Part 3 of my prostate cancer tale…

To see earlier posts:

Ditch-crawler asks of his male fellow sailors ‘…have you been tested yet?’ Prostate cancer up-date…

I learnt last week about another chap who’d read my story and eventually summoned the courage to go to his GP surgery and ask for a prostate test (PSA). He did have a serious problem and, like me, is undergoing treatment. The chap is currently going through some weeks of radio therapy – what his actual ‘condition’ was, I do not know.

What it does show is that, like me, this problem can sliver up and bite you and unknowingly do its dreadful deed.

Be warned. Get tested…

Next week I go into hospital for brachytherapy treatment – essentially I will be injected with iridium (dust), which should neuter the beast. I will however, due to localised spread, have to undergo some weeks of radio therapy afterwards too…

During this month I have been hoping to get out for a sail: March is likely to run away as I recover. The weather has been somewhat stormy, wind wise, for two weeks now and looking ahead, I’d almost given up on a sail … however, over the coming weekend the winds affecting the whole of the British Isles abate, leaving the new week calm and balmy by comparison. Christobel has been tipped off! I mentioned some thoughts of popping off for the night … it didn’t go down very well. The term ‘Stupid Boy’ rang in my ears.

Hey ho!

My creek viewed as I walked away from Whimbrel after an afternoon sail during February…

For information and action, hopefully:

My dear sister has taken it upon herself to do a longish charity walk at the end of June and she is doing this in the name of research into prostate cancer.

It would be grand if any of you out there could sponsor her: it is a little advertised problem, yet is a bigger killer than breast cancer…

One of her sponsors has sent her a message to say that they have booked a prostate test – well done, who ever you are.

See: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/theresa-ardley?fbclid=IwAR1VxHxxgR_DlfbLdhLKytRK_bKK-dclIoKOpR7iyCQyYEl2Ya5eoWvCfFs&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_content=Theresa-Ardley&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_source=Facebook

Last Sunday, having missed our week’s longer walk for essential reasons, we drove over to Maldon to do what we had planned – Town to Heybridge Basin and back along the navigation – only five miles. On our way back over the Fullbridge the heavens above opened and we battled wind and hail storm back to the car. Any further wandering along the waterfront was called off and we drove home.

Over the past few months, well, since the end of summer really, we have been doing seven to nearly nine mile circuits (at times) around the ridge of humpy/lumpy hills leading into the Dengie Peninsular – it has been fascinating with many beautiful spots found. At times both the Crouch and Blackwater waterways have been in view at the same time. I think the important part of it too has been being able to commune with nature together enjoying the ‘great-outdoors’ for we both know, there will be a lull in my ability to do this. But I will try!

Looking over a windswept Heybridge Creek (River Blackwater) under a moody sky…

As with walking, sailing (being afloat) is where I commune with the world in general and barring my ability to get out for a few hours before Tuesday next week, when I’m due to have my brachytherapy operation, my thoughts as I go ‘down’ will be with all that I love ‘out there’ – boy do I have some wonderful memories to swirl around my mind…

Swirls of knot, dunlin and more besides will serenade me, I’m sure…

And, of course, the love of family, the wider family and friends helps immensely – and I want to give special thanks to my dear wife Christobel, ‘the mate’, and our boy who has been a ‘brick’…

Cor, blimey, it has been a windy old week in the eastern quarter, and elsewhere, I believe too … so with a bit of time on our hands we hightailed to Maldon to complete a few jobs: Christobel has been on the look out for some new cushion inserts. Everywhere one looks, there are cushions galore with ‘expensive’ covers available. The pillows themselves … hmmmmmmmmmm, even on line!

The upshot – she’s going for bust, heading for a new look for our conservatory!

Anyway, whilst she was at it, I paid a visit to The Sea-change Sailing Trust at the Downs Road Boat Yard – to deliver a letter. Well, I wanted to view the Blue Mermaid too, obviously…

The Blue Mermaid at Downs Road Boatyard.

I found Jim Dines, the yard’s proprietor, and sought permission to visit barge … but first, into the office to drop off a letter. Jim had said he doubted whether ‘the boss’ would be in – that’s Richard Titchener  – but he was in, going through a list of jobs with one of their newest recruits, a young lady doing heritage training with the trust.

