RUSTLER 44 LAUNCH

RUSTLER 44 LAUNCH

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 2

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 3

Folly Rally September 2009 A boat at last! Since or previous edition I communication being almost
Christmas Party have had the pleasure, and occasional instantaneous these days, I have a
Annual Dinner and AGM pain of the launch of our new boat. feeling that this publication is going to
Rustler were able to obtain a lot of press have to rely on cruising logs and stories
Zero under the Keel coverage and review articles, so I have to ensure it’s future. The technical tit-bits
An Island Summer resisted the temptation to do it all again we enjoyed in the past are more and
A day at Sea in this publication. I have however, more migrating to email and that’s a
Brittany in Summer 2009 sneaked in a couple of pictures with good thing. I have always been a great
thanks to Richard Langdon of Ocean admirer of the “Oyster News” publication
Wheel-clamping a Yacht Images who spent two days in a rib to (not the boats themselves I hasten to
Raymarine Upgrade produce some wonderful images. add!) and I think with the assistance of
our advertisers and perhaps Rustler
Reever The common view is that this summer Yachts as well we could enjoy something
Baldhu was not very good. From my experience of a much higher quality. It’s down to you
it was a case of waiting for the right though. Send me the stories and
BBQ options weather. We have had two trips to particularly the pictures and we will
France and the Channel islands, as well publish them in a way that makes your
Latest launches and orders as the delivery trip back from Falmouth. efforts worthwhile.Don’t worry if you are
For the most part the weather has been not a particularly good writer (in your
superb, even if it was accompanied by opinion) - that’s what editors are for!
cold water. The boat instrumentation
says it was 17 degrees when we swam in There are 2 important events coming up
Dixcart Bay in August. Whatever it was I over the next 2 months, these are the
can tell you it was too cold! Christmas gathering and the Annual
Dinner. The edition includes contact
You will be aware that we were unable to details for you to book for these events.
publish a newsletter this Spring due to The deadlines for booking are quite soon
lack of almost content being submitted. so please act straight away to book your
This month, thanks mainly to the travels place.
of Dan Hogarth and some submissions
from new owners, we have a reasonable Copy deadline for the Spring Issue is
selection to read. With so much as always the 31st of March 2010.

Copyright Richard Langdon - Ocean Images

Membership…................Susan Paice [email protected] Webmaster…......Matthew Vaughton [email protected]

Editorial and Adverts….Tim Shears [email protected] Contributions….Graham Rabbitts [email protected]

Contributions are gratefully received. Whilst written material and photographs are acceptable, email, with accompanying quality digital photographs as separate files, is preferred.

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 4

The Folly in September
Terry Eagle - (Danae)

This year, once again, we were assembled for the now usual until she sold Saiorse late last
lucky with the weather. On Friday small eats/nibbles washed down year.
18th there was a gale warning for by red infuriator, and other colour
Wight, but it moderated by late liquids, including a Magnum of A long chatting session was held
morning and six R36‘s turned up champagne onboard Danae. well into the afternoon where a
for a slightly crowded Friday whole range of topics were
evening dinner party held Boats attending were; Séol- thoroughly discussed. This
onboard Séol-Mara on the long Mara, Yena, Mojito, Ariadne, included, of course, the awful
pontoon opposite the Folly Inn. Orions Girl, Young Rustler, summer weather we had
Parnvoose, and Danae. Silver experienced this year, the new

R44, cruising to
Ireland, latest mods
to Rustlers, etc. In all
a good session with
much useful,
interesting
information
exchanged.

We even had
apologies for non
attendance from
Blue Bonnet,
Jessamy, Maverick,
Gazelle, Amoret,
Black Sugar, and a
text from Southern
Cross at Arklow, on
her way back from
Norway, wising us all
a good rally.

The evening dinners

were shared onboard

Danae, and

Ariadne, when much

more interesting

conversation was

held and more

lubrication was

imbibed.

Saturday 19th was a windless Shamrock was allowed to join in This year we had a
slightly overcast day but sunny- even though it was only a variety of “house”
ish and warm at 22c by Hallberg Rassy 31 because flags and we even
lunchtime. Eight R36’s gathered skipper Majella was a R36 owner had an “official”
together and the crews Rustler Yachts flag.
What about a
competition for the
biggest and best next
year?

Mojito, David Isted, has kindly
agreed to organise the event for
us in 2010, I have been doing it
for five years.

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 5

Christmas Party
Billy Strang - (Maverick)

This years pre Christmas Please send to me:-
gathering is on Friday December Billy Strang
the 11th at 19:30 for 20:00 at:- 3 Ferrypoint
Royal Lymington Yacht Club Undershore Road
Bath Road Lymington
Lymington SO41 5TB
SO41 3SE
I would request that bookings
The price for a two course meal in should arrive to me by the 8th
a private room is £15.00 per head December at the latest.
and cheques should be made out
to the Royal Lymington Yacht I hope many of you will be able to
Club. come along.

Annual Dinner and AGM Friday 15th January 2010
Dorrie Wade-Thomas - (Soisarnoir) The Lensbury Club

We had good reports of our dinner in January 2009 so 19:00 for 20:00 hours
we have booked the Lensbury Club again for our Dinner
and AGM on January 15th 2010. We shall assemble in Menu
the Wimbledon Room at 7pm for drinks before dinner,
which will be served at 8pm. Escabeche of Sea Bass
marinated baby vegetables
Accommodation is available with reductions on the
standard tariff if you stay two nights. Apply directly to Herb buttered corn fed Chicken
the Lensbury for room reservations . Tel. 020 8614 baby leeks, savoy cabbage, dauphinoise,
64444 or book online at www.lensbury.co.uk. Their web
site has full details of the facilities available at this thyme jus (gf)
superb club.
Apple Tarte Tatin
The dress code is as before, ladies are asked to wear a vanilla ice cream , apple crisp
dress or skirt although a tailored trouser suit is
acceptable. Gentlemen should wear a jacket. A table Cheese platter
plan will be displayed in the bar before dinner. There will
be name cards on the tables but we will be moving some Freshly ground coffee& petit fours.
guests around after the main course so that you have
the chance to meet other association members. Ticket price £38.50 per head
including gratuities
The brief informal AGM will be held after the meal.
Please send any agenda topics to
[email protected]

We expect the evening to finish by 12.30 am. As usual
there is only a single menu but if anyone has special
dietary requirements I will arrange these directly with
the Lensbury. If you need to contact me –
[email protected] or 01823 321589

To book please send a cheque made payable to “The
Rustler Owners Association” to:-

Dorrie Wade-Thomas, 57 Dunkleys Way, Taunton,
Somerset, TA1 2LX

As we have to pay the Club one month in advance
please ensure we receive your cheques by December
13th. Receipts/confirmation will be sent by e-mail
(preferably) or post.

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 6

Zero under the keel
Dan Hogarth (Eschaton)

A chance remark in passing was
all that it took! Having been
lightly admonished (in the politest
possible terms) by friends for not
visiting the Cape Verde Islands on
my last crossing, I mentioned
that this time I would plan in a
trip - at least to Mindalo. They
immediately responded by
suggesting that, if I was going
that far and had time, I should go
into the Gambia River which they
had visited several years
previously. And why not.

Accordingly, plans were made,
unmade and remade several
times). Dates were proposed and
provisional crewing arrangements
proposed. This is always an
interesting exercise and best done
lightly in pencil. The upshot of it
all was that I left Falmouth after a
very enjoyable stint at the
Southampton boat show (thanks
to Graham Rabbitts and the
Marchwood Yacht Club for
allowing me to ‘park’ there for the
duration of the show in exchange
for a slide show from our 2007
Svalbard trip).

As soon as the wind stopped numerous - often an effective weather (from the right direction)
having both an ‘S’ & ‘W’ in it I set indicator of the latter. to grace us with its presence.
off for a solo run down to Leixoes.
On the first occasion that I visited A week gently slipped during So we did and it did. The result
Leixoes, an nearby fuel storage which I was joined by a friend to was that we arrived more or less
tank had exploded - with some cruise down the coast towards the at the same time as the first of
assistance from a welder’s Algarve with the objective of the revellers. Just after we
blowtorch a few weeks before I meeting up with a large crowd for arrived Amoret left from a slip
arrived and drenched several of an extended party in Lagos on the opposite. I have just noticed that
the yachts and the pontoons in oil Algarve. As ever, the plan did not she is now back in Rustler’s yard.
as well as flattening most of the survive the first weather forecast,
facilities. It is now more or less which offered a large depression Once the stragglers had arrived,
restored to its former state and a after which there was the promise the group peaked at 15 - with 4
very convenient place to stop and of a modest window to do the on Eschaton and the rest staying
enjoy the delights of Oporto & the whole trip in one go before the in 2 apartments overlooking the
River Duoro that are an easy bus/ next one swept in. We had hoped marina. Our hosts had organised
metro ride away. to go down in day hops so it was a 14 seat minibus which enabled
back to the bars and port lodges us to explore and visit various
Whilst it is possible to moor in the of Oporto to let the depression bars and restaurants as well as
Douro, the currents are very drift away and more settled enjoying walks along the very
strong and the water quality
rather less than marginal. The
mullet are very large and

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 7

small plank. Very tender and
quite delicious once one got over
the rather baleful look from its
remaining eye!

spectacular coastline right along The island is sufficiently off the From there we sailed with the
to Cape St Vincent. This included beaten track to be reasonably prevailing wind across to the
a visit to the fortress that is unspoiled but does sufficient day other corner of the archipelago
falsely attributed to Henry the trippers to support a few pausing for the night of Los
Navigator. restaurants, a supermarket and a Christanos on Tenerife before
couple of friendly local bars. The entering the marina in San
As ever, a week was about the main features (apart from the Sebastian - the ‘capital’ of La
most our livers could handle, so, sand blown over from the Sahara) Gomera. This is quite my
on 9th November, the four of us are ‘gobstopper hill’ and an favourite island as indeed it was
set off for the Canaries in impressive crater containing the Columbus’s and the remains of
generally light conditions and majority of the island’s his house are still there. The
arriving in La Graciosa (very small vegetation. There are a couple of marina is excellent, conveniently
island just north of Lanzarote) almost deserted bays with right in the middle of the town
some 5 days later. It is quite excellent holding and impressive and very well run with helpful
delightful place, very much out of views of the escarpment that staff speaking excellent English.
the way, now quite barren but forms the top of Lanzarote. Somehow they always seem to
with a recently extended marina manage to find a suitable berth
(regrettably the electricity and Our gastronomic highlight was in without fuss or bother. There is a
water have not yet been a bar overlooking the fishing fuel dock in the entrance, water &
connected as there is a local harbour where the Polvo la electricity on the pontoons and
dispute about who pays for the Planche was just that. Half a gas bottles can be refilled
cabling along the jetty!) large octopus lightly grilled and overnight from the marina office.
However, for just over 5 a night presented with a few chips on a The showers are excellent but
how can one complain? timing is all if you want a hot one
(early morning recommended!).

