The Golden Cloud 5/5/13 Fishguard Pembrokeshire
90 miles down, ~410 to go.
At 2am Yesterday morning Billy and I made our final preperations and set sail for Fishguard, hoping in the kindest way possible to never see Aberaeron again! However, our excitement was shortlived as we soon found the sea far too rough and a teething problem with the engine again! I knew i could work round this issue, but feeling both tired and not prepared to go into a big sea with only hand start on the engine we tightened up the ropes back on Aberaeron Quay. Not to be detered at first light, after a quick stop to the bakery, we started on some more niggling improvements to the boat and by the time the tide returned, we couldnt be more ready. So at 1445 we slipped lines for what would be the final time in both Aberaeron and Ceredigion, and we set off for Fishguard.
The trip is a reasonably long one but doesn't have any significant navigational hazards, our biggest issue was a mountianous and choppy sea, and strong winds straight on the nose. We prepared sail but in the end these stayed lashed down and we ended up motoring the whole way. We just wouldn't have made enough headroom to make it worth while.
Along the route we were stalked by an incredibly interested flock of guilmots, and one seagull who took a shining to our fishing line... i'm so glad he didnt go for it, needless to say we soon brought it back in. The grace, ease and speed of these proffesional sea goers was a signt to behold, we only wished to mimic them in any way.
As we came to Newquay Head we discussed very quickly that this was the last possible safe haven before Newport (in spitting distance of Fishguard) as Cardigan Harbour had said they were too dangerous to enter. The conversation was Swift.... LETS DO IT!
Soon we sped past, a good few miles offshore, the coastal settlement and MOD test firing range at Aberporth, where i'm sure i spotted a dolphin as billy was sick. Then the first and testing manouver of a refuel at sea. I knew she would make it on one tank but i didn't want another air lock or RNLI call out! So big jerry out, and siphon tube was the order of the day to avoid splashing too much.... Let me tell you know, Desiel Burps are not nice. As sun set we rounded Cardigan Island with giant waves smashing into the coast visible even to us miles off shore. Then as darkness fell Billy spotted Strumble Head Lighthouse and soon Fishguard Harbour lights. Billy masterfully helmed through the big seas, amazing as it was only his first time. While I cat napped between navigating and writing the log. Every time I awoke we were nearer to our destination more lights on the coast were visible and Billy without the aid of seeing the charts was bang on course.
And a lovely supprise as Strumble became a shimmer over the top of a suiluet of the hills of Fishguard. A wonderful fireworks display in Cardigan! Something tells me they didnt want me to harbour their!
As we passed the final headland and officially entered Fishguard Bay the seas and winds calmed around us leaving us oncourse and ontime for my predicted midnight entry. Then on the horizon a beacon of light to steal our thunder, The Stena Line Fishguard-Rosslare ferry was on the horizon and gaining on us fast! I altered our route to take us outside where i thought he'd go and added a bit more speed to make sure we rounded the harbour wall before he did, and thus into saftey.
Soon he was right upon us but we were inside the calm waters of the harbour and preparing to anchor in GoodWick sands. Radio conversations with the Harbour Master and Milford Coastguard to check we were safe insued, before we made the final approaches. It nearly got very hairy here as the mainly unlit harbour (inc. unlit bouys, boats and pontoons) soon caught us out even tho we looked as hard as we could. A half submerged pallet attached to a bouy caught on the bow, neither of us had seen it, luckily it glanced off us and the masterfully added Skeg from the previous owner pushed it's rope away from our prop. We rounded up into the wind and dropped anchor. Successfully in fishguard. Our and my longest leg so far, a brilliant test for the engine and a successful journey. Weather doesnt look ace today or tomorrow, and with Strumble and St Davids Head our next leg I think we'll seak the haven of Fishguard Old Town tonight and continue working on the boat.
In other news I recieved a wadge of donations to the charitable cause from Aberaeron under the impressive flags of the RNLI and Isle of Wight Blind Society. Fingers crossed we can muster some more from fishguard. Just Giving Page should be up and running soon, but thier not making it easy for the IOW Blind Society to join... sounds like its a "charity website" only for the big boys!
As they say in Greenland (but probably don't spell it like this) Ka-shult-ta!
(means cheers)
Joe
sponsor
Showing posts with label trip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trip. Show all posts
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Preperation to Continue
The Golden Cloud 3/5/13 - Aberaeron MidWales -
60 miles down, ~440 to go.