I said I’d had permission to go aboard, however, Richard ‘nabbed’ me to assist in carrying some blocks aboard. Bless him!

The pictures will tell the story: she is coming on quickly now…

The fore deck on the Blue Mermaid…

Richard and the trainee discussing blocks and which would be used for what … I left whilst Richard gave instructions about servicing them…

The foot of main mast.

Looking aft to mizzen which has only recently been rigged. Some ropes still to run … I wanted to get a line round the sail!

The deck’s are clear, but the hold hatches are piled with gear, most of which has been donated.

Having wandered the decks, I went below and looked into the forward and aft cabins. These are well into their fitting out phase.

Looking aft along the swept hold – in use as a workshop!

Through watertight door into fore cabin.

I peaked into the port side cabin – single berth.

The washroom (heads…)

And to starboard is a four berth cabin…

Then aft-wards…

Aft cabin, port side berth…

Companionway and watertight door port forward side.

Starboard aft berth under construction…

Richard said to me that he plans to have the mast down in a few weeks to rig her with the sails … Jim and his team are working hard to complete, working out where various bits need to go: there is NEVER agreement amongst bargemen as to the exact location of cleats for example!

On the way ashore I chatted to Jim … and he proudly showed me a new winch under construction. Although made of plate steel, finely made sections have been laser cut to be welded around cut outs which will mimic a cast steel unit. Clever!

Winch and bilge pumps in workshop…

I loved the fabricated bilge pumps too.

So often when one comes across an old barge, the pump shafts are found standing to attention, bereft of the surrounding ‘barge’ … problem is they’re never serviceable due to internal wastage.

Thanking Jim, I hightailed back to the town centre: Christobel was probably waiting … and yes, there she was ensconced in The Black Cat Coffee Shop, just finishing a cup…

The Sea-change Sailing Trust is a worthwhile maritime organisation to support: they work with all ages.

See: http://www.seachangesailingtrust.org.uk/

They are: Making a real impact on the lives of disabled, disadvantaged and socially excluded young people

Once up and running, the trust will not have to spend huge amounts of money on chartering of other barges, albeit, that has given life to these…

The owner of Tarantella told me of his decision to sell his Finesse 24 which he purchased as a project some time ago – see below.

Finesse 24 Tarantella comes onto the market…

The vessel has now been placed on Appoloduck at a very reasonable price – she just needs finishing.

See: https://m.apolloduck.com/boat/finesse-24/597309?fbclid=IwAR0rMb6EtHSsR8cfH6xlFBTETPuzHm7OTCW-p-FSSaXkzBir7M9DUncTWys

If you decide to buy, do get in touch with the Finesse Group, you’ll be welcome.

It is a little after mid-February and in our neighbours garden a flowering cherry is coated in budding green leaves. All around, daffodils are breaking open in glorious yellow sun bursts, whilst the snowdrops continue to delight. Down my creek the level of activity among the many laid up craft has risen markedly: the weather after two bouts of snow has been glorious. Bottoms are being painted, sides are being buffed up … spring is coming, surely.

My mate has been ‘under the weather’ with a virus, so our walking has been curtailed. This has ‘allowed’ me to crack on with a job or two aboard Whimbrel. I removed a window last week and re-sealed it inside and out. Whilst off, the woodwork has been sanded and varnished – six coats now, so  ready to refit the window!

Cabin sides under piece of plastic sheeting whilst varnishing…

Leaving my good wife asleep on Tuesday morning, I beetled to the creek and got a last coat on area which will be under the window frame and the surrounds … just every now and then the varnish breaks down around the cabin window frames, necessitating removal, rubbing down and varnishing. I like to get up to six coats before replacing window. I’ve had this  Heath-Robinson temporary cover for years – about time I made a better one!

The tide was on its way in, so I then got ready for a sail! The tide soon lifted the boat as I stood minding a mug of coffee – all ready ‘we’ were away. I set the mainsail and spun the boat in the creek, running out. Brent geese were dabbling along the mud edges in large numbers, virtually oblivious of my presence.

Passing dabbling Brent on way out…

It was a glorious morning. Sublime with a warming sun, although the breeze a 3 to 4 WSW was keen enough to make me keep my gloves on!

Cl;earing the creek, I set the jib while the boat headed up Hadleigh Ray with the bit between her teeth. Long and short tacking ensued as we began to eat up the distance.