We made a couple of trips around
the island. The first by bus down
to Valle del La Grande Rey to the
beach resort and its associated
port. For the second we hired a
car which proved to be cheaper
than the bus and obviously more
flexible. This allowed us to visit
the north east coast and then to
walk through the rain forest to
the highest point. The island is
very mountainous and
correspondingly spectacular with
well marked walks and trails plus

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 8

supporting maps (and guides if we did have a somewhat dated From there it was a short walk
required). Lots of tourists Guide Book but no detailed charts along the beach to the old trading
(especially Germans) stay on the (apart from those provided by C- post of Dinour with its distinctive
island just for the walking. There Map which cover the main mosque. This used to be on the
are also several day trips from navigable river but not the bank of the main river until the
Tenerife on a couple of ferries offshoots and tributaries). After breach and it now is in a lagoon
that cross the 20 mile strait the trip we tried to obtain a chart of its own with an entrance
several times a day. but failed although I understand several miles downstream. This
that the French do publish one. was also our first introduction to
A pod of Pilot Whales live in the the local ‘guides’ who attach
straight to provide suitable After a night anchored off the themselves and are almost
amusement and an opportunity ‘alternative’ entrance to the river impossible to shake off (until
for tourists to get bounced around (created when the river broke given a suitable tip). In this case
in large inflatables for a couple of though its banks some years ago) they were interesting and useful
hours. On a previous trip I ended we motored across the main river taking us to a small shop where
up in the middle of the pod - their to an anchorage in a bolong (local we could change some money
choice not mine, which rather name for a creek) just off a and buy a few fairly basic
irritated the drivers of the tourist tourist camp/hotel - Niominka . provisions. We were also
ribs that were maintaining a Here we were made most introduced to the local headman
respectful distance. The whales welcome by management, staff who emphasised how poor they
seemed delightfully oblivious to it and few visitors alike. were and would be most grateful
all. for any contributions to the local
It transpired that the ownership clinic or school. A recurring
Our original plan was to sail from of the complex had recently theme.
there to the Cape Verde Islands changed and the new (French)
before heading on to the Gambia. team were trying to expand the Pouring over the cruising guide
However, once we started on the business. In exchange for eating that evening we determined that
detailed planning, it became clear a couple of meals in their it should be possible to get most
that this would be a touché restaurant plus a few beers in the of the way to Banjul through the
ambitious and would not leave bar, neither of which proved to be river system (Saloum - Danfoss -
sufficient time for any exploring a particular hardship, we were Bandia). First however, we
as we had to be in Banjul to meet given the use of a room with a decided to visit Djiferé - a fishing
another friend on 12 Dec. So we shower plus a basin for washing village gradually being eroded by
decided to skip the Verdes. clothes and bodies. Whilst we the river and sea on the entrance
were very appreciative at the to the Saloum River. Again the
As inevitably happens, we time, we did not fully appreciate best anchorage was just off
actually achieved a swifter the luxury that it afforded as that another tourist camp - this one
passage down to Dakar (Senegal) was the last hot water shower we almost deserted by a fine
than we expected (useful things had on the trip! I also worked anchorage.
Trade Winds!). Only pausing to out how to rig mosquito nets
collect lunch & dinner underway inside a Rustler!! Easy but The village previously had a
and so, rather than go straight to essential as they seem to love the thriving fish factory and jetty but
Banjul, we decided to spend a few brackish water and the mangrove all that remains now are a couple
days exploring the Saloum River. swamps. of concrete posts and a small pile
Not having planned to include this of rubble. The combination of

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 9

erosion and offshore fishing has
reduced the village to penury and
gradual decay. All in all a rather
depressing place although it was
quite obvious that the river and
coast provided a wide variety of
fish and particularly conches
which were piled up on the beach
and dried. The conches
themselves were about the size of
rugby balls (and looked about as
appetising!).

Ndangane is the next bolong in
the river and was mentioned in
the cruising guide but Steve
Jones, the author, had been
unable to find the entrance. We
accepted the challenge and
anchored off the entrance in order
to have a full day (and rising tide)
to explore. As we enjoyed the
sunset and small snifter before
dinner we watched a small ferry
make its way (at a cracking pace)
past us and up the river. Proof
enough that it could be done so
we took a careful note of its route
as best we could.

The following morning we basic internet café - but no wifi - sand and sprinkling them on to a
attempted to follow its track but in spite of the notices proudly board coated in the sap from the
after a couple of miles ran gently announcing its availability. We gommier tree. Once baked in the
aground, backed off and tried had a very pleasant drink in the sun they are very attractive and
again making few hundred yards bar overlooking the river - under virtually indestructible.
before coming to yet another the tree of the stern of Eschaton
gentle halt. Fortuitously a fishing and enjoyed a fairly basic fishy A quick lunch and we were on our
pirogue was passing and came meal in a nearby restaurant. way out of the marigot and back
over to try to sell us some fish. into the Saloum River proper
As part of the deal for a splendid In the morning we motored back taking care to avoid a large
‘Captain’ fish, they agreed to down the river, following the coaster making its way up river
show us the way upriver. After previous track and making very and the fishing floats that litter
about another 100 yards we were careful notes of the route and the main channel. By evening we
aground again, so this time the stopped near the village of Mar were just inside the first of the
‘skipper’ came on board and once Lodi which was highly rated in our rivers on our route - the Danfoss
he understood what the echo guide book. It is about a mile and anchored on the second
sounder was telling him, took us from the river across part desert attempt just off the small fishing
safely up the river to Ndangane. and part scrubland. Of particular village of Moya with 2.6M under
note is a large Catholic Church in the keel (at high water). A
In the best traditions of the sea the middle of the village with a foretaste of what was to come.
he maintained higher revs that I separate bell tower (a useful
would ever do! On the way up we landmark as quite visible from the After a light breakfast we
passed several French yachts at river). We came across a small motored on following the
anchor and later on a couple ‘shop’ selling sand paintings made instructions in the pilot and the
more that looked as it they had by mixing four different colours of main flow of the river as best we
been aground for quite some time
and had become channel markers
in their own right. The anchorage
there was just opposite the end of
that particular road from Dakar
(literally) and quite popular with
tourists (mainly day trippers) so
the facilities were somewhat
better than normal - several bars,
a couple of respectable
restaurants and even an very

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 10

could on a gently falling tide themselves at home in the locker Saloum just a few miles up the
(about 1.5M) before a small error under the chart table! Nothing Bandia River but a couple of miles
of judgement left us hard aground would deter them although taping short we were again aground
after going just too close to the over all the entrances to the (gently) and could not find a way
mangroves that line every bank. locker did slow them down through. A Rustler 36 is not the
The usual tactics were employed somewhat. My estimation from ideal vessel for exploring mud
to try to get us moving - even this photo is that there were flats. Next time a catamaran and
taking a line to the mangroves about 300 to 400 of the little dinghy and a handheld echo
and trying to haul the bow round critters and I am still finding the sounder. In fairness, I had tried
- to no avail so we settled down occasional carcass after 6 to source the latter at the boat
to wait for the tide to flood again. months. Fortunately they seemed show but to no avail. I have since
content to play among seen and used one and found it
Some of the time was used to themselves and none of us was effective and very useful.
clean the slime off the hull before stung.
we were invaded by a swarm of The evening was suitably
bees looking for fresh water. The We hauled ourselves of the mud frustrating as we could see the
pilot book mentions that this is a by taking the main anchor in the loom from the hotel but could not
not infrequent occurrence but dinghy into the main channel and get to it. However there was
that usually they leave as soon as setting it as firmly as possible. (I some solace found in the booze
you move on. However, we were have replaced the CQR with a locker thoughtfully replenished
not in a position to move in any Spade which I find holds even whilst in Lagos.
direction and after the initial team better and does not fall over).
had identified us as an The following morning we took to
opportunity the rest of the swarm Our plan had been to get to the the dinghy and using a lead-line
arrived and set to making To u r i s t H o t e l / C a m p o f Ka u r (actually a grappling anchor and
marked line) eventually plotted a
way through which took us much
closer to the mangroves than we
had considered the previous
evening. So, rather than dinner
and a shower we had a couple of
beers and a lunch at the hotel
overlooking the river carefully
watching as the sandbanks un
covered and then covere.

It was quite encouraging to see a
couple of quite large ferries
ashore by the hotel. We left at
low tide and motored down the
Bandia river towards the estuary.
After a few groundings we found
the main channel and enjoyed up
to 9M under the keel. There
seems to be a direct relationship
between speed and depth - 1kt
for every metre - up to 6kts that
is. At the other end at 0.0M we
made usually 0kts except when
aground with the tide running
under us!

Just to add a little tension (for the
skipper) was the imminent arrival
of another member of the crew
into Banjul 2 days hence and we
had passed the point of feasible
return. Not having checked in
anywhere in Senegal we were not
sure how we would be able to get
across into the Gambia and back
with her if we got stuck. Patrick,
our translator, being French, only
had a single entry visa to get in/
out. By now, there was
insufficient time to retrace our

