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www.Tectona.org.uk
Welcome to the Tectona Trust website
TECTONA off Bolt Head by Gordon Frickers (1978)
Looking beyond… Then seeing it through…
Log of Tectona Delivery.
See end of page for photp gallery
Chapter 1 – setting off.
Wednesday.
After 0430 start, arrived at Marseille Airport via Gatwick with Dave and Andy. Long queue for Passports made punctual flight meaningless. Met by Joe and Chris, just arrived himself from Liverpool.
On board Joe had done many important jobs, and I had brought the spares for the generator. I fitted the new parts to the main engine with no problems. The galley had been painted and I was delighted that Andy had no qualms about what he was faced with, as Tectona is sometimes a bit of surprise to people! Meal at the marina’s excellent Lighthouse bistro.
Thursday.
Grey day with some rain. Martin on board at 0800. Jobs continuing, then B arrives with Richard and Emily from Nice, in hire car # 2. Rain clears in the afternoon, Dave and Andy progress with massive shop for food. Generator work completed by J & R. Fuelled ship (1700L = E 2,300). Excellent first meal on board in the evening for all 9 of us.
Friday.
Discussion of weather. M suggests a Sunday departure when there is a window in the Mistral. Jobs continue. Major food shopping still, all stowed easily in T’s 42 lockers. “Final” meal out at the Lighthouse with all of us around the table.
Saturday.
0800 M on board for sail drills and safety talks etc. Emergency evacuation through the forehatch seemed to take forever – pause for thought! All tired by evening: excellent meal by Andy.
Sunday.
0630
All up. Dry cool near-windless morning as the sun comes up.
0730
Slipped from Port Napoleon. Dave & Joe in the RIB, with warps across to the pontoons to windward. Go out slowly astern under full control.
0830
Motoring practice & MoB drill. Tectona turns in a wide circle (about 4 boats’ lengths) and it is easy to just miss the ‘victim’. Joe explores the full use of Tectona’s engine power. Andy has best success – for heaven’s sake he’s here as cook and didn’t tell us about his boat-handling skills!
1000
Made sail and set course for Cap Sebastian. Watches get under way. Light // moderate breeze gives a good sail initially, but by about 2300 it is time to reef. I have been in my bunk preparing for my watch listening to the hull creaking in the rising sea, exactly the same sound as on a BBC sound-effects record I used to have, “Sailing Ship At Sea”. As the seas build, she seems to shudder from stem to stern with the impact of the waves.
All hands are called to reef the main. She is hit by a squall in an existing rough sea, and there are some problems lowering the gaff. A tense hour follows. Tec behaves extremely well, in conditions needing all her engine power to keep her just off the wind while the work on deck takes place.
Monday.
Cold sector, NW 6-7 with a big sea on the S beam / quarter. Tanking along under single reefed main and forestays’l.
Moderating by mid afternoon, but still an exhilarating sail.
Tuesday.
Motoring all day under full main to steady her; warm and sunny. After 48 hours out of touch with the world, cell phone signals achieved off Majorca.
Wednesday.
Ibiza slips astern. Cloudy almost windless day with rolly swell from E. Motoring under bare poles. Swell increased at nightfall, but still making 6 kn towards the SW. Later in night, wind piped up from W / SW, probably no more than F4/5 but enough to raise a steep Mediterranean chop which causes notable slamming. Punching into increasing swell – nearly airborne in bunk….
Thursday.
0400 My watch with Richard and Jim. In view of forecast south-westerlies, now piping up here, progress will be slow and difficult. Skipper suggests opt for Cartagena, 25 miles to the north, as a stop-over. All agreed! 0845 alongside Cartagenia marina.
The following few days saw some very strong winds with violent squalls in the harbour and we all agreed that the decision to stop had been very timely. Cartagena is a delightful place and when not exploring ashore there was plenty to do on board Tectona. Emily’s sea-sickness had kept her in her bunk for the first two days, but she now sprang into action, including becoming Tectona’s splicer in chief making dozens of short “gaskets” with an eye in one end to be used as sail ties.