A flock of waders lifting off from Bird Island.

Ah, the birds…

Approaching the gnarled stumps of the Salvation Army Wharf, I saw a row of guillemots with craned necks clearing fish into the digestive tracts. As I closed they all lifted bar one. This waited until I was close by, loosing off a shower of pooh which splattered into the creek like bullets. Away, beyond, the deep greenness of the sea wall sides spoke of fresh grass growth – the warmth of the past week or so has activated so much.

Under carriage up…

I settled to a steady ‘to and fro’ whilst sipping another coffee. Upon the sea wall I saw a host of walkers and dogs. Passing the log seat which someone placed conveniently for walkers to sit at about half distance between Leigh and Benfleet, I saw two people, a couple perhaps: they were a man and a woman, resting, whilst a dog capered.

A flight of curlews were seen. Some avocet too, with their calls coming across the water from the edge of a patch of mud, close under the saltings, feeding before the tide covered it completely. Earlier, passing the Two Tree Island bird hides, I’d felt a pair of binoculars or telephoto lens following me. I’d picked up my camera and focused in … yes, I was being watched, but surely it was Whimbrel … apparently they have been around this winter!

On a long fetch…

On a long fetch towards Benfleet YC with Dauntless beyond.

Closing The Benfleet’s pontoon to talk to a friend…

Running back down Benfleet Creek towards Hadleigh Ray the following day…

But back to ‘the story’ – before I even got back into what is commonly known as Hadleigh Ray – the bottom end of Benfleet Creek – I could wafts of waders weaving in sinuous waves. I really believe they can tell when the tide is approaching its turn … and the soon uncovering of their rich feeding grounds. It is exceedingly hard to get good pictures of the spectacle put on display for us mere humans with a ‘ordinary’ camera and I suspect a rapid action type would be more suited to my desires!

A poor shot of a weaving flock…

On the way up the creek the sky had seemed to contain an abnormal number of vapour trails high up, beyond the eye’s usual boundary and with the position of the sun over the island of Canvey, it looked spectacular.

Vapour trails crisscrossed the sky above…

One of the things that has become so much more noticeable over the past few years is the sheer magnitude of rubbish seen either in the water or along tide lines. For a period following the ‘clean up’ campaigns of the later decades of the last century rubbish diminished hugely. What’s changed Peoples ways? New generations that know nothing of what it was like 40-50 years ago?

There needs to be a sea-change attitudes again or otherwise we’ll be back to square one. One would think after programmes such as ‘Blu Planet’ people would endeavour to reduce (plastic) pollution to zero … I sailed past numerous ‘dead’ baloons and other items that looked like discarded plastic sacks, never mind the hundreds of plastic bottles. It made me somewhat sad, angry even…

And that boat, moored in Hadleigh Ray continues to fly black plastic bags from a string. Shame on the owner.

A bundle of deceased balloons along the Two Tree Island saltings…

Anyway, I had a fabulous late winter’s sail … and after re-fitting the window I had removed the next day, I repeated the exercise!

The window … the ‘gaffer’ tape pulled some of the varnish coating off of the cabin top beading…

I’ve been pottering round the boat breaking open areas of varnish that has got moisture beneath too … not a huge amount – beading on the whole. Some though I’d only stripped off last year and a long strip runs down the port side of cabin sides – see below window. Hey Ho!

Spring is just round the corner…

In the autumn we took Whimbrel’s ‘new’ sails over to Faversham for Wilkinson Sailmakers to carry out some servicing – a guarantee refit. They’d looked at my Genoa last summer and did a little bit of work … I was ‘chastised’ for not bringing the sails in after the completion of the first year. ‘Sorry…’ I said, adding, ‘This autumn be okay?’ and that was that.

It was by then nearly two years since I had collected the new sails. In the intervening period they have moved to the industrial estate on the site of Pollards Shipyard, opposite Standard Wharf. Their old loft still sits empty awaiting a decision about its future – residential apartments, I believe. 

Wilkinson Sails, Faversham.

In the mean time Whimbrel has been dressed with her old mainsail and jib – we haven’t bothered about the Genoa during the last few months … not essential for winter short sails!