And So after the madness of the last few days finally I feel prepared to go again. The issue with the cloud's engine turned out to be significantly more minor than originally realised, although the trouble shooting of the engine and fuel system has lead to significant improvements in the engines running and has given me confidence in both the engine and myself.
In my week in Aberaeron (instead of the 12 hours originally planned) has been fantastic, the weather has been great, and the towns folk (especially those of the Yacht Club and the Grandparents of Heather O'rourke) have been fantastic. Not a moment seemed to go by on that mooring where there wasnt some well wisher or sailor wishing me thier best and offering any assistance possible. It just shows how much the sea can bring us together.
And so as i sit in an Arriva bus enroute back from Cardiff after passing my Naval fitness and medical, I am filled with great excitement for the forthcoming week. Billy Whitehouse is crewing with me for a few days, the forecast is sunny, and hopefully the wind isnt as brisk as forecast so we can safely make Cornwall by the week's end.
Mind you, my engine blues continue... The Bus has stopped on the hard shoulder of the M4, "serious engine overheat" maybe i'm just bad luck for these things!!!
Sadly my internets not great but next time i find an Internet Cafe there will be a few photos to put up!
Bon Voyage
Joe
P.S. This Trip is no longer raising funds for Surfers Against Sewage.
60 miles down, ~440 to go.
And So after the madness of the last few days finally I feel prepared to go again. The issue with the cloud's engine turned out to be significantly more minor than originally realised, although the trouble shooting of the engine and fuel system has lead to significant improvements in the engines running and has given me confidence in both the engine and myself.
In my week in Aberaeron (instead of the 12 hours originally planned) has been fantastic, the weather has been great, and the towns folk (especially those of the Yacht Club and the Grandparents of Heather O'rourke) have been fantastic. Not a moment seemed to go by on that mooring where there wasnt some well wisher or sailor wishing me thier best and offering any assistance possible. It just shows how much the sea can bring us together.
And so as i sit in an Arriva bus enroute back from Cardiff after passing my Naval fitness and medical, I am filled with great excitement for the forthcoming week. Billy Whitehouse is crewing with me for a few days, the forecast is sunny, and hopefully the wind isnt as brisk as forecast so we can safely make Cornwall by the week's end.
Mind you, my engine blues continue... The Bus has stopped on the hard shoulder of the M4, "serious engine overheat" maybe i'm just bad luck for these things!!!
Sadly my internets not great but next time i find an Internet Cafe there will be a few photos to put up!
Bon Voyage
Joe
P.S. This Trip is no longer raising funds for Surfers Against Sewage.
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
Summer 2013 Plan
The Golden Cloud 26/2/13
What a busy few week's its been since I returned from the land of Ice, and ice, and ice, and oh a bit more ice.
On return from Greenland I decided that this summer me and The Cloud would be going on an adventure. Over a nice cup of tea with a good friend Billy Whitehouse, and then numerous phone calls to charity's and sponsors a plan slowly formulated, and its one I'm now very excited to announce.
Summary: 2300 Mile Anti-Clockwise Lap of the UK leaving 1st of May, doing beach cleans every overnight stop (aim 1000 bags of rubbish) raising funds for Surfers against Sewage, RNLI, Isle of Wight Society for the Blind and The Multiple Sclerosis Society.
On the 1st of May 2013, The Golden Cloud will depart Ynyslas, and after stopping off in Aberdovey, will head South to do a 2300 nautical mile of the United Kingdom, in an anti-clockwise direction. The route according to passage planning software would take 35 days of direct sailing with a vessel profile similar to golden cloud. However, the plan is not to rush this and enjoy the journey as much as the destination. We plan to do 20-50 miles (~4-7 hours) sailing a day, taking advantage of the best weather and tidal conditions, and staying at anchor when it's not ideal.
It also takes in Every Capital of the UK (Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Belfast) as well as the City's of Bristol, Falmouth, Plymouth, Poole, Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton, Dover, Newcastle, Liverpool, Bangor etc.
The journey will give us a chance to see this beautiful nation of ours from angles we've never seen it before.
As per normal on the Cloud the journey will be planned as Sustainable, Low Cost and Eco-friendly as possible.
