The Author worked with an insurance broker with Lloyds of London handling claims worldwide.

On retirement he spent nigh on six years with two companies handling their claims.

BALADIN

To my dear patient and tolerant wife Anne

Geoff Shelton

BALADIN

Copyright Geoff helton The right of Geoff helton to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section !! and !" of the Copyright# $esigns and %atents Act &'"". All rights reser(ed. )o part of this publication may be reproduced# stored in a retrie(al system# or transmitted in any form or by any means# electronic# mechanical# photocopying# recording# or otherwise# without the prior permission of the publishers. Any person who commits any unauthori*ed act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and ci(il claims for damages. A C+% catalogue record for this title is a(ailable from the ,ritish Library. + ,) '!" &-'./ 0!1 & www.austinmacauley.com 2irst %ublished 314&-5 Austin 6acauley %ublishers Ltd. 10 Canada 7uare Canary 8harf London 9&- 0L,

%rinted and bound in Great ,ritain

1 The First Steps

There are many misguided people who think that purchasing a boat is as simple as buying a car or a washing machine# howe(er nothing could be further from the truth. ,uying a boat is not the product of di(ine inspiration nor indeed a fanciful whim. )o sensible man awakes from his slumbers and announces :Today + buy myself a boat. 6ost men with a spirit of ad(enture surging through their (eins ha(e fanciful dreams regarding the freedom of the seas# of snow white sails billowing with the fresh salt sea airs# with a warm sun percolating through ones clothes# the blue skies abo(e and the gentle wa(es of green seas breaking into small white crests. 2or most these dreams lie dormant but for a minority the dream is constantly with you# niggling at the pit of your stomach# somewhere in your subconscious mind a (oice is urging you to make that dream a reality. )o one can pin point with accuracy the (ery time they allowed themsel(es to be seduced with these flights of fancy. +t could ha(e been sparked off as a child on a (isit to the seaside. +t could ha(e been a colourful tra(el brochure or a na(al uniform. +nterest may ha(e been aroused by a film or a snatch of a seamans con(ersation but you may be sure that whate(er the cause the seed had been sown. +t may appear that from here on out that it was ;ust a matter of making your purchase# but ;ust as the dawn is slow to break so too is the proposed (enture. There is of course the finance aspect. 8hat can + afford< 8here can + keep it< 8hat are the running costs and indeed what type of boat< ,ut dear reader there is one hurdle that can exceed and surpass all other considerations# namely ones spouse# ones (ery dear wife. 2rom early in ones married state she has looked after you and cared for you. he has scrimped and sa(ed for you# she has

economised on your behalf and gone without. he has in your interest foregone new shoes# dresses and coats to ensure a happy and financially secure future. 8hat would she say if she knew the thoughts rebounding in the ca(erns of your mind< +t would be most unwise to tempt pro(idence and re(eal those plans# so our future sailor has to ac7uire subtlety. Already e(en in the absence of a (essel your character is being moulded without your being aware of it. 8ithout a boat or a mooring# and e(en though the immediate prospect of ac7uiring those items may appear far off# you ha(e got subtlety. The 7uestion is how to use it< +f a man knows his wife 3which one suspects the ma;ority do not5 he will already be aware whether she is in fa(our# indifferent# opposed# (iolently opposed or would threaten di(orce. =ust as the seeds ha(e been sown in your mind so you also must be the instigator of sowing seeds in your wifes mind. There are a (ariety of ways to do this and it may take years# but do not be disturbed by this# because you will slowly ac7uire another ingredient to your character# namely patience. This will be in(aluable when you finally buy your boat. 8hile no aspiring sailor would openly admit the fact# but he is becoming de(ious. ubtlety is a better word but to oneself it is downright de(iousness# for example buy a yachting maga*ine and when you get home claim it was gi(en to you by a friend in the office. )e(er destroy the maga*ine# lea(e it lying around and e(en if you know where it is ask your wife if she has put it away somewhere. $o not at this stage mention buying a boat. ,y all means show her selecti(e pictures and especially the ladies nautical fashions.

