The Cornish Maritime Trust.

BARNABAS IN FALMOUTH FOR THE TALL SHIPS SEPTEMBER EVENT

We have been around the Lizard several times this year in the Barnabas. It never seems totally free of a rough ride somewhere along the passage. This time we were taking her from Penzance to Falmouth to position her for the Tall Ships Regatta later in the week. To arrange for a favourable tidal current around the Lizard from Penzance requires some careful planning. The tidal gate at Penzance Wet Dock is opened about two hours before high water, depending upon if its neaps or springs. The tidal current at the Lizard starts ebbing to the west about two hours after high water at Penzance. That means that you have four hours to sail across Mount’s Bay and the distance is sixteen miles. If all goes well and there are no delays at all on departure you have to make an average of four knots. While it is helpful to have the remains of the flood all the way to the Manacles the trip to the Lizard should ideally be made at an even greater speed. To achieve this, even though there was a moderate north westerly following breeze, we motored sailed that part of the trip. The boat does not really sail well with a wind dead astern, preferring a reaching breeze. As we got out of Mount’s Bay the remains of several days of fresh westerlies had left a moderate swell running, so we rolled a bit as we approached and rounded the point. Rounding the Lizard lighthouse you have to keep a little offshore as there are some nasty off lying rocks but rounding the Lloyd’s Signal station it is possible to move closer inshore. A particular hazard are the crab pot markers that are numerous and get run under when the tidal stream is flowing hard. A good lookout is essential.

Once round the point and passing Cadgwith the wind was on the quarter and the swell had disappeared. This was wonderful sailing and the boat making a good six knots. Then around Black Head and with the Dodman away ahead in the distance we looked for the Manacles buoy. The wind had eased a bit but still enough to drive us along. Once around the Manacles it was time to see if the wind direction allowed a direct run up to Falmouth or if we had to tack. Fortunately there was sufficient west in the direction to allow the sails to be hardened and permit a direct run to be made to Pendennis Head. In the entrance to the harbour itself the wind came out of the Carrick Roads and we had to bear off towards St. Mawes but as we got up the bay the wind coming out of Falmouth itself allowed a more northerly course again.

Off St. Mawes the working boats were racing and rather than get in their way it was decided to lower the sails and motor in to the mooring. We started the engine and as we lowering the sails detected a strange noise coming from the engine. Further investigation revealed that this was accompanied with acrid black smoke coming from the engine, which was then quickly shut down. As the engine would no longer start we were left with the prospect of tacking up into the harbour with a small crew. Fortunately one of our crew had a friend who kindly came out in his dinghy with a 5 hp. Outboard and was able to tow the boat up to the mooring. This friend , who has a mechanical background made an inspection of the engine and it appears that the starting motor may have shorted out and this was the problem. Hopefully therefore repairs can be carried out during the next few days and Barnabas will be fit to sail during the Tall Ships’ visit from 10 – 13 September.

AJK 8.9.8

 

 

BARNABAS and SOFTWING – FALMOUTH WEEK AND BACK TO PENZANCE AUGUST 18th.

Sailing Plans for 2008 included having Barnabas attend Falmouth Week with some opportunities to show off the boat and for members to see something of the sailing. Unfortunately August this year has shown itself to be one of the worst on record, with persistent strong westerly winds and much rain. Nevertheless on 8 August a break in the weather allowed the boat to be sailed around from Penzance to Falmouth. However, after arrival the weather broke again and continued for most of the week with fresh to strong westerlies. On one of the days the racing for all boats was completely cancelled. The poor weather provided little incentive for members to go sailing, although Softwing managed to muster a crew on two days and sail without her bowsprit, broken by a vessel dragging its anchor sometime earlier. At the time of writing this it has now been replaced and the boat fully operational again. On 15 August the wind finally eased and a group of members were able to take Barnabas out and had an excellent sail offshore. Large numbers of yachts were racing on a variety of courses, although unfortunately the Working Boats were not sailing due to some internal dispute. The big plus for the day was to see the very large Classic yachts out racing. This included J Class and 12 metres, magnificent schooners and cutters,all under full sail.