The plan is to live off the sea, fish and forage where possible, we'll even try to grow some veg and mushrooms in the limited space onboard. The plan is to sail everywhere as much as possible without using the motor unless absolutely nessasary (emergency's and tight harbour manoeuvring). All our electric will come from a small solar panel on deck. I'm even looking into changing the motor to a electric one that runs off the panel!
Its planned that we will moor in little bays and harbours instead of marinas and ports, as there is increasing evidence that large marinas are unsustainable, and huge point sources of pollution from oil in bilge pumps, antifoul paints, sewage from sea toilets and litter. We will reduce our impact in this way because the boat has no sea-toilet, all garbage will be recycled where possible and binned, and we will be careful in the use of antifoul paints and bilge pumps. Added to this the anchoring in open bays and smaller harbours means any pollution from us will be a more dilute source and thus more easily dealt with by nature.
We wanted to give something back as part of the trip ans so we decided that we would collect sea-rubbish, an ever increasing plight on the coastal beauty of the world (we even saw it in Greenland!)
After talking to Surfers against Sewage we have decided to do a beach clean at every overnight stop and aim to collect 1000+ bags of rubbish. We want to do this to add to the cause, but also to make our trip a positive one for the environment, making it better after we leave than when we arrive, and to highlight the issue of sea rubbish to a wider audience.
And in the past few hours I can gladly announce the 1st Commercial Sponsor for the Project "The Muckboot Company". The Company are supplying the crew with their specialist, hard wearing neopreyne boots. In Greenland we wore Muckboots for sailing was very impressed, hence going to Muckboot for sponsorship.
And so the next step! Well were currently looking for crew and sponsorship (personal and commercial) for the journey. A just giving site will be set up shortly after we have discussed things through with the charitys. If you would like to become part of the crew, want to help with your local beach clean, want to help out in the organisation, or have any ideas or offers for sponsorship, Please send me an email on joeberpearce@yahoo.co.uk
Looking forward to a Great Summer!
What a busy few week's its been since I returned from the land of Ice, and ice, and ice, and oh a bit more ice.
On return from Greenland I decided that this summer me and The Cloud would be going on an adventure. Over a nice cup of tea with a good friend Billy Whitehouse, and then numerous phone calls to charity's and sponsors a plan slowly formulated, and its one I'm now very excited to announce.
Summary: 2300 Mile Anti-Clockwise Lap of the UK leaving 1st of May, doing beach cleans every overnight stop (aim 1000 bags of rubbish) raising funds for Surfers against Sewage, RNLI, Isle of Wight Society for the Blind and The Multiple Sclerosis Society.
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| The Giants Causeway http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Giant's_Causeway_-_geograph.org.uk_-_133.jpg |
The Route plan includes natural beauties like The Scilly Isles, various gorgeous estuaries, Ramsey and Skomer Islands, The White Cliffs of Dover, the North West of Scotland, and the The Giants Causeway to name but a few.
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| Seeing the Puffin's of Skomer Island http://www.coolplaces.co.uk/places/uk/wales/pembrokeshire/st-davids/1596-skomer-island |
It also takes in Every Capital of the UK (Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Belfast) as well as the City's of Bristol, Falmouth, Plymouth, Poole, Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton, Dover, Newcastle, Liverpool, Bangor etc.
 |
| A personal highlight will be sailing under Tower Bridge Source http://www.travlang.com/blog/category/london-travel-guide/ |
As per normal on the Cloud the journey will be planned as Sustainable, Low Cost and Eco-friendly as possible.
The plan is to live off the sea, fish and forage where possible, we'll even try to grow some veg and mushrooms in the limited space onboard. The plan is to sail everywhere as much as possible without using the motor unless absolutely nessasary (emergency's and tight harbour manoeuvring). All our electric will come from a small solar panel on deck. I'm even looking into changing the motor to a electric one that runs off the panel!
Its planned that we will moor in little bays and harbours instead of marinas and ports, as there is increasing evidence that large marinas are unsustainable, and huge point sources of pollution from oil in bilge pumps, antifoul paints, sewage from sea toilets and litter. We will reduce our impact in this way because the boat has no sea-toilet, all garbage will be recycled where possible and binned, and we will be careful in the use of antifoul paints and bilge pumps. Added to this the anchoring in open bays and smaller harbours means any pollution from us will be a more dilute source and thus more easily dealt with by nature.