We had driven over to Faversham two days earlier having decided to enjoy a couple of days being cosseted at The Sun Inn – very it was enjoyable too. Time was spent bumbling around the local area looking at a couple of ancient churches and as far away as Reculver – the old church towers and Roman fort – and the River Wantsum’s northern end. All very interesting…

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wantsum_Channel

I jokingly said to Christobel the day before we picked up the sails, ‘Be funny if we get onto the M2 … halfway home and remembered the sails…’ But, we didn’t forget!

The Wilkinson loft floor and another sits to the right through a doorway.

Wilkinson will ‘attack’ any project. Cindy Parker, the proprietor, had a ‘Glamping’ tent under way – the ‘pile’… I shall have to be seriously thinking about a new cover for Whimbrel’s tender, Twitch, soon: it is now twenty-five years old. It has shrunk a little and needs renewal! I have already ordered a new mainsail cover for the day when one is needed (soon) … our new mainsail takes up more stowed volume than our old sail and the cover is tight. Hey ho.

Sails stowed in car…

The weather of late has been exceptionally windy cutting down the opportunities for a seasonal sail, so, as soon as a day came I hightailed to my creek. Only the Genoa was ‘aired’ on that occasion, the jib will be next. The main will probably not be fitted until spring has sprung. In the picture below, the colour differences can be seen. It was nice to have the Genoa aboard for the wind was light.

Whimbrel’s Genoa gets an airing…

During the past thirty-five years, I have always gone back to the same loft from whence the boat’s sails came – W-Sails of Leigh-on-Sea – but Peter Waghorn had gone into retirement, I thought from a conversation some time ago. It appears however that his staff are keeping the loft alive. I haven’t seen Peter for some time to ask what is happening. Anyway, what with the uncertainty, I went where I went… Shame: I’d never had a problem with Peter’s sails – all problems were readily resolved. This too applies to Wilkinson Sails, as I’ve found to my delight!

The jib gets an airing on an overcast winter’s afternoon…

So, just the mainsail to air now, but it’ll stay in its bag awhile yet.

If you need a friendly sail maker, repairs or new go and chat to Cindy, Alan or Sarah…

See: http://wilkinsonsails.co.uk/

The seemingly prolonged ‘saga’ of the bits and bobs, such as spars, rudder, floorboards and tiller, that needed attention during this winter has eventually come to an end. There will some varnishing of the dinghy’s gunnels and seats to do – preparatory work was begun on that back in October – in the spring.

See earlier news:

Ditch-crawler continues his dinghy maintenance whilst enjoying other thoughts…

Ditch-crawler does some ‘end of season’ dinghy maintenance…

So, now the last item, the mast, has had a few days to harden off properly, I thought it time to return it to the creek. Christobel was out, so the MG had to be the carrier … it was at least dry, but only around 2 deg C out … the little car’s heating takes nearly half the journey down to start pumping any real heat, but hey, I’m a rough, tough old coot (as me mate keeps telling me!).

The mast reaches the creek!

The sail has been bent back onto its spars, the halyard set up and foot tack – all is ready now for a sail!

Two views of the rig…

Whether or not the sides of the dinghy need a touch up, I’ll leave until the spring to decide.

Yesterday my good mate, Christobel, knuckled down and machined up a ‘sock’ to go over the end of the mast: when all is stowed and cove on, the top end of the mast has always poked out allowing a slow deterioration in preservation coatings. With a couple of eyes and a lashing all can be secured…

The sock…

The sock fitted …

Here is the builder’s own dinghy, a forerunner of mine. These are 9′ 6″ in length lug rigged on an un-stayed mast.

Alan Staley in the ‘dinghy match’ at the Swale Smack, barge and yacht regatta last August.

The dinghy, named Twitch by Christobel on being asked for a name by Alan Staley when it was nearing completion, is now in her 25th year. She was completed in 1994.

The hull was moulded by a grp specialist and Alan Staley’s yard finished her off and made the spars. The sail is the original from Wilkinson, then of Conyer, but now based in Faversham with a loft at the old shipyard industrial estate. (The cover too – but it needs renewing though!)

See: http://www.alanstaleyboatbuilders.co.uk/

The dinghy was the finest £1200 I ever spent: she has given 25 seasons of joy. She’s able to carry four adults with ease under oar. She will sail with two aboard, as my youngest brother discovered when he and his partner were sailing aboard Whimbrel. Alone she is a dream. Under outboard power she is very able too.