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 11

route to go out the Saloum River sunset we were anchored with kiss of life from a large bearded
and down, so we worked out great relief off Half Die in the Frenchman he agreed and was
several scenarios involving taxis, Gambia River next to a couple of suitably tense all the way out and
meetings at the border crossing other yachts. So named because back. From the state of the
and so on. Effectively we had during an epidemic in the 18th water, I would expect to have had
launch commit and the exit from century half the population died. to deal with concussion rather
the Bandia River seemed on We though of having a quick run than a drowning.
paper to be no more difficult that ashore but (very wisely as it
the earlier stages had been. transpired) decided that we had Once on board, we expected him
had sufficient excitement for one to suggest that a gift would ease
Allegedly there were even a day. the process but to our surprise no
couple of buoys in the entrance. such suggestion was made.
In reality this was a false premise As we found out the following Perhaps he was too concerned
but we did have waypoints in the morning, Banjul is hot, dusty, about the return trip to
pilot and a proper chart of the dirty and constant hassle. There remember. However we did help
entrance (Admiralty but with a are a standard set of ploys and him fill out the inevitable form
note that the sand banks were scams to help you hand over your and then return without any
liable to change). They had and money to the local youths. inspection except a visit to the
as we attempted to leave we Currently, the most popular one is heads. Anywhere else this would
could see the turbulence from to hand you a piece of paper with have been done in the comfort of
sandbanks all around us but could a list of names and donations on an office but it helps make a good
see no sign of a way through. So it purporting to be sponsorship for story! Back ashore we then had
it was back into the river and up a a local school; another is a to provide copies of our passports
bolong for the night. Frustrating heartfelt plea for a gift ‘ from your and the ships papers (again as a
as at that point the river was 11M heart’ (meaning wallet). complete set had already been
deep. Regular visitors to the east given to immigration) which no
coast rivers are only too well Inevitably the ‘bumsters’ as they doubt are filed away for posterity
aware of this scenario. are known, attached themselves and finally pay a suitable but
to you and insist on trying to take modest sum for a cruising permit.
Dawn found us in the estuary you where they think that you
again, going back to more or less want/need to go. We Having by now shaken off our
the same spot as before with the inadvertently ‘collected’ one from helper we wandered around the
same result (Zero under the inside the Port Authority building ‘city’ in search of lunch but after a
keel). Fortunately the sea was after we had been through visit to the local market, decided
reasonably flat so we were able to Immigration who told us that as that what we had on board would
anchor and set out to determine if he was an employee he knew be more than satisfactory!
there was a potential route out. where we had to go for Customs
Having taken the soundings in clearance. He didn’t and we spent There are two recognised
several directions, we plotted an hour an a half going through anchorages near the entrance to
them on our chart and then went the capital to the main building the Gambia River. One is in
back out again to confirm our and partially filling in a form for Oyster Creek which is very close
findings. I now have a better employment before speaking to to the sea but has to be
understanding of, and immense one of the officials and being sent approached from the land/river
respect for, our forebears who back to where the pilot said we side as they have rather
went out in small boats to provide should have been (and quite close inconsiderately built a low bridge
all the soundings that we have to the Port Authority & across the entrance. The other is
come to take for granted. It was Immigration). We were not about 5 miles down a bolong
not that easy in an inflatable with amused! where some years ago a German
generally good conditions and yachtsman came, and after his
suitable clothing. It is difficult to Customs have a quaint habit of boat sank, set up a tourist ‘camp’
comprehend what it must have insisting on visiting the boat (at out of local materials. Primarily it
been like for the early navigators anchor). Not having a boat of is for day trippers to come and be
who so diligently took all the their own, they hop into your taken around the mangroves in
soundings on which our charts re dinghy and expect to be returned the local dugouts (pirogues) and
based. the same way. Our inspector was have a relaxing lunch before
of generous proportions and returning to their air-conditioned
Back on board again we gingerly claimed that he was unable to hotels.
made our way out along the line swim so needed a life jacket.
that we had plotted with surf on Again, local folklore covers this so It is respite from the delights of
all sides and finally got over the we told him that as we had a fully the Atlantic beaches and
bar that we had identified with trained nurse (Patrick has spent international cuisine. As well as
0.3M to spare and about 1 hour of many years working for Medicin lunches they do excellent dinners
tide to go. For the first time since Sans Frontieres in far less provided you let them know in
we entered the Domboss our salubrious places than Banjul) he advance. Whilst the choice tends
knuckles returned to their normal would be in safe hands. With to be fairly limited it is always
colour! 4 hours later just after reluctance and the threat of the freshly prepared using local

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 12

ingredients and flavours. Our particular making a couple of visits there we walked around
favourite was a seafood cocktail which had all the countryside at dusk and every time we went out
manner of delights in a lime based sauce. The we saw more birds than we could keep track off.
locals are quite prepared to share and are very The variety and range of colours was truly amazing.
adept at liberating anything however well one It certainly helped to have a fully accredited bird
guarded the table. Meals are served with a long watcher on board along with the appropriate bird
stick to discourage table crashers. book.

The anchorage is excellent (apart from a few Another place that we visited - this time escorted by
mosquitoes) with quite a few long term a flock of small chattering children - was the
residents and is excellently managed by Captain ‘sacred’ crocodile pool complete with small museum
Lamin, a local, employed by the camp and who dedicated to some of the more bizarre tribal habits
provides almost everything one could generally associated with circumcision. The
reasonably want. He arranged taxis, fuel, crocodiles, including youngsters, are free to wander
water, laundry etc without asking for additional around although there is some fencing it provides
payment. Indeed, at the end he presented me little, if any, separation. One of the crocodiles,
with two bolts of locally died cloth as a thank affectionately known as Charlie seems content to be
you! I am not sure for what but he now sports stroked…. although there is a local ‘keeper’ on
an Eschaton shirt. I have no doubt that he hand to ensure that he does not get too
gets his commission from the various contacts affectionate!! After that we strolled down to the
but it is a very refreshing change from the beach to be given a guided tour of their fish
normal style. The building, made of branches, processing ‘factory’ - in essence a series of booths
is in a small compound from which the bumsters for the gutting smoking and drying of all the various
are rigorously excluded making it completely varieties of fish that abound in both the river and
hassle-free and thus very relaxing. We used it the sea. As ever we were asked for a donation to
as our base for the week with one excursion (by the local school plus sweets for the children.
boat) up to Oyster Creek for a night.
By this stage we were all pretty well explored out
Just outside the camp was a group of women and the crew were clearly ready for a return to the
who spend most of the day wading in the UK to indulge in all the joys of family Christmas
bolong, collecting the mangrove oysters and preparations and parties. Jonny be Good (sic) our
then bringing them back to cook or smoke. ‘tame’ taxi driver took them to the airport and I
Whilst much smaller than the ones we are used prepared myself and Eschaton to sail off into the
to they are just as delicious cooked, fresh, and sunset - very literally as the Caribbean is due west
especially smoked. Unlike the ones we are used of the Gambia a mere 2,600 miles away. My last
to, these tend to grow in clusters so it can be sight of the Gambia was the ferry that ploughs it
quite challenging to make sure that you get to way across the mouth of the river.
eat them all.From the camp it was an easy ride
(if such a thing is possible in an elderly Gambian Christmas was spent at anchor off the Isoda del Sol
taxi on a dirt road) to the nearby wild life (Salt Island) at the eastern end of the Cape Verde
reserve at Abouli. This site is an excellent place Archipelago. Some time I must go back and explore
to see many of the wild birds that frequent the them properly before they get too commercialised.
Gambia, which is itself one of the finest places But by then the Caribbean was calling….
in the world for bird watchers. As well as

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 13

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 14

An Island Summer
Alistair Bell - (Séol-Mara)

My fascination with islands island. Never having heard of on the Minkies but, as ever, the
started a long time ago. In my them I started some frantic weather and tides were never
teens I remember being surprised scrabbling for maps that showed favourable. The nearest we could
that there were islands beyond where they were, unfortunately do was Îles Chausey in 2005 but
the Outer Hebrides. The story of without success. Sometime later I we lived in hope of being in the
St. Kilda, perhaps over found a French IGN map of area when all the conditions were
romanticised in Tom Steel’s book Brittany that just showed a vague right.
“The Life and Death of St. Kilda”, area Le Plateau des Minquiers
the sojurn of Frank Fraser Darling halfway between Jersey and Another long-standing ambition
on N. Rona in “Island Years”, and St.Malo but confirmed that it did was to spend a bit more time in
the construction of the northern actually exist. the Scillies as we had only been
lighthouses by the Stevensons all there once on passage from
intrigued me. I spent many happy A couple of years later when we Ireland and the swell put us off
hours poring over OS maps of had our first boat, a Sadler 26 staying for long. The settled
various scales to find them and “Suidae”, and were planning our conditions in May this year
see how many other tiny islands first trip to the Channel Islands, I prompted us to head west from
there were around the UK. bought a copy of the late Malcolm our home port of Gosport
Robson’s pilot book. With its planning to spend 3 weeks in
I thought I knew a bit about most excellent hand drawn transit what we hoped would be
of the noteworthy ones until one diagrams and charts, it was just Mediterranean conditions.
day a TV programme happened to what was needed for this novice However, by the time we reached
be on in which Sandi Toksvig and navigator to visit Sark and Herm. Falmouth northerly gales were
John McCarthy were However a visit to the Minkies being forecast for Lundy so it was
circumnavigating Britain in Tom would have been a bit too over to Brittany once again.
Cunliffe’s pilot cutter Hirta. (This ambitious then, even though the Northerlies were perfect for a
was several years before we had pilotage instructions seemed to quick visit to Lampaul and we
Seòl-Mara so we didn’t realise be pretty clear. Robson’s book were then holed up in the inner
the significance of a certain Tim also explained some of the history harbour at Camaret for a few
Slessor being involved in the and the territorial disputes days waiting for the weather to
production.) They were setting off between the UK and France which improve. Our most southerly
from somewhere that was were only resolved in 1953. point was Île de Sein and, week
supposed to be the most or so later on June 16th, we were
southerly point in Britain – the A couple of visits to Jersey and hanging on a buoy at La Corderie,
Minkies – and there seemed to be the Trieux river in Seòl-Mara Île de Bréhat in a F5 NW. We had
houses there so it was a proper kept alive the idea of setting foot bought a rather lovely square
plate in Quimper a few years ago
that has an outline of the Phare
des Poulains on Belle-Île and lists
half a dozen French islands
followed by a rather enigmatic
series of dots suggesting “where
next?”

Going ashore on Bréhat meant we
had just completed them all but
that led to the question “where
next?” Amazingly the forecast for
the following day was W3 and it
was neap tides. Was this our
chance for the Minkies? We had
on board Robson’s book, a copy
of Ken Endean’s article for YM in
September 2004 and, fortuitously,
an up to date of Admiralty chart
3656 (bought last year for £8
secondhand from Marine Chart
Services!) so we were ready if
conditions were right on the day.

Although it would have been a
shorter route from the south, the
pilotage was a bit more uncertain

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 15

so we decided to enter from the the NW Minquiers buoy we could disappeared. A piece of cake! we
north which would allow us to already see rocks to the E and we thought until just before we
abort and head for St Helier if we were soon surprised to see passed the Grune Tar beacon
didn’t like the look of things Maîtresse Île with its collection of when depths started to shoal
including the sandbank that Ken little houses even from about 6 rapidly and we were down from
Endean warned about. miles away to SE. It remained more than 10m to below 5m in a
frustratingly distant as we made few boat lengths. The minimum of
The 0500 forecast from Cross our way ENE towards the Demie 4.7m (dries 3.6m) was reached
Joburg promised W 2/3 becoming de Vascelin green buoy that where the chart showed over 2m
variable 1 to 3. Swell was marks the northern entrance to depth but it flattened out and we
forecast to be 0.5 to 1.0m with the reef. recovered our composure. As we
“mer belle” and “beau temps”. could now see the spindly front
Together with neap tides of We reached the buoy just on HW beacon, it was then
coefficient 45 it seemed like we so with 8.3m of rise and good straightforward to follow the
had almost perfect conditions for visibility we did not need to follow transit until we were past the
our attempt. The sun was out the recommended dog-leg Demies beacon (with D topmark)
when we left La Corderie at 0645 approach and could follow the and turned on to the Rocher Blanc
and we had a very pleasant broad transit given by the two beacons transit on 78o (looks like the
reach down the Trieux. However on Rocher du Sud Bas. The white patch is paint rather than
as soon as we were beyond the minimum charted depth on the guano).
Nord Horaine buoy and exposed approach was 0.7m. However we
to the NW, the sea become very couldn’t make out the front We were a bit taken aback to see
lumpy, left over from the previous beacon at the distance of 3 miles 3 boats in the pool as we had
night’s F5, and progess under sail (Probably the reason for the expected to be alone. All were
became impossible. The wind died recommended approach) so had French and shoal draft. They
gradually as the French coast to rely initially on the bearing of looked like they had just arrived
receded and the sea became 167o and XTE to a waypoint. together as they were blowing up
glassy but still lumpy. It became their tenders. We had a quick
hot but fortunately still with good Once the reef was entered the discussion of our options: staying
visibility. By the time we reached sea became smooth and the swell overnight would have been