We wanted to give something back as part of the trip ans so we decided that we would collect sea-rubbish, an ever increasing plight on the coastal beauty of the world (we even saw it in Greenland!)
After talking to Surfers against Sewage we have decided to do a beach clean at every overnight stop and aim to collect 1000+ bags of rubbish. We want to do this to add to the cause, but also to make our trip a positive one for the environment, making it better after we leave than when we arrive, and to highlight the issue of sea rubbish to a wider audience.
 |
| Beach Litter Picture Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/apr/08/waste-marine-life |
Added to this we aim to raise money for the RNLI for their work for seafarers, The Isle of Wight Society for the Blind and The Multiple Sclerosis Society for the help they gave my dad when he lost his sight with MS a few years ago, and Surfers against Sewage for there work cleaning up the coast. |
| http://rnli.org |
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| http://www.iwsightconcern.org.uk/ |
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| http://www.wight-ms.org.uk/ |
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| http://www.sas.org.uk |
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| http://www.muckbootcompany.com |
And in the past few hours I can gladly announce the 1st Commercial Sponsor for the Project "The Muckboot Company". The Company are supplying the crew with their specialist, hard wearing neopreyne boots. In Greenland we wore Muckboots for sailing was very impressed, hence going to Muckboot for sponsorship.
And so the next step! Well were currently looking for crew and sponsorship (personal and commercial) for the journey. A just giving site will be set up shortly after we have discussed things through with the charitys. If you would like to become part of the crew, want to help with your local beach clean, want to help out in the organisation, or have any ideas or offers for sponsorship, Please send me an email on joeberpearce@yahoo.co.uk
Looking forward to a Great Summer!
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Greenland
Greenland
The Golden Cloud 10/2/2013
And so on came 3 months in Greenland. I arrived with 3 gentlemen from ITN News producing for Channel 4 about the recent low sea ice and high
melt of the Arctic Ocean and Greenland. It was a fantastic experience for my
first few days as not only did it take the focus off me but also it meant it
was all recorded for showing friends and family when I got home!
Channel 4 News Footage (via youtube)
Sailing in the High Arctic is something quite amazing,
through the 500 odd miles I clocked up on the 47ft Gambo, the 3m rib and the 4m
hovercraft we cruised through gigantic ice sculptures the size of towerblocks,
and hugh pads of sea ice. Temperatures down to -29°c added to by icy cold winds off the ice
sheet, and the towering Store and Lille Glaciers, the brightly coloured Inuit
settlements delicately placed on stunning mountainsides, the quietness of the
long winter night. It is defiantly something I’ll never forget.
.JPG) |
| Arctic Fox |
.JPG) |
| 2 arctic hares (photo: James Killingbeck) |
I saw the beautiful Arctic Fox, Arctic Hare’s bouncing off
on a ridge above the ice sheet as we went to check time-lapse cameras above the
glaciers, striking white Tarmagan flying up from the snow, a Minke Whale diving
just infront of the Gambo, as well as our gorgeous and cuddly Greenlandic Dogs
(like husky’s) Ukioq (means winter in Greenlandic), Nuliaq (means wife, she was
an old moody female so fitting), Tornalique (sort of means spot the dog :P),
and Qoorka who we never found what his name meant but he was a lovely cuddly
mess!
.JPG) |
| Ukioq (photo: Alex Baubin) |
.JPG) |
| Nuliaq |
One of my best memories of my time in Greenland was taking a
walk along a snow covered ridge with Ukioq, I fell into a snow drift up to my
shoulders. Whilst I rolled out to try to get my legs back from the snow, young
Ukioq jumped down onto my chest to save himself from jumping in the snow too,
he then proceeded to roll up and fall asleep on me. I thought that was taking
it abit far, and we had plenty of walking still to do, so I tossed him back
into the drift and walked on! He stared up quite confused, but then gleefully
ran on.
Another was of the fantastic Northern Lights we had during
the deep dark winter, one night with them gleaming and dancing like never
before in Green and shades of red and i think even purple, I got out my sleeping bag on the
deck in minus sixteen and watched them till I fell to sleep. The skys out there
were stunning, the stars so clear, the moon glistening at times all “day” and
all night, and shooting stars flying almost constantly. On the journey back to
civilisation I think I may have even seen a supernova (star exploding). Looking
up at the stars one suddenly blew up, sending a bright white flash across the
darkness, and almost as quickly as it started it was gone. Speaking to friends
who think they know science and astronomy they tell me a supernova would have
taken longer than the seconds of this, but perhaps it was a shooting star
heading straight towards me. Either way it was pretty special.