It was then time to look for another gap in the weather to get Barnabas back to Mount’s Bay for the Newlyn Fish Festival on 25 August. The long range forecasts showed continuing fresh to strong south westerly winds but a small gap in the string of depressions crossing the Atlantic showed on 17 August. With strong winds on each side and spring tides to contend with rounding the Lizard the timing had to be exact. Leaving Falmouth at 1000 with a moderate southerly breeze, the boat was taken under engine down to Cadgwith where we waited for a short while to round the Lizard on the slack. Getting the No.2 and 3 lugs ready, we cast off the mooring buoy outside the lifeboat station and headed off. Rounding the Lloyd’s Signal station, conditions were reasonable but getting further westwards and around the lighthouse the swell increased as well as the wind. The boat was rolling and pitching extravagantly . All the crew were secured with life lines but there was little water coming on deck apart from a little through the wash ports. With the Stag Rocks behind us we decided to hoist the sails. This was a difficult business but once they were up the vessel became steadier and headed off into Mount’s Bay. After sailing with no motor for a while it was realised that we were making poor speed against the current and decided to motor sail in order to reach Penzance to get into the Wet Dock on the tide. As we got into the bay the rain, which had kept off, decided to come in and at the same time the wind increased from the southwest. Getting the sails down and the outrigger run in in rather difficult conditions off Penzance Harbour the vessel entered the Wet Dock to be informed that due to the large number of vessels sheltering from the storm no berths were available. The harbour authorities proposed we go to Newlyn but the idea of rolling across was rejected and the boat is at present berthed alongside the Albert Pier where she dries out at low water.

ELLEN

 

Ellen attended the Fowey Classics 5th. to 8th.August. The weather was not kind and most of the racing was cancelled. However she was able to sail around in the harbour and out to the mouth of the bay. She sailed in company with some pretty boats, including the replica of her the Elizabeth Anne. It was the first time in a hundred years two Gorran Haven crabbers were to be seen together. At present she is waiting for a weather opportunity to sail from Penzance back to Mousehole.

Barnabas at the World Gig Championships, Scilly Isles.

 

On 2nd. May with six members aboard, the lugger left Newlyn for the Scilly Isles at 0900. The wind was in the southwest and consequently adverse. She was tacked as far as the Land’s End, when it was decided to motor sail towards the islands. Arrival at Hugh Town, St. Marys was at 2030, where a mooring was taken for the night.

Next day we sailed to St.Agnes at noon, to enjoy lunch at the Turk’s Head, before heading across the Sound and across the Tresco Flats, under sail. We anchored off the quay at New Grimsby in the early evening.

The following day anchor was weighed and the boat taken under motor to Old Grimsby, where we secured to a mooring for a while before pressing on again. Reduced sails were hoisted as the breeze was fresh from the south and we headed off to the westward to enter the Sound via the western channel. This started as a brisk and truly wonderful sail with Barnabas sailing at her best. West of Mincarlo Rocks there was a choppy sea and moderate swell and we took down the foresail and motored in towards St.Agnes to be in time to catch the first of the gig races. As we neared the landing place on St.Agnes there was a grand sight with a huge fleet of colourful gigs, various yachts, the RNLI boats and overhead helicopters were flying. As the race towards Hugh Town started we were able to hoist our sails and with the long and colourful Barnabas banner flying at our masthead, we were able to keep abreast the fleet of gigs. On arriving at the finishing line the gigs all made for the beach and we found a comfortable berth alongside another Penzance based lugger, the Ocean Pride.

The domestic arrangements aboard Barnabas are really quite limited, as are the cooking facilities, but we managed and there was no shortage of entertainment ashore.

The next day, Sunday, 4 May, started with dense fog but this gave way soon to a warm and sunny day. After noon we moved out into the Sound and with light sail hoisted we were able to tack back and forth and watch the various heats and eventually both the finals of the women and men. The lugger was much admired by many who saw her with her lug sails hoisted and the Barnabas banner flying well.

After we had entered the port and gone alongside the other luggers once more we could see the gigs all drawn up on the beach and the prize winners being announced. We were all delighted to find that the Mount’s Bay men’s team had won the top prize.

On the return trip the wind turning to the east gave us some worry. We had arranged for an early start but woke at 0600 to find the port enveloped in thick fog. With no radar on Barnabas we arranged to sail back in the company of Grace, which had a radar. This was a great help as the fog persisted for nearly half the crossing to the Land’s End. We were then able to enjoy a moderate northerly breeze and to sail, with some assistance from the engine, back into Mount’s Bay. As we moved past the Runnelstone buoy the wind dropped and we motored the last ten miles to Penzance. A final pleasure of the trip was to pull aboard a fine catch of mackerel off Lamorna.

 

Book on Barnabas

The book on Barnabas, published by the CMT is available for £4.99 add £1 for p&p This gives general information about the Cornish fishing industry in the days when boats were worked by sail. It also gives the story of Barnabas from when she was built in 1881 up to the successful conclusion of her recent HLF funded restoration. Contact link

New Gallery Page

You will see that we have launched a new page of pictures of the restoration of Barnabas. Click on an image to enlarge.