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 16

possible as the weather was Back in the dinghy we saw the encroaching from the west. The
settled but we would be trapped French boats leaving rapidly en- latest (2004) Admiralty chart
without much shelter if things masse through the gap S of shows the (now 167o) transit just
changed sooner than forecast. Rocher Blanc and by the time we grazing the drying line. Our
Our original plan had been to were back on Seòl-Mara we were experience showed that even this
have a few hours there but the alone in the anchorage. It felt is out of date and the bank has
shoal on the transit now ruled strangely vulnerable. Using the St continued to extend. Our track
that out as even half-tide would Helier tidal curve, we reckoned and the various chart versions are
now only give us about 2.5m. So we should have 1m less water shown in the pictures.
it was to be just a quick visit. than when we came in – still ok –
but we decided not to linger. The lesson from all of this is that
When we got ashore, it was whilst the old adage “the rocks
apparent that the French had the The sandbank that we had to don’t move” may be true
same idea as they were already cross seems to be extending sandbanks do and sometimes
heading back to the slip. One of rapidly. On the way out we with such rapidity that even the
them provided a bit of decided to do a check and latest charts may not be accurate.
entertainment. They set off from deviated about 0.05nm E off the
the north side of the slip but the transit, trying to avoid the worst The rest of the trip home via St
ebb was beginning and they of the obvious “waterfall” over the Helier, Sark and Alderney was
didn’t have an outboard. Once bank, but avoiding the rocks uneventful apart from watching
they were in the current running further E. Just abeam W of the the entertainment at Dixcart bay.
north over the ledge out of the rock head showing as drying Several boats were already
pool it needed the man rowing 3.3m we had a minimum 4.2m so anchored on rope with a long
and his wife swimming over the the bank is about 0.5m lower at scope. We managed to squeeze
stern to make headway. And that that point. safely in a corner but we saw one
was with neaps! collision and several near misses
The bank is not mentioned at all as the tide turned and the wind
Maîtresse Île was fairly overgrown in the Robson pilot and the sketch got up.
but the houses were all neatly in this shows deep water all the
closed up. We had the obligatory way on a transit of 164o. This is p.s We got to the Scillies later in
look at the toilet which is the consistent with the old edition of the year and had a pleasant week
most southerly building in Britain Admiralty chart 3656 which was or so, including meeting up with
and checked the Jersey customs used to derive the 2005 version Ariadne in New Grimsby sound.
post. It didn’t take long to explore of charts for our Garmin plotter. I
the 180m x 120m island, updated these in 2007 and the
encouraged by the gulls that French chart FR7161 is now used
clearly took exception to the for this area. It shows a minimum
presence of humans on their depth of about 1.5m on the (now
territory. 165o) transit and a drying area

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 17

A Day at Sea
Dan Hogarth - (Eschaton)

Dramatis personae: once at sea. Henry was in charge be going if at all. This made life a
with Eric trolling happily alongside little too interesting for Henry
Eschaton - a boundaryless and collecting the odd raft of seaweed who prefers to have a reasonably
causeless chaotic attractor that is as we went along. Quite a little steady strength and direction - as
drawing all space and time deeper kleptomaniac is his own gentle a result Eschaton wove an
into states of novel connection way. interesting course around the
and complexity - aka Rustler Hull ocean averaging a gentle 3kts. I
No. 108. Around midnight (GMT) it was still thought of switching to George
Eric - a DuoGen wind/water light enough to see a large bank but decided that if a serious gust
generator and consistent source of clouds scurrying across the did come Henry would cope
of electrons for all the electrics horizon from the SW - black with better. It didn’t and he did. And
and electronics on board (and, of driving rain on the outside and an after much slapping and twanging
course, the fridge). almost pure white centre reaching from protesting sails and sheets
George - the Autohelm and well up into the sky. Based on they compromised on a sort of NE
dependent on Eric for electrons. previous experience of the squalls course which fortuitously was
Henry ‘the Navigator’ - earlier in the trip I was expecting roughly what was required.
Hydrovane wind self steering. the wind to increase from the
Independent and just occasionally 12-17kts to around 25kts with Dawn broke (just after 0750Z) as
a law unto himself. little change in direction so I took a very thin bright orange sliver
one reef in the main and cleared that immediately hid behind
18th July - 34ºN 51ºW the lines ready for a further reef if another bank of dark clouds and
The whole of the previous day required. In the event, whilst the stayed away for several hours.
was spent running with the wind wind got up to 20 kts with a The wind took the hint and went
right from the stern with Yankee corresponding increase in the sea, off to play somewhere else
goose-winged and the staysail as the whole caboodle passed easily leaving an almost wave free sea
a counterbalance under the main. away to the south. The wind with just a lazy swell as a
By nightfall the staysail was moderated back to a comfortable reminder that this was an ocean
lowered as it seemed to adding 15kts but I decided to leave the not a marina.
little apart from noise and chafe reef in as there were still several
and was tucked up in its deck dark clouds passing overhead and But not for long. Half way through
bag. In general, I find that once to the west and then settled down my pre-breakfast tea
the wind is abaft the beam it adds into the normal night accompanied by the news (and
little to the speed and tends to watchkeeping routine. crackling) from the BBC World
blanket the Yankee. The latter Service a pair of dolphins came
was firmly poled out to port with Overnight the wind seemed to be by to see what was happening
a separate sheet and the main suffering from some sort of dizzy and presumably to play in the
held with its preventer which is spell and was quite incapable of bow wave - unfortunately in 3kts
more or less permanently rigged deciding where it was meant to of wind Rustlers do not provide
much amusement as they didn’t
seem able to swim that slowly.
Since I could provided little sport
they meandered off after a
couple of rolls presumably to
harass a few tuna or flying fish.
With the prospect of a wind free
day I furled the Yankee, started
the engine for the first time in 10
days and left George in charge to
go below and make breakfast.
Scrambled eggs, American bacon
(90% fat) and the last couple of
slices of bread gently toasted to
restore some of their former
glory plus a pot of real coffee -
luxury and on an even keel.

By 1100 the engine was off and
the Yankee poled out as the wind
had decided to play again and
was blowing a steady 12kts from
the SW with the seas building
steadily. A few minutes later it

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 18

was up to 20kts and rapidly long and an hour later the wind of pepper sauce in a couple of
increased to 25. Time to reef and was back to a SW 8-10kts with home (boat) made chapattis
reduce the Yankee as well as the sea of course still behaving as followed by biscuits and cheese
steering to ensure that we did not though it was a near-gale. and washed down with a cold
broach - interesting challenge to Probably the most uncomfortable glass of passion juice and a
do all of this more or less state of all when the wind has splash of lime.
simultaneously whilst single- dropped but the sea has not
handed. It is all a matter of adjusted to its absence. So back By then it was well past the time
priorities. Henry generally copes to goose-winged with one reef in for the daily task of plotting the
well in these conditions but does the main and a poled out Yankee noon position on the chart and on
need a reasonably balanced boat again. the laptop that I use in preference
to be effective and Eschaton was to a chart-plotter, and writing up
now far from reasonably After much experimentation I the log. Once accomplished and
balanced. So, lash the tiller to found the using both George and noting that I had only achieved
give Henry a sporting chance, let Henry was the best combination 65 miles over the previous 24
the main fly and reef the Yankee - until the sea sorted itself out. I hours it was time for some
still poled out. Then take in a reef have never tried it before slightly more stimulation mental
on the main and take over the expecting that, like siblings, they activity. Crossing oceans provides
steering to run with the wind on would each want their own way plenty of time to read and I have
the quarter - now blowing at and generally cause chaos. In found that in addition to the
30+kts and enjoy the alternative fact they did not seem to mind normal diet of crime novels,
doses of salt water from the spray and coped with the conditions thrillers and adventure stories,
and the fresh rinses from the rain better together than on their own. one needs something more
clad only in a pair of shorts. With Try it and see. Once the seas challenging. Good, interesting and
the water temperature hovering settled Henry was more than well written (auto-)biographies
around 31ºC this is not really a content to take over. are excellent as are history books
monumental hardship and and currently I am about half way
provides a free, albeit involuntary, Lunch-time (after a small morale through Michael Lynch’s New
shower. Fortunately, like most boosting ‘special tea’). Hard History of Scotland in which he
tropical squalls, it did not last for boiled egg and salad plus a spot has managed to compress 2,000

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 19

years into 450 pages whilst see. Once the squall was passed I delightfully simple with an
keeping it understandable and managed to hammer the ball excellent spell checker and a
readable. However, about 30 back in but that only lasted until minimum of natty features. From
pages at a sitting are as many as the next (controlled) gybe! It is my current position, the
I can generally manage before now held in place with a lashing. preferred station was Lunenburg
the brain goes into overload or (Nova Scotia) with Trinidad,
the need for a recuperative nap With the wind now back to a Panama and Daytona as
becomes overpowering. SSW4 it was time to re-rig the alternatives. I got through to
pole, set up the yankee goose- Lunenburg a mere 950 miles way
Just after 1600 a wide bank of winged, shake out a couple of the within 5 seconds and downloaded
heavy clouds started building up reefs and ensure that everything 2 emails, a text weather forecast
behind and rather than take was well tidied up and strapped for Bermuda and a Grib file
another beating it seemed down ready for the night. By a covering the remainder of my
prudent to be rather better providential coincidence it was planned trip to the Western
prepared (and what else is there fast approaching my somewhat Approaches for the next 20 days
to do anyway!). Firstly I ‘unpoled’ flexible Happy Hour but prior to in about 8 minutes.
and part furled the Yankee, put 2 that, time to try and download
reefs in the main, inserted my the daily weather forecasts and After all that excitement it was
transparent wash boards and sat grib files plus any emails. These time to relax in the cockpit for
down ready and braced for the come over my SSB, through a Happy Hour with a Dark & Stormy
onslaught. Pactor modem onto the laptop whilst contemplating dinner and
which also has its own GPS watching the sun set without the
As so often happens in life and it receiver kept inside the chart brooding presence of dark or
seems especially at sea the table. thunderous clouds. Regrettably
expected didn’t. The wind did go there were still enough to
round to the NW for a time and As with all radios, transmission preclude the famed ‘green flash’
increase to 20kts but it was can be a challenge but the just as the sun sank below the
nothing like as exciting as the developers of Sailmail have horizon.Dinner was a Thai Green
morning and the sea hardly provided an excellent and simple Curry Chicken using the last of
increased at all. In reefing the service that one can use almost the fresh meat and vegetables
main, I inadvertently ground the all over the world although we did from the supermarket in Antigua
outhaul in too hard and dislocated sometimes have trouble last year over a week ago with paste kindly
the ball from the socket on one of connecting around 78ºN. One of brought out by a guest to the
the batten cars (I have an the very useful features is a grid Gambia and secreted away at the
external track on the main with that indicates which of their bottom of a locker for such an
ball bearing cars that run up and stations and associated eventuality.
down - similar to standard main frequencies is best at what times
tracks). Stupid and annoying and of day/night. Not infallible but it After washing up in the ever
why now after the number of is usually not wrong which is abundant supply of seawater
times that I have reefed without a more than can be said of many of there was just time for a few
problem but at least it happened the other ‘gadgets’ that we inflict more pages of medieval Scotland
in daylight and without any upon ourselves these days. The before settling into the regular
collateral damage that I could associated email package is also pattern of overnight watches, Eric
quietly feeding the batteries with
electrons and Henry ever
watchful on the helm.I suppose
that this is not really a typical
day but it was a day at sea for all
that!

