MOUNT’S
BAY LUGGER ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER
2007
Editorial
Please
forward anything you consider might be of
interest to our membership to Ray Fordham,
either by email to rmwfordham@dsl.pipex.com
or by post to 1 Higher Eglos Cottages, Ludgvan,
Penzance TR20 8HQ. Copy for the next letter
should reach me by the end of March 2008.
Please
address all membership applications and renewals
to David Keast, 21, St.
Golder Road,
Newlyn,
Penzance,
Cornwall,
TR18
5QW. e-mail david.keast@btinternet.com
Other
correspondence should be addressed to our
secretary Neil Mills, North View, Churchtown,
Illogan, Redruth,
Cornwall,
TR16 4SW. e-mail neilmills2@talktalk.net
Looking
for a present for someone
special? MBLA
membership lasts a year and contributes to
the up-keep of Happy Return, part of Cornwall’s
Maritime Heritage. Contact David Keast to
arrange.
For
members only, we have now introduced very
fetching black tee
and polo shirts with the association logo.
Our Chairman and Treasurer have just modelled
them for the website.
We are looking for a volunteer to help market
the shirts but for the meantime they are
available from:
MBLA –tee shirts, Mark
Mitchell, Mulfra Vean, Newmill, Penzance,
Cornwall TR20 8XP. (email:mark.mulfra@tiscali.co.uk
tel.
01736 333224)
Sizes:
XL, Large and Medium. Prices: Tee Shirt £8.50.
Polo shirt £12.00.
Arrange to collect locally
or add post and packing £2.00.
Cheques to be
made out to Mount’s Bay Lugger Association and
sent to Mark.
AGM:
Wednesday
19th March 2008.
7.30 for
8.00 p.m.
at the
Yacht Inn,
Penzance
. NB Note change of venue.
Nominations
for election to the Executive Committee and any
other business items should be sent in writing
to the secretary Neil Mills by 1st March.
Members
are reminded that the annual subscription of £15
becomes due at the AGM. However,
those
who joined after 1 September this year are
covered through to March 2009.
Shore
Contacts. In
future, our membership application form will
include a request for the name and phone number
of someone on shore to contact in case of an
emergency while sailing. Please would existing
members provide this information to David Keast
so that your
details can be updated.
Message
from your Chairman
Another
good year of sailing for MBLA despite the poor
weather at the start.
We
attended the Looe Lugger Festival and had trips
to the Isles of Scilly and St Ives although the
most popular events continue to be our evening
sails which are frequently oversubscribed.
Maintenance
has started well with dry weather enabling
volunteers to get on with essential painting.
However, there is still a lot of work to be
carried out before next year’s sailing season
so volunteers are always welcome. Join us on
board in Penzance Dock on Saturdays from
11.00
a.m.
If you are unable to stay then we can find you a
suitable job to return to at your convenience.
We are again asking members to adopt a part of
the lugger to maintain so come on board and make
your choice!
Your
Committee has applied for a grant towards a new
engine to replace our current smokey old one for
something more environmentally friendly along
with an efficient folding propeller to reduce
drag when sailing. Thanks to the Committee for
working on this latest development and
particularly to our Treasurer John Tellam for
all the additional paperwork involved in seeking
grant aid.
This
year we have been experimenting with a bowsprit
and jibsail to improve the balance of the boat.
Trials indicate that we need something longer so
look out for further developments.
The
Committee is already planning next year’s
programme so let us know if you have any
specific requests.
HAPPY SAILING IN 2008 TO ALL OUR
MEMBERS.
St
Ives Safari by Christine Hughes
A
hunt for the very rare Jumbo, once thought
extinct but now brought back to life by St Ives
born Jonny Nance.
These half-size luggers were used for
hand lining from St Ives over a hundred years
ago and Jonny is hoping that Jumbo “Celeste”
is going to be the first of many.
Outward
Crew; Skipper Mark Mitchell, mate David Need,
Tamsin Donaldson (cousin to Jonny Nance and
visiting from Australia), Neil
Mills, Hermione Morrison, Barbara Tremain,
Wilma Robson, Dick Banfield, Julia Johnson, Alan
Macrae and Chris Hughes.
We
started with the usual nip to Newlyn on Friday
night (catch of the day and chips in the
Tolcarne – ‘andsome!).
Departing horribly early the next morning
with our crew in various states of dress &
awareness, we made a good start in fine weather.
Passed Tater Du 0730 and alarmed some fishermen
as we cut inside the Runnelstone ... “
you’re on the stones
!!!”
Between
Land’s End
and Longships, Kettles
Bottom and Sharksfin were very visible then,
with
Cape
Cornwall
in sight, fog!
The Brisons disappeared.
With the wind northerly force 4, we
sailed a starboard tack WELL west of the Brisons,
using occasional radar checks to fix our
position, then tacked in towards Pendeen.
Feeling
the need for even more excitement, we then
snagged the main halyard at the top of the mast
and volunteered Dave to be hauled up in the
Bosun’s Chair (actually a fetching rope
version, crafted by Mark) to sort it out.
Time
was running out to reach our goal (and the
promised tea and Saffron buns), so there was a
bit of motor-sailing on to St Ives.
Finally made The Island around
3pm
, spotting the lovely
“Dolly Pentreath” doing her stuff in the
bay. With some clever tacking, we came (almost)
into the harbour under sail and there she was,
the new-born Jumbo “Celeste”; small but
beautifully formed.
We swiftly got ourselves alongside the
harbour wall, put down the legs, took Tamsin off
to find cousin Jonny then accidentally fell in
through the door of “The Sloop”, where it
seemed rude not to have a pint.
We did eventually have the aforementioned
saffron bun and I remember a very comfy sofa in
the “
Union
”, then it’s a bit of a
blur!
Return Trip: Skipper
Mark, David, Peter May, Ray Fordham, Neil, Alan,
Chris & Julia.
Up
cruelly early again on Sunday Morning (damn
those tides) and out of the harbour by 0630.
All sails up and into quite a chop, wind
NE 3-4, which continued until down off Pendeen.
A couple of slightly green faces cured by
a good fry-up, Mark style.
The
weather improved steadily, sailed inside
Longships again and stayed well inshore round to
Porthcurno, where we anchored under Treen Cliff
and had a make-the–people-on-the-beach jealous
lunch. The
sun came out and Julia had a swim – this was
definitely more like it!
Back
round to PZ and sailed about until we HAD to go
in; just caught the gate at 5.30.