6ake a habit of walking along towpaths and ri(erbanks or seashores. Linger at the sight of a boat whether you like it or not. $raw your wifes attention to its lines and shape# dont hesitate to express an opinion when the crew handling the (essel is older than yourself. +f you ha(e children use them to ad(antage# take them on boating lakes# buy them toy yachts and motor boats. ,y indoctrinating your children they can without realising it speak to their mother of the ;oy they ha(e experienced. +f you do not ha(e children then buy yourself a small plastic boat that you can use in the bath. >ou may well be teased about this# but it is all part of the long term plan and e(ery time your wife takes a bath your little boat will be there as a constant reminder# or to put it another way a constant ad(ertisement. +t was the plastic tug boat that + bought for myself that finally worked the miracle# but in a manner that would not ha(e my recommendation. +t happened like this. 6y bathroom

has blue tiled walls and one day when + had some central heating experts changing a radiator they did in the process chip one of the tiles. 6y wife rescued the china chippings and put them on the corner of the bath optimistically hoping that + would stick them back from whence they came. ome weeks elapsed without her hopes coming to fruition so being a tidy sort of person she put the blue and white chippings in my blue and white tug boat. The next time she put to sea 3the boat not the wife5 + was unaware she was carrying a dangerous deck cargo and when the aforesaid (essel hit rough waters she turned turtle and deposited her cargo in the (icinity of my backside. +t was that episode and my lacerated posterior which caused me to think that a real boat could not be as dangerous as this# but how does one capitalise on such an e(ent< ?emember opportunities like this do not happen too often. The thing to do is to cry out loudly# make a fuss. ure enough the better half came running and inspected the scene of the accident. After a brief con(ersation she uttered those magic words# words that + yearned to hear. @8ell if you need a boat you had better get one.A @$o you really mean it<A @>es of course + do.A )ow ladies fre7uently ha(e a change of mind so it is necessary to tactfully remind them on appropriate occasions that your future boat has or will be bought with her blessing.

2 Baladin
The next stage is of course to find the right boat for you. + had in mind a nice 1! ft sloop with standing headroom and inboard diesel engine. )o time should be lost# but one must not be panicked or sales talked into a (essel that does not appeal to you. After months of looking at the lists of (arious yacht brochures + at last agreed to look at a 1! ft Balcyon lying in Beybridge basin# he appeared a little neglected what with e(erything inside being damp and smelling musty added to ;ars of ;am with an inch of mould on the top# ne(ertheless + thought + could soon knock her into shape and made an offer. That aturday morning + arri(ed home and with smug satisfaction said to my wife# @+(e found the boat +m going to buy.A There was one of those pregnant pauses and then# @Thats nice.A + tried to conceal the surge of ;oy that hammered within me but @Thats niceA was not the response + had hoped for. + decided it would be preferable to keep a low profile. About twenty minutes later and again without looking up my wife said# @8hat happened about the gold watch you were going to buy me<A +t is true + had been promising her one for o(er thirty years and if purchasing one now was some form of recompense for my getting a boat it was a good deal# but + was conscious + was on the defensi(e and didnt know how to rectify it. o + said rather lamely# @+(e only been waiting for you to make up your mind and + will be happy to buy you one.A There was no response but fifteen minutes later# @This toy of yours how much is it going to cost<A + told her.

The result was that + soon came to realise that + would ha(e to modify my ambitionsC something cheaper# something smaller# a little older with maybe an outboard engine and what does it matter if she doesnt ha(e standing room. The search began again# it took me o(er six months and then one day + saw this apparition of lo(eliness. he was standing on the hard on 8allasea +sland down the ?i(er Crouch. he was a fin keel 1& ft Corribee and was blue and white ;ust like my tug boat. Ber name was ,ALA$+)# she was absolutely ex7uisite and her lines# her contours it was unbelie(able.# + know now that lo(e at first sight is true for + fell head o(er heels in lo(e with her. + cast my mind back home and suddenly realised that throughout the years when + had been carrying out this campaign for a boat# + had ne(er told my wife what type of boat + was seekingD that had been stored and nurtured in the recesses of my mind and it is probable that while + had these grandiose ideas my wife had maybe been thinking of a ' ft dinghy. + made a successful offer for ,aladin and suddenly + felt ten feet tall. + was now the 6aster of a real boat# the two of us would be a team# the world was ours for the taking. Little did + know then that ,aladin had a will and a mind of her ownD little did + know then that she would get me out of scrapes or act capriciously when + became o(er confident. + thought + could teach myself but ,aladin had other ideas. he was the tutor and + the pupil. Our base was to be the 9ssex 6arina at 8allasea +sland in the ?i(er Crouch.