Apology:
I fully appreciate and have
experienced all of this and more
in the Solent between Calshot
and Yarmouth with all the added
excitement of other yachts,
ferries, coasters and buoys but
when about 1,000 out in any
direction one prefers and
becomes accustomed to a more
leisurely approach with little
more of a distraction than a sail
adjustment every couple of days.
The catching of a tuna is about
as much excitement as one really
wants.

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 20

2009 Summer cruise to the south coast of Brittany
Simon Wainman - (Nakamanda)

There is something rather special Then suddenly at 1900 on the hundreds of yachts, with hardly a
about waking up in brilliant Tuesday evening there was a motorboat to be seen. This area
sunshine in the St Evette chink of blue sky. Inspired by the is a recipe for contentment.
moorings, in Southern Brittany, change we moved across the river
with a gentle breeze from the to the Mount Edgecombe After the Glenan islands the Odet
north-west promising another anchorage in preparation for river beckoned and we motored
good day’s sailing. Behind you departure at first light. Alas the u p r i v e r, m o o r i n g o p p o s i t e
are the challenging tides of the winds of the past few days died Chateau Kerouzien, the
Chenal du Four and the Raz de away and we had to motor for “comfortable looking white house”
Sein. Behind you too is one of much of the next 30 hours to of Cowper’s “Sailing Tours”, but a
the vilest July’s in living memory, Audierne. very beautiful chateau in our
when one depression followed eyes. Later, as the sun dipped
another across the Atlantic and Gradually, as we worked south, behind the trees, we moved down
up the west side of the British the clouds gave way to sun. The river to a mooring off the marina
Isles, bringing rain, wind, cold, swell rolled in, towering above us. at St Marine and enjoyed
and constant days of grey cloud. Big ships began to appear and wonderful oysters, crab and other
our new AIS showed its worth. seafood on the terrace of the Cafe
But also behind you is a Channel “Container ship, 1150 ft, making de Port, entertained by feral
crossing which will long remain in 19.2 knots on course 093 children and water-dogs on the
the memory, a magical degrees” is a pretty clear caveat foreshore.
experience as one moved from to keep your distance.
the gloom of the north to the A day in Loctudy to repair a
promise of sunshine and things We slipped through both the west malfunctioning outboard, shop for
afresh. Ahead were dolphins. For and then the east-bound lanes provisions, and visit the fish
the fourth time they declined to before dark without incident and market was followed by a lovely
allow us round the Point de Penhir saw little else. Soon after dark sail along the coast to the mouth
without entertaining us for twenty we picked up the loom of the Ile of the River Aven, where we
minutes with a glorious display, Vierge light and the harsh flashes anchored, waiting for the tide to
alternately diving under the keel, of the wind turbines. The moon allow us to enter the Belon River.
slicing through the water was full and the night contained Although the weather had been
alongside and breaking the great slabs of silver constantly wet early, as we entered the
surface with a glint in the eye. sliding and shifting on the oily Belon the sun came out, the
sea. clouds vanished, and we dined in
Southern Brittany opened up the cockpit with our new sun
ahead of us. There were three of We felt a sense of achievement awning rigged for the first time
us on board. Diana, Peggy when we hit the tidal gate at the .
Holland, who sails with us on north end of “Le Four” fifteen Inspired by the weather Diana
frequent occasions, and myself. minutes before the tide turned to and Peggy decided to sleep in the
The wind was F3 from dead the south, and we sailed on to cockpit and, apart from a few
astern – we were making 6 clear the “Raz de Sein” just as the mosquitoes, enjoyed a
knots with the genoa boomed out tide was beginning to turn against comfortable night. Dawn was
– and our chosen anchorage was us. So we were through into shrouded in mist, silver cotton-
20 miles ahead in Le Chambret, Southern Brittany and, as if to wool floating on the water, but it
just south of Ile St Nicolas, in the welcome us, the wind filled in and soon cleared to produce another
Iles de Glenan. Life doesn’t get a we enjoyed a glorious sail along
lot better than this. the coast, overlooked by
hundreds of tourists on the cliffs
But I am ahead of myself. We above La Plate lighthouse, before
had driven down to Plymouth, anchoring at St Evette. Then, as
where we keep Nakamanda, on mentioned earlier, we sailed on to
Monday 3rd August, a cool grey Le Chambret in the Iles de
morning with the forecast of rain Glenan. A day spent on the silver
later. We were allowed to stow sand of this archipelago is time
our stores in the dry but no well spent. Children paddling and
sooner had that task been building sand-castles. Floppy
accomplished than the rain set in. sunhats, family picnics,
All afternoon and evening, sunbathers galore. Inflatables
throughout the night and all day arriving and departing. The
on the Tuesday it poured down, French on holiday. The vedettes
with visibility across the Tamar bring groups out from the
limited to a couple of hundred mainland but the majority come
metres. ashore by dinghy from the

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 21

water and rocks, making their
presence felt with their
continuous piping. Diana roamed
among the hundreds of rock pools
while Peggy laid out her
watercolours.

Finally it was time for Peggy to
leave us and we made for
Kernevel, in the Lorient estuary,
and one of the most friendly and
comfortable marinas on this
coast. Our arrival was made more
exciting by Diana catching the
harbourmaster’s propeller with
her fishing line, which had, as
usual, been forgotten. However
after blushes, much laughter and
apologies, we moored safely in
one of the many empty berths.

Dropping Peggy with fond
farewells at the Lorient marina
Diana and I set off south down
the Quiberon Peninsula, making
for our favourite anchorage,
Treach en Goured, on the east
side of the island of Houat. A
mile-long sandy beach, neap tides
and thus good holding in shallow
water, a few bars, restaurants and
shops ashore, make this small
island a perfect place to simply
switch off and do nothing.
Sheltered behind the huge rock –
Er Yoc’h – at the northern end of
the bay, Nakamanda rode
peacefully to her anchor in warm
sunshine for two days.

very warm sunny day without a This walk had everything: oak- From Houat we had a good reach
cloud in the sky. We landed at woods, open fields, cliff paths, across to the mouth of the Vilaine
Chez Jacky, the world-famous secluded creeks, egrets and River, arriving at half-tide and
oyster restaurant, and walked waders, sleepy hamlets and a finding enough water to sail up
inland along country lanes sense of glorious tranquillity. And the river to the Arzal barrage.
bordered by wild flowers and at the end of the day we bought The lock was an education. Last
surrounded by the smell of fresh- our supper from Chez Jacky: time we went through four years
mown hay, through sleepy oysters, bulots, amandes and ago there were six of us. This
hamlets decorated with vermillion palourdes, fresh from the fish time there were twenty-one
fuchsias, to the tiny village of tanks in the shop, to eat on board yachts and eight motor cruisers.
Rosbras on the River Aven. in the evening sunshine. Four abreast and a spider’s web
of ropes, and all for a water level
A picnic in the shade on the river On another occasion we anchored fall of about eighteen inches.
bank and then a long walk home in the bay to the east of Ile After an hour from entering the
by the GR coastal path with the Ponfret, the largest of the Glenan lock to leaving it, we motored out
yellow flowers of the broom vying Islands. The sun shone from a hugely relieved that we had
with the purple of the heather, cloudless sky once again. Dunlin suffered no damage. Then a
and the sea below us ablaze with skittered across the sands at low peaceful sail up river to La Roche
multicoloured dinghy sails. Each water, looking for tiny shrimps, a Bernard under genoa, in the
cove had families picnicking, pair of ringed plover in their evening sun, reminded us what a
while dozens of children swarmed midst, while a young turnstone lovely stretch of water this is.
over the rocks with shrimping- angrily chased them off its private
nets and buckets. patch of sand. Sanderlings fed in The following morning, Thursday,
the shallow water and was market day and we found a
oystercatchers flew low over the typical French marché in full
swing when we climbed the hill in

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 22

mid morning. Fresh vegetables along the bank and within easy The Morbihan was as busy as
and fruit in abundance, patés, reach of the landings. We hoisted ever, with hundreds of yachts and
barbecued chickens, fresh the sun awning, poured ourselves dinghies creaming across the
seafood, olive oil from Provence, a liberal gin and tonic and dined water, many of the dinghies with
farm butter and, after the in the cockpit in the warm spinnakers set, and vedettes and
excitement, a strong cup of evening sun. Diana, sleeping out fishermen on the move from
coffee. Leaving Roche Bernard once again, remarked upon island to island.
we sailed upstream, under genoa, barking dogs and an early
in light airs – so light at times morning Frenchman with a gun, We left Nakamanda riding at
that we hardly had steerage way. but otherwise all was peace and anchor the next day and went
However the sun shone, it was quiet. ashore by dinghy to explore the
very warm and as the countryside island. This is a French holiday
opened out on either side so the After a couple of days in the river island of great charm. Old
wind filled in and we bowled along we sailed west along the coast. cottages, many with lovely stone
at four knots. Diana caught three mackerel and walls, small gardens a riot of
made delicious fishcakes for colour, narrow lanes, lagoons,
Past Foleux and on upstream, supper. We anchored off a sandy dykes, salt-marshes, miles of
finally reaching the swing bridge beach a few miles from the beaches and yet hardly a vehicle
at Cran with an hour to spare entrance to the Morbihan at to be seen.
before the next opening. When lunchtime and enjoyed a siesta
we finally motored through at while waiting for the tide to turn Vannes, at the head of the
1830 the wind had deserted us at the entrance. Then at 1600 we Morbihan, is one of our favourite
and we continued upstream with sailed off the anchor, beat out to French cities, a blend of beautiful
the engine just ticking over for sea in a good F4 and then turned old architecture and cobbled
forty minutes to the pretty village downwind and passed through streets, large numbers of shops
of Rieux. With the two landing the narrows at Port Navallo, selling fresh food and “les halles”
pontoons full of yachts we gave it skirted the southern tip of Ile aux market with fresh fish, meat, fruit
a wide berth and anchored two Moines, and sailed up the east and vegetables in abundance.
hundred yards upstream, close in side of Ile d’Arz, dropping the Andy Lang, who was to crew for
to the bank in 4 metres. This is anchor in six metres in a very us for the next ten days, arrived
an ideal spot – quiet, pretty, with pretty bay, Cale de Pen Raz, off in mid afternoon. But with a deep
a herd of cattle grazing in the the village of Le Bourg. depression over Ireland (what -
field nearby, fishermen dotted another one!) sending troughs