See link for Wilkinson Sails: http://wilkinsonsails.co.uk/

The little boat has trotted along behind Whimbrel for around 900 nautical miles this past year, so, with her own forays with myself, Christobel rowing, and family members trotting around in her, she’s in all probability done in excess of 1000 miles. She was a bargain!

Had the tide been in, I’d have slipped out for a sail. I’d surely have had a cold bottom, but what the hell!

During 2017 I was awakened to an advert purporting to advertise our Whimbrel for sale … it turned out that a seller had utilised a picture of our boat to sell theirs!

The then owner made contact to apologise for using Whimbrel’s mug shot … however, the adverts wording showed knowing people all wasn’t so simple! The chap, a pleasant character, even attended the Finesse rally held in Brightlingsea that summer.

I later found the boat at a yard in Walton and took photographs.

When seen in 2017, her accommodation outfit had not been fully reinstated.

The boat, Tarantella, a sister Finesse 24 was purchased by an experienced sailor called Ron who had among much sailed aboard another Finesse 24 for a number of years whilst being boat-less. He was looking to get back into boat owning with a project and Taratella fitted the bill. Sadly, however, over the past 18 months personal well-being problems have forced Ron and his wife to admit that they’ve owned their last boat…

At the time her decks were open and stripped back ready to receive new sheets of ply …

Tarantella as seen in 2017.

The current owner has sent me the following details and pictures of Tarantella:

FOR SALE

Cutter Rigged Finesse 24 – Tarantella

Tarantella in 2011 as seen in Classic Boat magazine.

I have a Cutter Rigged Finesse 24, for sale, see photograph (taken in 2011 for Classic Boat), which has undergone an extensive rebuild last summer. But, due to deteriorating health I am unable to pursue the project so am looking to sell her.

The key elements of the refit, which has been undertaken professionally include;

• Replacement of rotten deck beams, addition of several strengthening beams, plus reinforcement of the gunnel/deck edge.
• New marine plywood Main deck and Cabin top.
• New Stern Tube, Propeller Shaft and Cutlass Bearing.
• New cockpit sole framework,
• New Main hatch runners and surround.
• Complete stripping a repainting of hull and superstructure.
• Engine overhauled.

Tarantella, re-decked and hull painted – initial coats varnish to cabin sides too … just needs finishing.

The mast with its rigging, full suit of sails, rudder, bowsprit, engine and internal furniture (removed while replacing several broken ribs, a split plank and “tightening up” the hull) are all in store. There is also enough glass matting and epoxy resin to sheath the deck and cabin top, if required.

Tarantella is current stored in Brightlingsea.

Ron is open to sensible offers.

For further details please call Ron on 07900 685320.

Update: 27th April 2019 – Now Sold!

Outside it is cold and bitter, although not freezing. A strong north-westerly has hit bring cold air down from the north. We had snow last week, but it didn’t feel cold and before that fell I’d enjoyed two lovely sails in bright (warm even) conditions – it was zero degrees on one day – and here I am, munching a cox’s apple from an Essex orchard, thinking about things…

After doing various jobs to Whimbrel’s tender, including re-painting the interior, I realised that with the passage of time, the mast too needed some work. Perhaps I’d not looked at carefully enough…

See earlier blog: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-does-some-end-of-season-dinghy-maintenance/

Doing dinghy maintenance – repainting the hull interior.

But before I get into this, it occurred to me that the month for an event, once the doyen of British Yachting, has passed all but passed by: The London Boat Show used to be held during the second week of January. It was held at Earl’s Court from 1957 to 2004 when it transferred to the Excel Exhibition Centre in 2004. The first was held at Olympia in 1956.

The London Boat Show has been under threat for a number of years with a falling attendance record! In 2002, there were around 152, 000 punters and in 2016 it dropped to around 90, 000. In 2018 it changed to a 5 day format from the original 10 – or long standing – and figures crashed to around 52, 000 people…

The 2019 show was to take place 9-13 January, but was cancelled.