In Early January it was time to come back, and so we got the
Hovercraft out and sped across the sea ice toward the replacement crew. After a
few days of failed attempts we finally, safely met up, and back I went. It was
quite overwhelming getting back to the Tiny fishing settlement of Ikerasak,
after 3 months only seeing Cpt. Nolwenn and crewmate Alex, so many people! so
many houses! Then onto the Metropolis of the tiny Uummannaq Settlement, and
then the Citadel of Ililusat with its 4000 inhabitants! Every step back to
normal civilisation was quite intense but also taught me what I’d learnt about
even more than before wanting to live simple, live sustainable, and live
resourcefully with what I have, that I didn’t need capitalistic, buy now think
later anymore. For the last 4 months I’d washed myself and my clothes using a
saucepan on a small hob, rinsing in seawater. Every drop of drinking water from
November mined from icebergs, every ounce of food even fresh veg and eggs had
been brought with us, so I’d learnt of how to ration and eat reasonably, how to
store food for a long period (admittedly in an environment like a freezer). So
back to the Golden Cloud I go with new knowledge of how its done!
Now as I know its what everyone wants to see... Pictures
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| Midday in the winter night! |
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| Warning Sled Dogs |
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| Planking in Illulisat Icefjord |
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| Alex and Nolwenn on the Hovercraft |
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| Base Camp |
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| Capt. Nolwenn |
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| Windows from the inside |
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| The Arrival of the Food Container |
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| View across the sea ice.... notice wolffish skin drying |
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| Working in Base Camp (Photo: James Killingbeck) |
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| The Sea Ice First Forming |
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| Going Fishing in the ice (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Ukioq looking over the anchorage (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Ukioq in the Snow (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Frozen Ice Waterfall (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Gambo pre seaice (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Ukioq the crazy puppy (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Me on an iceberg (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Me helming gambo infront of store (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| The icebergs at sea (photo Alex Baubin) |
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| Kayaking infront of Ikerasak (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Ikerasak Harbour (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Whale Meat (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| The ice in Lille/Store Fjords |
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| Me infront of the ice sheet (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Dr Alun Hubbard walking across a frozen lake (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Ukioq on the Kayak (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Gambo in the frozen anchorage (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Santa's holiday house |
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| Lille (little) glacier |
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| Gambo anchored off Ikerasak (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| Me taking C4 out to film (Photo James Killingbeck) |
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| The Fish drying in rigging and ice |
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| C4 filming |
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| c4 news team |
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| Kangerlussuaq Airport sign post |
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| Vietnam type Bell Utility Helicopters we used (yes i did listen to Jimmy Hendrix on my ipod whilst on this) |
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| The ice in Lille fjord |
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| The Very James Bond looking plane at Kanger |
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| Me at Illilisat Airport |
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| Me with precious onions (Photo Alex Baubin) |
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| Sea ice forming |
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| Ice ice baby (Photo Alex Baubin) |
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| Fingers of ice coming down the mountians |
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| The town of Uummannaq |
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| The town of Uummannaq |
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| Ukioq |
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| Lille Outlet Glacier (Lille means little!) |
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| Store Outlet Glacier (store quite rightly means big) |
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| Boat at anchor (Photo: Alun Hubbard) |
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| Ukioq near lille |
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| The Anchorage |
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| Gambo at Store |
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| Pretty Berg |
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| Up the mast |
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| Ikerasak |
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| Up the mast |
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| Iceberg |
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| Underwater ice |
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| Ice in store fjord |
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| Failed star jump |
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| Alex attacked by dogs |
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| Ikerasak Harbour ... dog sleds on the harbour |
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| Notice seal blood in fishermans boat |
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| Cpt. James Killingbeck |
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| Nolwenn mending hovercraft |
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| The Crew Swap |
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| Alex and Nolwen |
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| Some pirates i made |
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| Captain and Academic Nolwenn |
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| Frozen breath in my beard |
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| The wolf fish i made pants from |
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| First sight of gambo in Uummannaq harbour |
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| Me at helm (Photo Alex Baubin) |
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| Singing with Soul |
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