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 23

across the Bay of Biscay we had for the next couple days as the We cast off at 1430 and had a
to abandon plans to sail out to front howled in across the Atlantic good sail north-west to the Vieux
Houat and Belle Ile and instead to the south of Ireland. Winds of Moines light buoy – the southern
made for the comfort of La F7 to F8 from the north-west marker for the Chenal du Four.
Trinité, a few miles to the west. forbade any thoughts of the However from here on the wind
Chenal du Four and a Channel was bang on the nose and we had
The following day dawned sunny, crossing. Alas this particular to motor for the next 24 hours
with westerly winds of F5 storm was in no mood to hurry into a very gentle northerly
forecast. Just what we needed to and with the wind set in the breeze. With a very weak neap
take us round the Quiberon north-west and forecast to tide against us for the first hour
peninsular and north-west to the increase to severe gale F9 in before it turned north – the
Lorient estuary. In fact we Plymouth we reluctantly made the coefficient for the day was one of
enjoyed a boisterous beat with decision to sail up the Rade de the lowest of the whole year at 29
the wind up to a good F6 for most Brest to the Moulin Blanc marina - we made good progress,
of the afternoon and big seas, and fly home to England. passing the Four lighthouse and
making it a wet passage. We took entering the English channel at
in two reefs in the main, rolled up Nakamanda was safely moored 1800.
half of the genoa and were still on the wave break and we took
making six knots with white water the TGV to Rennes and then flew It was to prove one of the easiest
on the deck. Our log at the end of to Southampton. I’m relieved to of channel crossings, a totally
the day showed 49 miles on a say that the turmoil in the clear night, both warm and calm,
course with a rhumb-line of 30, Channel beneath us as we with brilliantly sharp stars and a
hard work for both helmsman and crossed from the French mainland harvest moon to speed us on our
crew, but one of the best sails of to the Isle of Wight confirmed way. Sunday dawned warm and
the season. How exhilarating it is that we had made the correct sunny and the wind, which had
to have a boat that takes these decision. increased in the early hours, fell
conditions in her stride. We away to give a flat calm by mid
eased sheets at the entrance to Later in September three of us morning. Gradually the Eddystone
the harbour and planed up the flew out to Brest. A huge light appeared out of the haze
estuary at 8.5 knots. This was a anticyclone was sitting over and we had it abeam by 1300,
day to remember and to savour. Northern France and Southern just as the land appeared on the
England and the forecast was for horizon. In no hurry to return to
There comes a point in every very light northerly winds for our marina we altered course for
cruise when one has to start to several days. We motored down the River Yealm, anchoring off the
think about the passage home the Rade de Brest to Camaret pretty beach in the entrance at
and that moment was fast early on the Saturday morning in 1545, with the ship’s log reading
approaching. From Kernevel we glorious sun but without a breath 5,000 miles – at the end of our
sailed along the coast and spent of wind. Ashore to stock with fourth season.
another twenty-four hours up the provisions in this prettiest of
River Belon. From here we sailed Brittany villages, we then lunched This had been a wonderful five
east round the Point of Menhir at one of the small restaurants on weeks of coastal cruising at its
and up the coast to the St Evette the front. very best.
moorings. The wind followed us
round blowing from the west and
then the south, almost dead
astern, making it a rather
uncomfortable passage, but the
sun shone and we made good
time, mooring as far in as we
could to avoid the swell.

We made an early start the next
morning to catch the tide through
the Raz, which turned to the
north at 0930. With a good
south-westerly we had to motor-
sail into the wind for the first two
hours but then had an easy ride
through the race and past La
Platte light. Once clear we then
enjoyed a good sail north-east up
the Crozon peninsula to Camaret,
with the wind increasing as we
progressed and squally rain
showers producing wonderful
rainbows. Here we were to stay

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 24

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 25

Wheel-clamping your yacht
Matthew Vaughton - (Southern Cross)

When sailing under the control of passed around a spoke of the and held in position by means of
a Hydrovane wind steering steering wheel then placed in the a lug mounted on the binnacle.
system it is only fair on the wind cleat and both ends pulled tight. The components were
steering if the yachts main rudder This approach worked better than manufactured from a 1 inch sheet
is firmly clamped in one position. the last in that it was fairly quick of black Delrin (same material as
Unlike servo-pendulum assisted to apply and remove but still was used in some deck fittings and
wind steering systems the unable to firmly clamp the main sheaves) using routers and drills.
Hydrovane uses its own auxiliary rudder in a moderate sea so an Delrin was used because it is
rudder for steering so does not even better solution was still easily worked using wood boring
rely on the yachts main rudder. It needed. tools. Naturally white, Delrin is
is usual to clamp off the main made black by the addition of
rudder in a central or near central We have a Raymarine ST4000+ finely powdered carbon. Normal
position while the Hydrovane is auto pilot wheel steering system Delrin is not particularly UV
s t e e r i n g . H o w e v e r, a c t u a l l y fitted and it is possible to use the resistant but the addition of
achieving a solid clamp, if you ST4000+ manual clutch to lock powdered carbon helps improve
have wheel steering, can be a off the steering wheel. However UV resistance by inhibiting light
little tricky. Further more a the ST4000+ is not designed as a penetration but is still not
clamping solution is required that wheel clamp (the instructions say impervious to UV damage.
is both quick to apply and to as much) and in any kind of sea Fortunately we put a wheel cover
remove. the rudder can push the steering over our wheel and binnacle when
wheel around against the clutch not in use.
Our Edson wheel steering system potentially damaging the motor or
came with a friction brake. The gears. As a permanent solution Delrin is a low friction material so
friction brake is operated by a this approach also fails. the two rings move freely against
side mounted wheel but despite each other when the wheel is
being serviced the friction brake Our current, and hopefully final, used to steer the boat. To clamp
is pretty useless. The side solution involved manufacturing a the wheel a quick release pin is
mounted wheel is both difficult to pair of rings and a mounting post. inserted through any one of a
access, being situated between A rotating ring is fixed to the number of holes in the rotating
the binnacle and the throttle pod, steering wheel and turns with the ring and engaged with a suitable
but turning the friction wheel steering wheel. A second similarly slot in the stationary ring behind.
doesn’t actually apply any useful sized ring is stationary and fixed It takes two seconds to clamp the
friction to the steering wheel. As to the mounting post which is wheel and the same to unclamp.
a solution for firmly clamping the hung from the steering wheel axle When the quick release pin is
main rudder this approach fails inserted the steering wheel and
for being both too slow to operate
and ineffective at clamping. We
have tried lashing the steering
wheel using a clove hitch around
one of the vertically orientated
spokes then tying off both free
ends of the rope on coaming
mounted cleats on either side of
the steering wheel. This approach
works only moderately well as the
clove hitch tends to slip on the
spoke and the lines take too long
to tie on and undo in an
emergency.

Another approach we tried was to
use a rope clove hitched to the
stainless hand hold in front of the
steering wheel. One end of the
rope had an in-line cleat fitted to
it. The other end of the rope was

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 26

Upgrading Raymarine Instruments from ST50 to ST60
Roddy Wade-Thomas - (Soisarnoir)

My boat was no 80 so like many instrument had a much smaller working none of the instrument
of the fleet my ST50 instruments diameter part that goes through will work properly.
were in need of replacement. The the instrument panel about
log had started to suddenly revert 50mm diameter against the ST60 The solution is to fit a 10K
to zero. The temperature had which needs a hole of 90mm. A resistor across the brown and
long ceased to give any sensible useful trick to enlarge these holes white terminals. This fools the
readings. is to clamp some ply across the instrument and a temperature of
old hole so that the guide drill in 27C is shown. Suitable resistors
As both speed and depth were on your hole cutter has somewhere can be bought from Maplins for
the same display unit a new ST to steady the hole saw. 37p. There are not many spare
60 Tridata was the only solution. parts for a Rustler can be bought
However I did not want the However the wiring on the old for this kind of money!
expense or the inconvenience of instrument is totally different,
installing and wiring up two new having a series of pre-wired I had sufficient cable for the
transducers. plugs. The new instrument has depth to remove the plugs and
little crimped on terminals. If your install the blue and black wire
The depth transducer was the wires are too short to bypass directly into the new instrument.
Airmar B122 unit which is now these plugs you will find that the
about £330 (Its American so the colours in the wires coming out of If the transducer is bronze you do
weak pound is largely to blame). I the old display unit bears no not need to connect the bare
had been told by Raymarine that relationship to the wires coming wire.
the transducers were compatible up from the transducers!
with the ST 60 display units. I was very pleased to find it all
Also with the ST60 instrument if worked when the boat was back
The new unit was duly the temperature sensor is not in the water.
purchased . However the old

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 27

New Member’s Boat
Gordon Callander - (Reever)

When we visited Rustler for a test and she was still 20 years old! comprehensive than many, with
drive before taking the plunge, Naturally we also checked the the benefit of hindsight I’m not so
Adrian Jones commented that we price for a new Rustler and were sure our original thinking would
wouldn’t be “typical Rustler staggered to find how high asking bear much scrutiny because we
owners”. Naturally his comment prices were for recent examples added so much more during the
focused the mind rather on why by comparison. Knowing how I build.
indeed we thought a Rustler was like things to be just the way I
the right boat for us. I suppose like them to be, we guessed that Before making the decision to go
the answer really lies in the kind within a couple of years we’d ahead we went to the
of sailing that inspires us and have spent as much replacing kit Southampton Boat Show in 2007
captures our imagination. as would have brought us up to to have a look at the alternatives
the price of a new boat in the first – Vancouver, Halberg Rassay,
Our introduction to sailing came place. Malo etc. In reality though I don’t
through mountaineering. Brenda think we were fooling anybody,
and I joined a fellow mountaineer Although the basic boat comes least of all Adrian Jones. We were
on his yacht to take part in the with a kit list far more already in love with the Rustler! A
Scottish Island Peak Race with us
doing the running bit. However
we were completely captivated by
the whole sailing thing although
to honest, initially that was more
true of me than Brenda. Sailing
has, in common with
mountaineering, the appeal of
going to wild and wonderful
places using no more than your
own resources –being totally
reliant on your own skills and, of
course, kit which is where the
Rustler 36 fits the bill perfectly.

After having sailed a Wanderer
dingy for a few years we
graduated onto a big boat - a
Sadler 29. Stroller served us very
well as a family boat for 5 years
as by then Robbie and Rhona
(now 12 and 10 respectively) had
joined the crew.