Why? Well, yes indeed, why! My personal thoughts lay with a market saturated by pressure to secure orders for new craft – clearly manufacturers (builders??) need orders to survive. The whole business has moved so far away from a chap and his wife popping down to a local boat yard where they know ‘little’ cruisers are built for a reasonable price. Now it is all sleek marketing, factory runs and ‘hotel-like’ outfit where the thought of a muddy hand getting through the door (companionway) brings horror to some. P.S. where else does one wash their hands…

So, it is my view that with a saturated market and marinas up and down the coast stuffed with immobile craft, the peak has been reached. There are literally thousands of ‘2nd hand’ craft awaiting new or first owners. Many of these boats moulder and fester at the back of a yard or on a mooring, draining money from an owners pocket everywhere.

Some seasons ago, well before various magazines got onto the band-wagon, I did a feature about decent and usable second hand craft awaiting sales at a yard in Woodbridge – bargains galore sat ready for a buff up. For a ‘small’ amount of capital a prospective owner had a wide choice and with a little effort all or most would have ‘dazzled’ as she swung on a mooring, ready…

And then there is equipment … the world wide web has brought the shop counter to ones desk or lap and at a tap of a button that new set of charts or electronic equipment is whizzing to your delivery address, so why go to a show!

When was the last time I went – quite frankly, I can’t remember, but I think I’ve been to the London event twice in the last 25 years. If that is anything to go by, it clearly had little attraction for me or others, clearly!

It is well known that the sailing population is aging with a lack of fresh ‘combatants’ coming up astern, with that in mind the Medway and Swale Boating Association’s bi-annual seminar this year is to focus on this phenomena. I’m not so sure much can be done. It’s like the industry – ‘yachting’ for now seems to have peaked and will decline to an unknown level, but it’ll still be there for those that want it.

Hey ho!

The mast arrived home in my MG with the hood down in early January after a sail in Whimbrel. It was scraped and sanded and put in the conservatory to dry – where else!

Fetching the dinghy mast home…

Sanded and drying out…

Funny how long these jobs can last: each coat needs to dry before applying the next. The mast had large areas stripped back to bare wood and around six coats of thinned varnish were applied, thickening as I went along. It finally had two undiluted coats.

Work ongoing…

Finally, after a couple of days drying, the mast was dressed with the halyard and burgee hoist, ready for the dinghy. All I need to do now is get it back to the club and, hopefully, on a sunny day have a little (cold) sail out in her again!

Mast dressed!

My good wife has been ever so good, not once complaining of the all pervading smell of white spirit and paint working its way around, even though the conservatory door was shut! Last week she had a friend in for coffee and chat … I moved the mast out into the dining room, before hi-tailing to the boat leaving conservatory window open and heaters on high! Christobel said, it was absolutely fine…

My father once built a canoe in his mother’s kitchen … I know people use the same place for winter jobs … and even spare bedrooms. lets face it, its better to be in the warm!

I for one shall continue all of this for as long as life allows me…

It came to pass when I was afloat with my youngest sibling in mid December that Whimbrel took on board some water into her bilge … a rare event. I thought it was the stern gland, but on other hand seemed to be way too much for that alone.

See: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-enjoys-a-december-sail-with-a-sibling/

Sibling in silhouette…

On my next outing, I discovered upon shutting the engine down that the sea water pump was leaking from its shaft seal. There isn’t much that can be done about such an event other than either renew whole pump, overhaul and fit new shaft seal, and probably shaft too … much else besides, ending up paying even more out. It’s the way of the world, unfortunately, that a complete renewal is cheapest option. But, still expensive…

So, I did a search for places dealing with Yanmar spares – my usual source in Brightlingsea was, to say the least expensive without VAT added! Other places were worse or around the same. But, up popped a place sitting in the St Georges Channel between N. Island and the R. Mersey … the Isle of Man.

BottomLine Marine Engineering Company – seems very much like French Marine, both into engines and chandlery.

See: https://bottomlinemarine.com/

And, https://bottomlinemarine.com/prod_cat/P_genuine-yanmar-sea-water-pump–2ym15-3ym20-3ym30-new-style–12899042510_7382.shtml

I’d already dropped French Marine an email and was awaiting a response when I contacted Bottom Line … I had a response over the immediate period before the New Year with a sizing query. As did French marine later.

The question was, what pump was fitted to my Yanmar 2YM15. An updated pump came out a few years back … my engine was fitted (by me) in 2011. And, hey presto, it had the newer type which has a slightly larger diameter pipe inlet than the discharge 19.5 and 17 mm respectfully.