3 The First Sail

+ had been familiarising myself with the outboard# coming in and lea(ing the marina# also getting to grips with the sails and sheets# the kicking straps and the topping lift but as additional insurance + asked $errick a colleague of mine who was an experienced sailor to ;oin me. On the first unday in April we cast off but the outboard started to play up and for a few anxious moments ,aladin refused to respond to the helm. There was a concerted effort by the other owners to assist# which appeared most noble but was probably due to them trying to protect their own in(estments. 8e# under the watchful eyes of our helpers exited the marina stern first and felt as though we were lea(ing an audience with the Eueen as slowly we went our way. Outside the marina we hoisted the sails. They looked bright in the sunshine as was to be expected in (iew of the pre(ious owner ha(ing recently laundered them. 8e headed into a fairly stiff easterly bree*e though an ebbing tide ga(e us great assistance. The fact the tide was ebbing was purely coincidental. Fsing the tide to assist ones passage was still to me an unknown 7uantity. The area is of course known for its sand banks so + took the precaution of ha(ing the echo sounder on. 8e passed the mouth of the ?oach and left 2oulness +sland to our starboard. lowly we reached the open sea# this (ast expanse of water as far as the eye could see. + switched off the echo sounder and we both laid back to wallow in this sheer luxury. A can of beer# a cheese roll and a pipe of strong tobacco# what else would a man want out of life< As + idly watched the tobacco smoke passing o(er the stern + was interrupted by a noise from below. Almost in unison we said# @8hat was that<A +t soon dawned on us that we had gone

aground on the ?ay ands. 8e tried heeling her o(er to one side and using the engine but all to no a(ail. There were of course many things that could ha(e been done but at the time they were unknown to me. 8e lowered the anchor and waited and waited and waited. lowly she keeled o(er and came to rest on the sands at a -0 degree angle. 8e climbed o(erboard put the anchor further out then walked o(er the sands. 8e managed to clean one side of the hull# meanwhile other yachtsmen were sailing up and down the 8hittaker Channel which was no more than fifty yards away. + felt a bloody fool and suspected those grinning faces were echoing the same sentiments. + tried to gi(e the impression as + cleaned the hull for the third time that + had intentionally beached ,ALA$+) for that (ery purpose but + belie(e + was only fooling myself. $errick had retired to the cabin and whilst lying at a rather uncomfortable angle read an old yachting maga*ine. +t featured a cartoon from an April &'/! edition depicting a boat sitting on the mud. +ts caption read @Think deeply# ye 9ast Coast mud larkers.A At &!./4 the rising tide released us from the clutches below but alas not soon enough to ensure our arri(al before dark. $errick was concerned at the lateness because his wife was unaware of where the boat was berthed or e(en what its name was. + was concerned because + had no battery aboard for na(igation lights. All + could do was to light the paraffin lamp in the cabin and pull back the curtains. At least we could be seen from the side. At 1&./4 we arri(ed back in the marina and after wa(ing $errick goodbye + turned o(er in my mind the e(ents of the day. + had made mistakes but with it came knowledge. + would ne(er take depth for granted again# + would ne(er go aground again. ,aladin excelled herself# we will work in harmony# well be a team# well explore the ri(ers and creeks# well go up the coast and down the coast well go yes by ;ingo one day well go to a foreign country# but ;ust for now steady as she goes. $errick ne(er did come sailing with me again.

