside East Cowes marina and ready for a run ashore. Clearing up and meetings occupied the rest of the day and everyone turned in for some sleep before an early start on the final morning which saw us berthing in Gosport by 11 o'clock.

This was our first Rehab trip, and from the crew's point of view it went really well. Hearing that rehab trips are to be part of Tectona's work, people usually react like "That's going to be hard work" or "Rather you than me!" But for humour, learning the seamanship seriously and shear good company this group from Phoenix Alpha would be hard to beat. So a hearty Thank You to Eddie, Billie, Lee, Paul, Paul, Paul, Alex, Nathan, Wayne and Simon. Yes there were 3 Pauls!

The following day skipper Dominic was joined by a new crew for the ASTO sail training race in the Solent on the Saturday, and later Tectona sailed uneventfully to Cowes to join other competitors including some very well known vessels such as Jolie Brise, Queen Galadriel, Pegasus and Duet; all with youngsters on board.

The race start was at 0900 off the illustrious Royal Yacht Squadron and the conditions were brisk with the west wind expected to reach force 6 or more. Tectona made a good start in somewhat crowded waters where nifty handling was at a premium. The start was to windward so some hard close hauled work was the first challenge for all the craft.

Unfortunately after only a few minutes Tectona's jib blew out, and her power and manoeuvrability were suddenly compromised. Ray, her very experienced and fit Mate, immediately went out on the bowsprit to tame the flogging canvas but shortly afterwards the 35ft Moody Lady Shona was bearing down on Tectona and being unable to clear her stern, the yacht's bow struck Tectona's rudder at full speed.

The impact split Tectona's rudder stock, a 9 by 7 inch baulk of teak. The rudder was still just about operative, but steering was dramatically limited. Being unable to turn to windward, Tectona briefly went aground off Egypt Point but Dominic soon got her off under her own power and undamaged, once the sails were down. The RNLI were kind enough to stand by in their Atlantic 85 RIB, and when no assistance was needed they kindly escorted Tectona back into the harbour and helped her with berthing.

Right now [mid-October]Tectona is blocked off ashore at Endeavour Quay, Gosport, and the rudder is being rebuilt at Mashfords. We hope to get her back in commission by the end of the month when at least one of the disappointed crews can have a trip back to Devon. In November she will be laid up for the winter, and we can all have a bit of a breather!

We fully share the disappointment felt by groups of youngsters who can't come sailing if the boat is out of action, but we're heartened by some excellent feedback when it does come off.

From Stuart about the Phoenix Alpha trip: "The trip was excellent and I received nothing but positive feedback from all the guys. Tectona is the perfect vessel for these trips and it was a real privilege to be a part of this process."

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:44:00 +0000

FIRST REHAB TRIP A HUGE SUCCESS…

SHORTLY FOLLOWED BY COLLISION IN ASTO RACE!

Tectona's somewhat chequered first summer back in Sail Training has continued with a peak and a trough within days of each other.

On Sunday 27^th September, a group of 10 clients from the Phoenix Alpha therapeutic community near Southampton joined Tectona for a 5-day charter. [www.phoenix-futures.org.uk] They were led by Stuart Plant, himself a convinced advocate of the benefits of sailing for people struggling to rebuild their lives.

We fully share the disappointment felt by groups of youngsters who can't come sailing if the boat is out of action, but we're heartened by some excellent feedback when it does come off.

noreply@blogger.com (Tectona Blog) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:48:00 +0000

TECTONA ONCE AGAIN SAIL TRAINING in UK [after a gap of 29 years]

20.8.09

In line with our agreement Cremyll Sailing are using Tectona exclusively for "their" sail training activities this year. This got off to a good start following our shake down trip to Brixham at the end of May, with a successful voyage from Plymouth to Cardiff at the beginning of several weeks' charter work with disadvantaged youngsters from South Wales.

Teething troubles were of course expected and we had our fair share of relatively minor glitches which were variously coped with by calling in the CORGI men and other types of dogged persistence. Until the last week of July when one day off the Mumbles drive from the engine was suddenly lost. Skipper Peter Morris tacked away from danger, but the conditions of wind and tide put Tectona in a difficult [though not dangerous] position and fleetingly it looked like "next stop Ireland..." Luckily the RNLI Mumbles lifeboat was exercising nearby and offered to tow Tectona up-wind and up-tide to a nearby mooring. Investigation showed that the shaft coupling had failed, and to cut a long story short, Tectona was then out of action for 2 weeks while repairs were made. We all felt very bad that a dozen or so young people had lost the chance to sail on board this year because of this.

Since getting back in action everything seems back to normal now, with mainly the British summer to contend with. Peter reports that since entering the Bristol Channel the topsail has not been hoisted once – it's never been less than force 5!

An advantage of Tectona being out there doing it again is that we now have feedback from some of the young people who have been on board: What do you think of the boat? "Beautiful / Nice sailing a bigger boat / Brilliant / Very spacious / A lot of work…" How about what they did? "We all learned something new / Good chance to get to know each other more / Boring being on watch…" The Staff? "The skipper was like a mother / Cool skipper / A great laugh / Tough going on deck / Bossed me around / Legends…"

So no surprises there then. It is great that, despite gearboxes and Calor Gas cookers, Tectona is really liked and the trips appreciated by the most important people – the trainees. This is thanks to the hard work and skill of Dominic and the others at Cremyll Sailing. Over the next weeks we are developing our plans and programmes to begin to involve people with mental health & rehab problems starting next season.

Tectona is due back in Plymouth towards the end of week beginning 7^th September, when she will once again be on the mooring off Mashfords in between trips.

Thanks to all of you who have been in contact through the "submit" button on the left of this page. More anon!