I ordered a new from Bottom Line as well as a set of belts. Packing and delivery is free over orders of £50… It was so simple – no logging into an account (done through email) and able to ‘guest’ use paypal (Hate this organisation!), including UK taxes (VAT).

I had an email telling me it would arrive either on the Tuesday or Wednesday last week. It arrived at 1115 on the Wednesday morning.

Old pump removed.

I was down at the boat around 1300. The new pump was fitted a little after high water at around 1430 and the engine run for 20 minutes.

I’m a very satisfied customer indeed, and so is the old girl!

I should have given the bilge space at the front of the engine a clean while pump was off: it is not easy to get at. I must chuck a bucket of water down there and brush around…

New pump fitted.

Looking down on the job … note: belt cover still to fit.

The above illustration shows how tight it is to get at the job … it was done largely by feel, utilising my ingrained engineering skills from those far off sea-going days spent keeping ‘ancient’ Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships going!

So, thank you ‘Bottom Line’ for your excellent service…

Whimbrel seen sailing back into creek and her mooring (beyond) with engine silent… Picture: Alexander Ardley

Cost: less than others before VAT added … say no more.

Some years ago, I wrote to the head of BBC regarding the punctuality and ‘clarity’ of the weather bulletins they were putting out at self-imposed specified times to fit in with the reader at the Norwich BBC weather centre. I was told that I could fill out a complaints form…

At the time, BBC Suffolk gave out the forecast including the coastal (N) at around 10 to 0700, 0800, 0900, 1800 and 1900. BBC Kent were placed at 5 minutes past the hour along same/similar times. BBC Essex fitted in at 5 to the hours given. All at very useful times.

During the late 1990’s and into the first decade of this millennium, BBC Essex ran the Thames Estuary forecast; Suffolk, one for ‘off’ Harwich with a northerly addition if different along the upper Suffolk coast (which is relatively short) and Kent, bless them, has always tended to or do give the Inshore Waters Forecast from the N. Foreland to Selsey Bill … since most ‘Kent’ sailors sail along the northern side of that county, that seems ‘daft’ … and aboard Whimbrel, when in Kent waters, Essex with the Thames estuary forecast was listened to, which was perfectly acceptable.

Latterly, BBC Essex has now moved to 3 minutes to the hour. Where Kent sits I quite frankly don’t currently know. The north coast of Kent gets very similar weather to the south of Essex so ‘we’ don’t worry. I’ll be interested to see what has happened up in Suffolk when next in their waters.

Sometimes it is probably better to actually ‘sniff’ the air…

In more recent times with the 3 minutes to the hour forecast from BBC Essex, one is met with a continuance of the diatribe from the programme content, very often, until time runs short or there isn’t sufficient for the slot to happen. Additionally, when the forecast is given, it invariably comes as the Inshore Waters, which covers the area Gibraltar Point (North side of Wash) to the N. Foreland – a huge area! It is often called the ‘coastal’ but clearly isn’t when later looking up on the BBC web site.

Since I communicated with BBC Essex the service, which is supposedly a Public Service, has fallen into lamentable disrepair and I have virtually abandoned the listening to local radio as a result (never mind the incessant physco-babel that emanates).

Interestingly, some weeks ago before Christmas 2018, I saw a piece in the Saturday edition of the Times newspaper headed, ‘Local Radio takes a hit as more listeners switch off’ – well what a surprise!

The BBC Essex figures have dropped from 236, 000 to 160, 000 over the past five years. This household being one if not two of them!

Clarity and brevity are important too in the issuing of these forecasts. I can well remember on BBC Essex a ‘telling off’ being given to a co-presenter by the other (senior?) when the reading of the details was interrupted … the transgressor was told in no uncertain term that the information was important and that people relied on it. That ethos has died!

What isn’t appreciated by the presenters and production staff is that not everyone has a smart phone and can dial up instant info, and not all listeners sit within the signal strength to be able to do so. That is especially relevant to the coastal seafarer.

Yes, there are other methods of gathering the information – Coast Guard broadcasts – but not always conveniently slotted.

I wonder how much of the switch-off is due to ‘dumping’ of the public service elements along with the ‘clap-trap’ one is hit with now?