4 a! "#t$oard

There is so much one can learn from a book but e7ually as much can be forgotten# there is howe(er nothing like a practical experience to indelibly etch on ones mind the constant need to be aware of tides and winds and your relati(e position in the scheme of the elements. One unday morning with glorious sunshine and a slight bree*e ,aladin and + decided to explore the upper reaches of the Crouch. +n the cockpit was a supply of food and drink so there was no necessity to lea(e the tiller except for the ad;ustments to the sails. At this stage in my nautical education + was not noticeably conscious of the tides# after all + was only going up stream. +t was purely coincidental that the tide happened to be with me at the start# but it soon changed and the ebb slowed down my progress. This did not worry me# time was unimportant and + was out to en;oy a 7uiet peaceful and tran7uil sail. ometime in the late afternoon + decided to return but of course the tide had also turned again but now + had this light bree*e against me. Tacking back and forth across the ri(er + was grabbing about 04 yards at a time. This was not unpleasant except it was now only an hour before dark so + decided to motor back. + started the outboard# dropped the ;ib and then went amidships to drop the main. +t was while standing on the cabin hatch that + heard the engine race and as + looked aft + was ;ust in time to see the outboard leap into the air and disappear o(er the side# The wooden bracket to which it was attached and which was about &G inches thick was snapped in two# the missing half being still attached to the engine somewhere in the mud below me. There was no time to think about the cause# for + had to concentrate on hoisting the sails again. + could of course ha(e dropped the anchor whilst +

sorted myself out# or waited for the tide to change# but that did not occur to me. + was set on getting back to the marina that night. The current had already carried me some considerable distance upstream so + had to make that up at 04 yards a time. The marina was barely two miles away and now that it was dark + could see the arc light of a timber ship which was being unloaded at the wharf. Alas + had no battery aboard for my na(igation lights# not ha(ing planned to be out after dark# it was inconcei(able that + should still be out so late but in reality + was. About 1/.44 + could hear the deep throb of engines approaching but no na(igation lights could be seen. 8hat bloody fool would be out on the water at this time of night without na(igation lights< 8hat bloody fool indeed. + called out as loudly as + could# @Ahoy there# ahoy there.A + ne(er did see that (essel but from the con(ersation we exchanged through the dark night air + gleaned it was an exHtorpedo boat which had been stuck on the ?ay ands. The crew were due to meet their wi(es at 1&.44 in the 8ardroom but alas it was now closed. About 1/./4 + tied up in the marina and then fell flat on my face on the pontoon. )ow + had time to think. 8hat went wrong# what did + do that was wrong< Alas there were many things but the main fault was the spot + had chosen to take the sails down. Bad + done this midHstream then the current would ha(e carried me upstream. The spot + had chosen was ;ust off ,ridgemarsh +sland. 8ith the engine in neutral and being too near the bank the current had taken ,aladin stern first into a mudbank thereby forcing the engine under then up until the strain broke the bracket. + learnt a lot that day but apart from ac7uiring knowledge in this expensi(e manner + ha(e a sneaking feeling that ,aladin ob;ects to the engine hanging o(er her stern# for she is (ery conscious that it detracts from her appearance but she doesnt ha(e to be a party to such a drastic course of action.

% First &all!
The Corribee Owners Association had organised a rally at ,rightlingsea to which + had been in(ited. This was to be my first challenge that would take me out to sea. + bought the necessary charts and studied the tides. After plotting my course + prepared for the (oyage ha(ing stocked up with food# beer and tobacco and plenty of water. As + cast off from the marina + could not but help reflect that the last time + went to sea + mean really to sea# ropes were made of hemp or ;ute# there were grass lines and tarred spun yarn# sails were made of can(as and boats were made of wood. 9ach ingredient had its own particular aroma. )o boats were made in those days of glass reinforced plastic. +n fact + doubt whether it had been in(ented. They had nylon but whene(er anyone spoke of nylon they thought in terms of ladies stockings 3tights had not been thought of either5 but + digress# ,aladin with all these newfangled in(entions and + set out on the ebb tide# the sun was warm and ;ust a light bree*e accompanied us. + was barely out of the Crouch when a sea mist descended which reduced (isibility to two hundred yards. + kept to my compass course and wallowed in a smug sense of selfH congratulation as each buoy came into (iew ;ust where it and indeed we should be. Then + experienced my first problem. The next buoy in the 8hittaker Channel should ha(e been the ?idge but it wasnt# it was the outh ,uxey. )e(er mind + could easily ha(e missed the ?idge in the mist# + knew at the outh ,uxey + had to change course to starboard to miss the sands on the port side and then come back in again. + duly did this until suddenly + came to the ?idge. 8hat the hell had happened< + checked my charts and e(erything was shown thereon exactly as + had plotted itC it must ha(e been my compass thatwas at fault and if so then + had no idea where +

