Folkestone
Voyage 2005
It
is appropriate that we included a voyage to Folkestone by
the Happy Return during this first full season of our sailing
programme. We met many old and new friends who kindly provided us with so much information on the history of
the vessel during it's early years spent working from this port.
Many family members and relatives of the original owners from
around the world arranged to see the vessel in Folkestone
once again in it's original glory and they were able to
experience the perilous lives that their ancestors spent working
aboard.
It
is just 100 years since the Happy Return made it's first voyage
from Porthleven at Kitto's Yard, where she was built, to the new
owners in Folkestone. She was originally paid for by
public subscription in Folkestone on a wave
of public sympathy for a local skipper John (Jack)
Warman Saunders who lost his boat the Good
Intent in a storm in 1904.
We
took
part in the
SAILATHON
2005
on our 400 mile voyage to
Folkestone
from Penzance which started on 19th July 2005!
The
Association would like to take this opportunity to thank all the
people who took part in this event and especially our friends in
Folkestone who gave us such a tremendous welcome.
Folkestone
has a strong affiliation towards Mounts Bay in Cornwall as the
majority of it's fishing fleet at the start of the last century
was built at Porthleven - mainly because of the strength, speed
and reliability of these vessels. This bond may have declined in
recent years but we hope that this voyage may help in renewing
old ties between Folkestone and the people of Mounts
Bay.
Summary of the log
Monday 18th
July: Happy
Return was moved from Penzance to Newlyn
The
Happy Return takes pride of place at Newlyn on the lifeboat
pontoon alongside the Ivan Ellen the 17 metre-long all-weather
Severn class lifeboat - the largest in the RNLI fleet.
Tuesday 19th July: Blessing
by the Newlyn Mission Superintendent David Whitehead at 12.00 noonT
Brian
Barton, a relative of the family of the
original owners, has
a surprise - he has been booked on the voyage back to Folkstone
as a member of the six crew! He is being interviewed here by
Janette Eathorne for Cornwall Connected
The Happy Return
departed Newlyn for Porthleven at 13.00
A
brief stop was scheduled at Porthleven at around 14.30, but the
conditions meant that she only passed by the harbour at close
quarters.
The
Happy Return off Porthleven at about 14.10 in a westerly force 5
now making course for the Lizard
Moored up at Custom House Quay in Falmouth for the evening
at 18.30
Wednesday 20th July: The Happy
Return departed Falmouth for Plymouth Area making 7 knots
under main and staysail and
anchored at Barn Pool for the night at 17.45
Thursday 21st July: Departed Plymouth for Dartmouth
and moored up to the Town Quay at 17.30
Friday 22nd
July: Departed Dartmouth and moored to Brixham
Town Quay at 14.00
Saturday 23rd July: Departed Brixham
and made Weymouth Harbour at 19.15
Sunday 24th
July: Departed Weymouth and anchored
off Swanage Pier at 14.20 where Peter Barrett the previous owner
met the Happy Return. Left Swanage at 17.00.
( www.alcrook.co.uk)
Monday 25th July:
Moored
Cowes Marina at 08.30 -
-
and later arrived at Sovereign Harbour
Eastbourne at 19.00
Tuesday 26th July: Departed Eastbourne Sovereign
and arrived Folkestone Harbour at 16.00
Thursday 28th July:
Mayor
of Folkestone's Civic
Reception at 13.00 with pipe
band and relatives of John Warman Saunders who sailed the
boat from Cornwall 100 years ago. There
was a blessing
by the Folkestone Mission Superintendent John
Field who received the cheque for £20,000 from the crew of the
Happy Return to be carried on the next leg of the Sailathon
2005.
 
Cast
off 19.30 for Penzance.
Saturday 28th July:
Brixham
Marina 10.08
Sunday
30th July: Cawsand
Bay 20.00
Monday
1st August:
Fowey Harbour at anchor 17.30
Tuesday
2nd August:
Moored up to Falmouth Maritime Museum at 12.00 (until Sunday 7th
August)
Sunday 7th August:
Arrived Penzance to complete the voyage.
Sailathon 2005
Sailing the Seven Seas around UK
for the Year of the Sea 2005 for the Fishermen's Mission
This
was a round the UK relay involving yacht clubs,
trusts and private boats carrying a TSB/Lloyds bounty cheque, starting at
Greenwich Y.C.
and finishing back in the heart for London at St Katherine's Marina.
This unique
historic event was a celebration for the Year of the Sea
2005 when boats relayed a giant cheque around the UK for
charity, raising money for The Fishermen's
Mission. The Seven
Seas are the
North Sea, North Channel, Atlantic
Ocean, Irish Sea, St George's Channel, Bristol Channel,
English Channel and (actually there are
eight) the Celtic Sea.
The following authorities
kindly waived their mooring fees in favour of the The Fishermen's Mission.
Falmouth Harbour Commission.
Dartmouth Harbour Authority.
Weymouth Harbour Authority.
Sovreign Harbour Marina Ltd.,
Eastbourne
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