People kept coming to us
This was a good time for classic Sailing. This time from approximately 2005 and 2006 people kept coming to sail with us and to offer us new opportunities. Some of the new ideas worked!!!
Dancing in Paimpol
Eve of St Mawes was invited to the Paimpol Festival and we made quite an entrance. Each vessel was announced as it came into the harbour from the dock gate. The tannoy said loud and clear, Please welcome Eve of St Mawe and listen to the Breton pipes they are playing. What they did not realise was that the tune Lester Simpson was playing on his Breton pipes was The Battle of Trafalgar. Hey hoe some you win!
Later that evening two farmers, father and son, were chanting ancient traditional Breton songs. I joined the large crowd rhythmically swaying and dancing together in a tightening spiral under a dim orange light. It felt like you were part of a scene that could have happened two thousand years ago or more.
Lester and Adam at Paimpol
Today you can sail on Pilot Cutter Tallulah with founder skipper Debbie – Tallulah Voyages
Love of Classic Yacht Halcyon
Andrew Amour came to us in 2006 as he had recently bought the fabled yacht Halcyon built in 1929 by Thorneycroft but she needed a big overhaul and new mast etc. He took her to Tommy Nielsen Yard in Gloucester Docks. Andrew approached us and asked if we could help market her for paying customers in the same way as we did for our other vessels. It was a bit outside our envelope but we managed to find a Cornish Marketing grant that helped us produce a lovely brochure.
I was invited to attend the mast stepping and witness the gold coin dated 1929 that was put in the mast foot just before the mast was lowered into place. Not a success story as the accommodation space for guests was fine for 1929 but just too small by 2007 standards. He hoe, some you don’t win!
Debbie goes to Antarctica
Somehow or other Debbie got a voyage on Europa sailing to Antarctica, how we managed that I can’t recall. She did it for two reasons: the first was obviously to visit Antarctica but the second was to see if we could get Bark Europa to work with Classic Sailing. Ah I remember now, Classic Sailing paid Debbie to go as it was market research.
Debbie had a fantastic voyage and we still use many of her photos today to illustrate Antarctica to you.
The outcome was good. Debbie got an agreement to market their ocean voyages which they were having difficulty with and which we had a strong demand for. That went well and it was not long before we were able to market their Antarctica voyages as well. Hey hoe another win!
Atlantic Cod and the Green Flash
Ingredients
As much wonderful fresh Atlantic cod as you can eat. A sunset setting on a warm summer evening.
Sauce
- White wine (helps the chef and the sauce)
- Zest and juice of 2 oranges
- Medium onion
- 4 to 5 fresh tomatoes
- Mayonnaise
- A Carrot
- Red chilli – don’t over do it.
Also
- 5 to 8 potatoes
- Garlic
- Butter
- Watercress
- Use some of the orange to decorative slices.
Instructions
Use half an orange for garnish slices, and grate the zest of the second orange. Save the juice of 1½ oranges. Grate the carrot and chop the tomatoes, onion and red chilli finely.
Sauté the onion, then add carrot, chilli, orange zest and juice, tomatoes, a glass of white wine, and 2 to 3 dessert spoons of mayonnaise to make the sauce rich and creamy.
Drizzle the cod with olive oil, sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Cook under a grill. Serve with the mashed potato garnished by the watercress sticking up like an Atlantic Island rain forest.
He hoe, this one we all win!
British Tall Ships
This was prime time for British Tall Ships and as I in the past I had worked for the Sail Training Association, the ship owners, it was natural for us to see if we could help them market the voyages on the Brigs. A trip to Portsmouth to meet the director was successful and we were able to offer voyages on Stavros S Niarchos and Prince William.
Stavros S Niarchos, Prince William were set up to take young adults to sea for a life maturing experience. At some times of the year young people were tied up with exams and so the STA could keep the ships active by offering adult voyages.
That’s where we came in and it added a full winter season in the Canaries.
More opportunities for everyone to sail at any time of year. He Hoe that was a win.
Annabel J
A Fast Pilot Cutter and a Popular Skipper
An excellent cutter and beautiful below decks. To begin with Phil based her in the Solent but very quickly tried other places like the Channel Islands and the north coast of France. It was not long before he moved most of her sailing programme to Cornwall like a sensible chap.
Phil was much admired as a skipper and he still sails today in a 32ft Martin Heard. Phil and Anabel J filled a growing demand to sail on pilot cutters. A win for Annabel J and Classic Sailing. All about Bristol Channel Pilot Cutters.
Next Chapter Overcoming an economic depression – sounds all to familiar!