was. 8hat the hell +ll ;ust let the wind and tide take me wheresoe(er it wishes. +n actual fact + decided to follow the tide out to sea but with the aid of the echo sounder + hugged the sand banks to keep me out of the shipping channel. The wind freshened and the mists cleared. )ow + could see land but apart from supposing + was off Clacton + had no idea where + was. The thing to do was to change to a westerly course and maybe drop anchor off 6ersea island or where(er + happened to end up. uddenly a buoy came into (iew and on closer inspection + found it was the Colne ,ar. This was fantastic# this was the entrance to the Colne which would lead me to ,rightlingsea. Good old ,aladin she doesnt say much but she knows what shes doing. Arri(ing in ,rightlingsea + was met by Colin who was organising the rally and tied up alongside his boat @?oaring 2ortiesA. Ba(ing told Colin of the problem + had experienced he said let me see your chart. Be turned it o(er and there attached to the back was a notice to mariners showing that the authorities had re(ersed the ?idge and outh ,uxey buoys. This meant that when + altered course to a(oid the ,uxey sands + had in fact gone o(er the 2oulness sands without realising it# and so another lesson had been learnt. That e(ening Colin and + ad;ourned to the Colne >acht Club where we en;oyed a con(i(ial e(ening. At 1/.44 we left and Colin suggested that as + did not ha(e a tender + should use his and he would collect it in the morning. ,aladin was of course tied to the poles in midHstream. To ac7uaint me with his 1 B% outboard we set out from the ;etty# co(ered a hundred yards and returned. )ow Colin is 7uite a big fellow and with my &! stone we were 7uite low in the water. Colin was amidships and + was in the stern. As he stepped upon the ;etty the dinghys bows rose and the transom was therefore barely four inches abo(e the water. @+ should sit in the centre#A said Colin.

@)o its alright#A + replied and with a parting wa(e set out into the inky darkness of the night. Colin waited on the ;etty# and although he could not see me he could hear the engine and therefore knew whether + had safely reached ,aladin. About a hundred yards out the dinghy ;ust turned upside down# a small wa(e ha(ing come o(er the stern# + found the painter and started to swim on my back towing the upturned boat. + then heard Colins (oice coming out of the night# @Are you alright<A @>es#A + called back. @Bas the engine cut out<A @)ot exactly# the boats upside down.A 9(entually + got to the ;etty. Colin made a mo(e to pull me out but + said# @Get the boat first.A @To hell with the dinghy#A he replied which prompted a response from me @+ ha(ent towed it all this way for you to abandon it now.A Colin pulled the boat onto the ;etty# but then he couldnt pull me out# howe(er assistance from a passing sailor resol(ed that problem# thoughD with green slime all o(er me + wasnt a pretty sight. +t was gone midnight when + e(entually boarded ,aladin.

+ had intended returning home on the unday# but the wind was blowing hard and Colin and 6alcolm 3who also has a Corribee named @,eatriceA5 ad(ised me not to go especially on my own# but + was 7uite adamant. +n retrospect they were both right# but + was too green to appreciate it then# anyway 6alcolm said he would come with me. 8e reefed the main and wore a storm ;ib. 6alcolms preparation was calm and efficient and + made a mental note to follow his example on any future (oyage. 8e took the ebb tide and with the wind blowing force -I0 from the .8. we ;ust seemed to take off. 6alcolm did not ha(e any wet gear with him# so he had the bottom half of mine and + had the top. That way we both got soaked to the skin. 8e returned the same way + had come by going through the win but once in the 8hittaker Channel the wind was on the nose and there was still two hours of the ebb tide left. Jisibility was poor and frankly we ;ust had the hell knocked out of us. + fell against the echo sounder and broke the support and then when + leant o(er the stern to start the engine to assist us + lost my pocket compass o(erboard. The ;ib sheet got caught round a cleat on the mast so + tied myself to the boat and crawled forward to release it# then the shackle pin came out of the ;ib and 6alcolm insisted on rectifying it. +t took us o(er eight hours to get back to 8allasea and we were both cold# wet and exhausted# but after a change into dry clothes and a bowl of hot soup our spirits were soon restored. )ot only did + learn from 6alcolm but confidence in ,aladin was increasing by leaps and bounds.