Over the years we sailed quite a
bit in and out of Ardfern and
couldn’t help but notice the
elegant lines of the several 36’s
kept there. That, together with
the universally complimentary
comments picked up from the
sailing magazines, meant that the
Rustler 36 was top of the list
when it came to considering
another boat. At first we were
thinking second hand but not,
perhaps as old as our Sadler had
been. Within a couple of years
we’d spent as much on the boat
as she had cost in the first place

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 28

month or two later all four of us • Darglow feathering prop plotter (part of the tiller pilot) to
went to Falmouth for a test drive speak to the Furuno so it had to
and the order was placed shortly Plumbing/Gas/Heating/ go.
after for delivery in May/June Refrigeration
2009. • Eberspacher • Self levelling backstay mount
• Auto bilge pump for radar
Then came the awkward job of • Salt water at galley sink
deciding exactly what kit should • Non-return valve to galley sinks • AIS class B transponder
be aboard. We tried to have • Holding tank • Icom M505 radio
everything tied up at the point of • Marine care gas and CO2 alarm
ordering but failed miserably and • Tefal Ingenio pots and pans Rig and sails
changed (mostly added) lots • Removable inner forestay
afterwards. I’ll go through the (from a French website) • Storm staysail
spec with particular reference to • Blade jib. We were keen on a
things that seem to have come up Electrical
with the Association members in • BTM3 battery monitor no. 3 genoa as a heavier
the past. • 240V charger weather alternative to a deeply
• 23W solar panel rolled no.1 but Nick Offord
Hull/deck gear suggested the blade jib, given
• Oxford blue hull Electronics some of the recent
• teak side decks • Raymarine ST60 on garage (for correspondence in Ramblings. It
• grabrail on sprayhood hanks onto the removable inner
• boat tent waypoint information) forestay and the sheets run
• liferaft – kept accessible in aft • Raymarine E80 chartplotter and through fixed blocks on the
coach house roof to jammers
cockpit locker radar under the sprayhood. This
• towed genoa cars means we can get a good
A Furuno chart plotter and radar sheeting angle when beating
Engine, stern drive, propulsion were fitted during the build but (which is where this sail should
Rustler and their suppliers come into its own) but the
couldn’t get the Raymarine course

• 35hp engine

• Rope stripper to shaft (this was

wrecked by the time we

reached Rhu)

• Battery management system

• Bow thruster (Sleipner 40kg,

2.2kW). At first we thought

we’d be traditionalists and avoid

such modern trickery as a

bowthruster but

correspondence through the

website convinced us to become

softies. So far our experience

trying to go astern while out in

Falmouth Harbour and arriving

at strange marinas in the dark

on the way home, have

convinced us that a bow

thruster was the right move. I

was quite attracted to the

Willdo jet thruster idea but

further investigation ruled this

out. The small 25mm holes in

the bow are appealing but

another big hole is required

elsewhere as an intake and the

kit itself is very bulky compared

to a conventional thruster.

• Tiller steering. This seemed

only natural after our Sadler 29.

However we chartered a wheel

steered boat for a week this

summer and grew to quite like

it. Also, now that we have the

Rustler, she is quite heavy to

steer. On balance though I

would still opt for the tiller.

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 29

downside would seem to be off genius wasn’t so original after all hired van loaded with boat bits,
the wind. When the sheet is – there were already three completed the handover sail with
eased the upper third of the Reivers amongst only 118 boats. Nick, had another day sail on our
leach curves away too much. However all of these included own then headed back up the M6
But then again we’ve only used what we had now discovered was in the van – all a bit more rushed
it for a brief test sail. the normal spelling i.e. reiver. than we would have liked.
What’s more, this spelling is
• Cruising chute. Deploys from a defined in Chambers as strictly of The engine hadn’t sounded good
removable bowsprit which is the cattle stealing variety and on the hand over so Rustler
mounted through the port bow therefore with our additional hauled the boat out and altered
roller. We have opted for a meaning we decided to stick with the pitch of the prop.
Rollgen furler which makes it Reever.
easy to hoist and lower. So far The following Friday night Brenda
we’ve found the easiest place to The delivery and I, together with a couple of
stow the furled sail is to drop it As with all these things schedules sailing chums, flew down to
through the fore hatch straight began to slip and May/June Newquay ready to cast off from
into one of the lockers beneath b e c a m e e a r l y S e p t e m b e r. Port Pendennis marina at 0800
the fore cabin berths. But again Unfortunately, this was after sharp on Saturday morning. This
we’ve only used it once to date. Robbie and Rhona would be back proved to be the low point of
at school so our plan for the ownership so far. Rustler has
• No stack pack. I always thought summer holidays of slowly moved Reever into quite a
these looked a bit clumsy so we wending our way back up the difficult finger berth since we’d
opted for a traditional sail cover Irish Sea were scuppered. Instead left her the previous weekend.
but the fully battened main is a we drove down overnight in a This was my first time with the
bit of a swine to handle so
perhaps not opting for a stack
pack was a mistake.

• Genoa whisker pole
• Gybe preventer strop under

boom

The next task was to think of a The sailor’s choice…
name. I’d always thought we’d
call a new boat “Calendar Girl” – Benefit from our scheme for Rustler
a pun on our surname but on owners: an extended cruising area as
reflection it sounds like a fishing
boat from Buckie and not really standard, an increased personal
Rustlerish at all. After some items limit, no excess on third party
weeks we struck on the genius of
Reever (or Reiver?) as in the claims and a loyalty discount.
Border Reivers of old who where
bands of Scottish cattle thieves A distinctive product…
(gerit!) who would swoop down A personal touch
from the glens to steal cattle from
the farms of Northumberland. Admiral Marine Limited

The term reiver is not particularly Freephone: 0800 064 2643
well known outside the Borders
and I only knew it from the days 4 Barnack Centre, Blakey Road
when my father motor raced Salisbury, SP1 2LP, UK
when one of the opposing teams
was The Border Reivers. I had no Telephone: +44 (0)1722 416106
idea how to spell it so looked it up Facsimile: +44 (0)1722 324455
in our copy of Chambers Scots E-mail: [email protected]
Dictionary. My first guess was
“Reever” and the definition given Web site: www.admiralyacht.com
confirmed my understanding but
gave another few meanings Admiral Marine Limited is authorised &
including “a swift boat”. regulated by the Financial Services Authority

A few weeks later we joined the
Association and gained access to
the list of members and their
boats. At first we were dismayed
to discover that our stroke of

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 30

bow thruster and oh what a mess! Finally we’d like to thank useful ideas have been
Luckily only pride was damaged everyone in the Association for incorporated into Reever.
and soon we were blasting along their help and advice through the
the South Coast at over 6 knots. website – it really did help to hear We’re looking forward to find out
The wind died for about an hour the views of other owners. In what “typical Rustler owners” are
off Lands End and from then on particular our gratitude goes to really like at the Dinner in
we were beating the whole way to Victor and Sarah of Una who January.
Dublin. We were chuffed that our kindly invited us aboard when
first real sail in Reever was such they saw us ogling their boat at Editor’s note - prop issue has
a long one and delighted with the Ardglas in 2007 before we’d since been resolved by Rustler.
boats performance. placed the order. Many of their

At Dublin one of our crew had to
bail out for work leaving the three
of us to soldier on. Our next stop
was Ardglas (N.Ireland) then
Lamlash (Arran) and finally home
to Rhu on the Clyde on Thursday
afternoon. The wind had been on
the nose the whole way from
Lands End.

On speaking to Nick after our trip
home we learned that he still
wasn’t happy with the prop. He
reckoned it wasn’t allowing the
engine to rev properly. As I write
Reever is out of the water minus
the prop and rope stripper – both
are back with Rustler. The plan is
for the Rustler engineer to fly up
next week, re-fit the prop etc.
Fingers crossed!

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 31

Learning the new Boat
Tim Allen - (Baldhu)

Having just joined the ROA I see
that the editors copy deadline is
less than a week away. Eek! I
would like to contribute
‘something’, being grateful for all
those past Ramblings which were
invaluable as a source of pre and
post purchase ideas, so here
goes:

I bought R36 045 Baldhu this The other surprise is the wheel reason why the jib cannot be
summer from fellow member steering. As a died-in-the-wool hoisted from the cockpit, once
Robert Whitelegg who had owned tiller man, the lightness of touch readied. If I make it all easy and
the boat from new and sailed her and sheer versatility of the small accessible, it will get done right
to the Med and Caribbean and wheel has proved a delight. When and used as the ‘norm’, instead of
around the Canaries I think over tacking singlehanded it seems suffering a half furled genoa.
the years. As a consequence she quite natural to work the wheel
is pretty ‘sorted’ but of a certain from in front, whilst tending So, launched, daysailed and
age (or as Kevin from Rustlers at sheets for a neat quick tack. You victualled, and with my 82 yr old
the Southampton Boatshow put can lean back into it as you would dad as ‘crew’ we two aging lads
it, ‘‘Ah, 18 years. Just nicely run with a thigh on a tiller if using went off on a wee cruise down
in then’’. both hands for winching, and the the Solent revisiting haunts not
pedestal provides a reassuringly seen in 10 years, then out
Hauled, surveyed and inspected, I solid brace in that quite big through the Needles one night
then got to work in earnest in cockpit..Must make something to and comfortably over to
June. I replaced the standing and stow the binoculars though. Normandy for a couple of weeks
running rigging, re-bedded the of the fine weather.
chain plates and crawled all over A third ‘goody’ was how well the
the mast checking for wear, did a Monitor copes in light downwind Some sailing, some motoring,
lift-and-reinstall of the existing airs. Downwind in more bracing some chilled wine from the fridge
2000hr Yanmar, its mountings, conditions I have yet to try, (that’s a first, nice) and playing
pipes and tubes, connections and though typically all windvanes with the new toys and deploying
all the sterngear, substituted a suffer as the boat veers off and the trusty Walker log in order to
Volvo shaft seal for the dreaded runs away, changing the apparent re-calibrate the electronic one
DeepSea one, replaced the 3 deck wind angle and velocity over the too. France is not cheap these
hatches, overhauled the Monitor vane. We shall see. All the days except for mussels and
self steering, and finally raised experienced sailors I know insist Muscadet, so that’s ok. I am sure
the waterline 2 inches. It was that it is far quicker and more we cooked too.
time to get some sailing in! comfortable to ‘tack’ downwind on
I am delighted, of course. The a long trip. My dad was quite amused at my
boat has just the right ‘feel’ and overly cautious early attempts at
motion at sea. The real “bonus’ is Yes, I have put the decks under maneuvering the boat under
how well she does in light airs (to test the new rigging and mast engine: Having grown up on
mixed with sloppy seas. I am bend of course), and with 3 rolls wooden boats, with small offset
really dead chuffed that so many in the Furler, the fun stops, argh! propellors usually coupled to
modern fin and skeg lightweight feeble and temperamental petrol
boats, with their minimal wetted There are excellent hank on sails engines that liked to sulk, the R36
surface and theoretical light airs on board (possibly never used) is still something of a surprise.
‘edge’, in reality appear to bounce including a reefable stays’l so I Suffice to say that I am having a
around and lose drive, whereas really do need to get ‘organised’ b i t o f a ‘ Re l e a r n ’. B a l d h u
Baldhu, once she (or he? Jury’s with the inner forestay and a definitely behaves better if you
still out on that one) gets up to permanent jib-bag. I see no keep the power on, whether
speed, just keeps going, and
eases past ‘em without fuss.. As
the wind increases, the rig just
seems to power up more and
more. I can’t remember beating
into blustery drizzle ever being
this much fun. And off the wind,
phroaah !