New Membership Secretary

We are delighted to announce that we have a new Honorary Membership Secretary. Lin Marsh can be contacted for information and to sign you up as a new member on 01872 553481. Or email her on linandnick@tiscali.co.uk

New membership category

In order to facilitate visitors to Cornwall who may wish to sail in one of our boats but who are not here for long enough to justify becoming a full member, we have introduced a weekly membership at a cost of £7 plus a contribution towards the running costs of the boats levied at a rate of £3 for each half day or evening sailing trip. We hope members will encourage their friends to avail of this opportunity over the summer. Trip may be booked in advance through the National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

Barnabas

Barnabas sails on for future generations to enjoy and share.

Barnabas has undergone substantial restoration, which has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. On Wednesday 19th.October she entered Penzance Dry Dock. Assessment of her condition was completed when the garboards were removed to make all visible. The boat was supported by a cradle to keep the shape of the hull while the keel and framework were replaced. The new keel, 12” x 6” in section, made from a piece of oak 40 ft. long was fixed in position. Individual templates were taken for the oak floors. Once the new floors were in place they were bolted to the keel, some of the galvanized steel bolts being over 3ft long. Drilling these required great accuracy. The futtocks and top frames, which comprise each of the 25 oak frames, were shaped and bevelled by band saw to form the skeleton of the hull.

Barnabas was then fitted with a new stem and sternpost. They were let into the keel with pinned mortice and tenon joints. Some of the stern deadwood and for’ard knees were retained. The new deadwood, knees and aprons were fixed in place. White lead has been applied between all joints.

A boiler and steam box were brought on site in order to bend the beam shelf timbers and planking to the curve of the boat.The new beam shelf oak timbers were steamed and bent, clamped and bolted into position. Then re-planking began. This was a laborious process, with a template being taken of each plank which was then made out of larch and steamed, clamped and nailed into place. The two upper topside planks, the garboards and sections of the bilge planks, are made of oak. The rest are larch. Once planking was complete the hull was faired off, caulked and red lead putty applied to the seams and fixings. The original interior layout of the hull has been replicated. This is known from a plan in Edgar March, Sailing Drifters, 1952, from a drawing by P.J. Oke of the 1930s. It shows interior bulkheads to make the spaces for holding lines, nets and fish. There is a cramped area in the bow for the skipper and crew, usually 5 men and a boy.

Following a careful restoration using traditional boat building skills, Barnabas has now been returned to sailing condition. She was re-floated in the Penzance Wet Dock on a rainy Monday 10th.July 2006. There was great joy in the air as she returned to the sea to begin the next phase of her long life. Her many friends wish that as she sails on she will continue to bring pleasure and pride for future generations to share.

Sea trials have taken place and every indication shows that Barnabas sails beautifully. Her first voyage was home to St.Ives for the Boats in the Bay Festival last September. She is now in the Penzance Wet Dock. Find out more about Barnabas…

Visitors

Many CMT members and the public whose interest was generated by our display at the yard entrance and by news coverage, including several generations of the family of Barnabas Thomas (the original owner of the boat) arranged visits to the Dry Dock to see the work in progress. Falmouth Marine School brought fourteen students in February 06 and were so pleased that they returned with 22 more student later in the month. A schools project was set up with Helston Community School who visited with engineering, woodworking and media students. contact us.

The film

We now have over 40 hours of film footage taken, which covers all aspects of the restoration of Barnabas to date. This may seem like a lot, but for every hour of film taken about one minute of edited finished film will result! Thanks are due to Bob Cann’s men for explaining what they are doing and when interesting technical things are going to happen. The film will also include archive photos, which describe what it was like to be a Cornish fisherman in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. We have film of Barnabas sailing before the restoration and of course the sea trials and sailing once she was re-launched. At the moment the film is being edited and once finished we will produce a DVD which will be available to buy.

Photographic archive

All stages of the restoration have been recorded and an extensive photo archive now exists for future projects and research to avail of.

Softwing

Arrangements can be made with the National Maritime Museum Cornwall to sail Softwing from their pontoon throughout Summer (all weather permitting). A new category of weekly membership has been brought in to allow visitors to Cornwall and the Museum a chance to experience sailing on a historic Cornish working boat. See our sailing programme for more info

Ellen

Ellen is shortly to have work carried out on her transom. More information will be posted. Find out more about Ellen…