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 32

turning, stopping or reversing-it’s usefully more locker space, and I was amazed at how much
just that if it went wrong, at less ‘electrickery’ stuff to go unutilized storage there is, for
speed, 8 tons can really ruin wrong. In will go a ‘classic’ bikes, sewing machines and
someone’s day. All tips and advice Taylors diesel stove. spares. That locker aft of the
gratefully received from other far quarter berth, the extra storage
more experienced owners, please, Locating it unobtrusively was available in front of the anchor
please. I am a long way from always going to be a head chain, the wasted forward loo
‘ d o i n g a Ke v i n ’, t h a t i s , scratcher. Right now it is just locker space, those hidden
demonstrating how to walk the placed in location on the wedges under the chart table
boat back in a neat zigzag starboard side just ahead of the footrest and hanging locker. I
through a line of moorings under galley and will require a natty reason that the more ‘stuff’ I can
power! For now I foresee a wee teak mini bulkhead and crash rail squirrel away there, the more
warping drum being installed around it. I think I have it about spacious and empty will be the
unobtrusively under one of the right, and nicely lowdown, but am ‘normal’ lockers - without
new pushpit seats, probably with living with it in this mocked up burdening the boats ends of
a good anchor attached. The installation for a while before course.
really good news is that actually actually drilling the holes and
the boat STOPS beautifully when getting a solid, lagged exhaust I rigged up some bungee cord
you give it some revs and that is pipe made - Any suggestions and now keep the second(!)
all I can really ask, in a marina gratefully listened to! I have stormjib (my old ‘lucky’ faithful
situation. There isn’t a mark on sailed with them before and ‘they that I have had for 25 years now)
the boat, so clearly Robert quickly just work’, particularly the newer right up in the nose ahead of and
mastered her ways! ones with improved controls. I am above the anchor chain.
a bit of a Luddite really and
After some of the best –and most believe that you should be able to With a bit of wood and some neat
comfortable and civilized-sailing sail safely and securely with the glasswork I reckon I can strap
done in a long time, and with ships batteries turned OFF at sea, down my boxed sewing machine
some small experience aboard, I if necessary. I am not sure a in the space aft of the
now feel able to start on a long heater fuel pump is strictly quarterberth, which will address a
list of ‘’improvements’’ this necessary as the Rustler tank is couple of trim issues (the list to
autumn, although these are quite high, but suspect that it starboard, and a very slight nose
personal ideas. The boat is set up might ensure even metering of down trim at the moment.)
for offshore cruising just fine as it the fuel supply. Might try an
is. So, Heat, Storage and Cockpit installation with and without - one I am in the process of running
Control Lines are this winter’s 3 less thing to go wrong. most of the running rigging back
priorities: to the cockpit for safer single-
More Storage. Has anyone handing and to this end have
Heating. Out went the thought about utilising the spare remounted a couple of the size 16
Eberspacher. Hurrah, said the space in the boats ends? mast winches on the coachroof,
batteries and also revealing whilst still retaining the ability,
with one winch, the existing
jammers and cleats and a big
open sheaveblock mounted low
down to do everything at the
mast too.

I am probably overdoing it with
the deck organizers, there will be
6 and 7 ropes per side, but would
like to control the spinnaker pole
from the cockpit and be able to
drop the sail into the main hatch,
so string, string and more string
aplenty. My pa grandly donated
one of his old racing ones to the
cause, which sets beautifully and
at approx 90% size is my ideal
‘trainer sail’ !

On deck, it is madness not to
rebed deck fittings I reckon, at
18 years, starting with resealing
the deckcores around chainplates
and deck vents, with epoxy and
then Sikaflex. Mine were ok, but
only just ok, with some staining

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 33

to the core. The handrails and I intend to replace the plywood that takes out the wired electrical
genoa tracks, as a precaution, will hatchboards with two hinged system and bilge mounted
get done next year. The boat and doors, in solid unvarnished teak, batteries (it happens), I now
its deck is now watertight at sea as caught my eye in pics of carry one of those £25 generic
and I would like to keep it that another R36. It might be nice to emergency roadside battery
way. work out some way of retaining packs-if nothing else it is great at
both, for those truly ‘orrible days pumping up my 90psi bicycle
In fact I am amazed at how well at sea! tyres!
the boat is nailed together.
Considering that it has been both Lastly a couple of engine thoughts Finally I throw my two ha’porth
kept and used offshore in the sun I made a gadget to remove the into the “who actually designed
and sailed ‘uphill’ in the Atlantic, cutlass bearing which may be of the boat?’’ conundrum: A vastly
there is negligible movement to interest if you prefer to do your experienced American
fittings, moldings or joinery. own maintenance. The ‘puller’ bit acquaintance who grew up on a
Every locker door still shuts with is actually a 32mm socket and the Swan 43 (as you do) and has
a ‘just so’ click. Those Rustler torque is achieved by winding worked the US tradeshows and
lads sure build a mean boat! down the locknuts to smoothly traded sailboats all his life, used
rotate the stud and extract the to meet Don Pye a lot at shows,
Windvane Repairs. My Monitor old cutlass, the thrust is taken up who reportedly referred to the
was, reportedly, the very first on a series of wooden blocks R36 as ‘’My big folkboat”!....
example imported to the UK. against the deadwood as shown. Anyone?
They now make them from 316 I hate using big hammers, which
stainless steel, but to any other I have observed to all too often I look forward to meeting some
owners with an early (304 grade) be the boatyard way. The total owners next year and of course
unit, I would caution do have a cost was a fiver, and this, along getting loads of sailing in.
damned good look and scratch with a spare
around at the welds. On my cutlass bearing,
pendulum strut a couple of cracks lives on board.
had started around the critically
loaded top yoke. The local Don’t know how
engineer was able to do a really
neat remanufacture of the whole many other
top end for me for £110, easily
less than half the import price for Rustlers have
a replacement part. With the
boats clever Monitor spare Yanmar 3gms,
bearings kit all installed and a
good polish up, I reckon it’s now but it is definitely
good for another 18 years of
silent service. not a hand start

In reworking the spinnaker lines engine. With this
aft, with double guys, sheets,
2part foreguy etc (I think it can in mind I now
be done, I managed it ok on my
last boat, more or less), I noticed carry a spare
that by leaving the adjustable
spinnaker pole on deck when not s t a r t e r m o t o r.
in use created usefully less
windage and heel than when And, in the event
secured vertically. Along with
removing the plastic shroud of a lightning
rollers and bottlescrew covers,
this helped to cut out a certain strike or
tendency of the mast to vibrate in
cross winds when moored up. I downflooding
wonder if others have
experienced this? It may be a Z
spars thing augmented by the
folding mast steps, or a lack of
prebend, I wonder. Anyway it
vibrates no more. The mast is
dead vertical and the Arun full
batten/radial sail balance is very
nice on the helm, btw.

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 34

Alternatives to a boat barbecue
Roddy Wade Thomas - (Soisarnoir)

It is quite a common sight these
days to see fine yachts with a
blackened metal attachment on
their stern pulpit. If you get a
little closer you may smell the
fragrance of yesterday’s sausage
cooked with anger whilst trying to
stop the fat from depositing itself
over the beautiful teak aft deck.
Fortunately there is an alternative
that produces all the flavour of
the barbecue but in a more
appropriate place, the galley.

We have been using ours for www.cookwarebycsn.co.uk/asp/ not suitable for use at sea. They
many years cooking a variety of show_detail.asp? weigh about eight pounds and
foods. You can cook six sirloin sku=LKK1020&refid=GBUK331- could lay flat a crewmember if it
steaks all at once or grill lovely LKK1020. parted company with the stove in
summer vegetables like a seaway. Especially when hot!
Aubergines and Courgettes. The One word of warning for anyone
cast iron holds the heat making it who wants one of these, they are
a very economical method of
cooking.
These culinary wizards are only
available from specialised outlets
such as

Or if you really want a boat barbecue.....
Tim Shears - (Little Dove)

I too dislike blackened metal the pushpit with the lid folded stern angle of Rustlers really
things on the pushpit, old cooking down, or by undoing one butterfly lends itself to this design.
smells and dirty teak. But there is nut it can be packed away in a Incidentally, we have found that
a solution to the problem that still locker. Morrison’s disposables are by far
allows me to perform my culinary the best - they have more
manly duties. It is called the C- We have used the C-Chef many charcoal and burn longer.
Chef and is made in that very fine times this summer. The reverse
county of Cornwall, famous for
pasties, pirates and the
occasional superb ocean-going
sailing vessel.

Made of high quality stainless
steel, the C-Chef is a perfect fit
for disposable charcoal
barbecues. It can be turned to
orientate for the breeze, and has
a rather nice warming tray as well
as the main cooking grid.

When the conflagration is over,
the lid is closed till it cools down.
We then feed the fish with the
charcoal remains and place the
foil and little mesh thingy in the
gash. It stores completely flat on

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 35

“Dear All, is another navy boat for Mr Andrew Wallace.

What a year! It is pretty clear that marine businesses On the Rustler 24 front, suffice to say that we now
in general have suffered, along with the rest of the have boats sailing Sweden, Holland, Italy, Germany,
world, with the general economic issues, and indeed Greece, and on the East and West coast of the USA
many of our friends in some (particularly Scandinavian) along with a growing home fleet. All quite satisfying
companies have had to adjust their businesses severely. really.
Here in Falmouth, we have just kept our heads down and
tried to get on with things, and so far we have been Falmouth Yacht Services
lucky. Our order book is still strong, and the decisions Our refit and servicing arm continues to grow. It has
we have made so far with the newer boats (the R24 and been a pleasure this year to see so many Rustler 36’s
R44) have clearly worked well – we’ve already started come for either minor or in some case major upgrades.
R44 number 3 and now build the R24 at a rate of one We have seen Little Dove, Eschaton, Amoret, Artic
every three weeks! The design for the R58 is still Tern, and White Malkin to name but a few!
underway, and we have now received a number of
interested enquiries. We also have ideas for a larger The refit of the classic S&S boat ‘Argyl’ went very
version of the R24, and a design is on the wall here…… smoothly and was featured in an edition of Classic Boat.
We have been lucky enough to race her and are very
For any of you who may have been following the new proud of the way things worked out!
Starlight project, we rather sadly have decided that we
had to ‘park’ it. With Rustler being so strong, and the Adrian Jones - Sales Director”
market being at best uncertain in the sector
where the Starlight sits (slightly more round the
cans than round the world), we have diverted our
entire concentration to the Rustler brand.
Rustler has been present at Dusseldorf, Genoa,
Southampton, Amsterdam, Newport R.I. and
Annapolis shows this year. Clearly the sterling to
and $ exchange rates are helping us, and our
targeting of the USA (with a new dealer) and
Germany as ‘new’ markets will hopefully be
fruitful soon. Fingers crossed!

Launchings
Well of course the big news this year has been
the launching of Mr Shears Rustler 44. She has
been incredibly well received by the yachting
press, and by all who have been on her (including
HRH Princess Anne – but we can’t talk about
that!). We are really pleased, and believe that
the model has a great future. Boats number 2
and 3 are both navy and both full cutter rigs, and
both will be on the water in 2010.

We have launched new Rustler 36’s this summer Copyright Richard Langdon - Ocean Images
for Mr Alan Cole, based in Dartmouth, and Mr
Gordon Callander who is based on the west coast
of Scotland. Also this summer we launched
Avocet, a navy Rustler 42 for Dr. John Lane, and
a white R42 for Mr Geoff Kurnatowski. The next
R42 is scheduled to be ready for December and

Rustler Ramblings Issue No. 25 Page 36