I must go down to the sea today

William_H

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A very happy Christmas to all my friends on this forum. May the new year bring much joy and good sailing soon.
A pcture of my son and grandson going down to the sea on Christmas Eve. The mobility scooter is usually used for towing the ali dinghy seen in the back ground sitting on top of the boat trailer.
However on this occasion kayaks are the go just for fun. On a golf bag trolley set up as a trailer. You may just see the river in the back ground with boat somewhere there patiently waiting for next outing. Best wishes ol'willIMG_5990.JPG
 

coopec

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A very happy Christmas to all my friends on this forum. May the new year bring much joy and good sailing soon.
A pcture of my son and grandson going down to the sea on Christmas Eve. The mobility scooter is usually used for towing the ali dinghy seen in the back ground sitting on top of the boat trailer.
However on this occasion kayaks are the go just for fun. On a golf bag trolley set up as a trailer. You may just see the river in the back ground with boat somewhere there patiently waiting for next outing. Best wishes ol'willView attachment 148154
Who is the poor old chap on the mobility scooter??
 
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Sandy

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Sea-Fever
BY JOHN MASEFIELD

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
 

RobbieW

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Sea-Fever
BY JOHN MASEFIELD

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
Then there's Spike Milligan's take...
I must go down to the seas again,
to the lonely sea and the sky,
I left my vest and socks there,
I wonder if they're dry.

Happy Christmas everyone
 

nicho

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Sea-Fever
BY JOHN MASEFIELD

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
Our Bavaria 34 was called Sea Fever.
 

BobnLesley

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Sea-Fever
BY JOHN MASEFIELD

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by...

Or more appropriate at this time of year especially:

Must I go down to the sea again, to the lousy sea and the sky
When all I ask is an armchair and a hearth to stick it by
Not the wave's trough and the short chop and the wet pants flapping
In the chill wind, on my beam ends and the tempers snapping.

Must I go down to the sea again, when the call of the yacht club basin
Is a faint call and the drear call of a social obligation
When all I ask is the fireside and my loved ones talking
Not the flung spray and the mal-de-mer spume and the dam' gulls squawking .

Must I go down to the sea again, to that ghastly vagrant life
When all I ask is the garden and a saunter with my wife
Not the Firefly, nor the cruise ship, nor any tub that floats
Just a good book, Terra Firma and no messing about in boats.

I am told it was printed in the Spectator Magazine some 70 or 80 years ago,
 

BobnLesley

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Sea-Fever
BY JOHN MASEFIELD
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by...

Somewhat dated a hundred years on; how about:

"Electric Fever" - Jerry Hickson - slightly amended
I must go down to the seas again, in a modern high-tech boat,
And all I ask’s electric, for comfort whilst afloat,
With alternator, solar panels, a generator going,
And six deep cycle batteries to keep those amperes flowing.

I must go down to the seas again, to the autopilot's ways,
And all I ask is a GPS, plus radar, and displays,
And a chart-plotter, an AIS a shortwave radio,
An Mp4, computer games, TV and video.

I must go down to the seas again, with a freezer… full of steaks,
And all I ask is a microwave, and a blender for milkshakes,
And a watermaker, an eberspacher, hot water in the sink,
And a sat- phone and VHF to hear what my mates all think.

I must go down to the seas again, with power-furling sails,
Electronic charts of all the seas, and a pactor-modem for e-mails,
A motor for pulling anchor chains, push-buttons for the sheets,
And computer program to put in charge when tacking during beats.

I must go down to the seas again, my concept seems quite sound,
But when I simulate this yacht, some problems I have found.
Its cost is astronomic, the repairs, they’ll never stop,
I’ll never get it out to sea, I'll be shackled to the dock.

I must go down to the seas again, will I ever get my away?
Or am I tied to low-tech boats, until my dying day?
Is there no cure for my complaint, no technologic fix?
Or is electric fever just a habit I must kick?
 

William_H

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An inspired method of getting kit to the water. Our launching beach is 300m down the hill from the farm, you've given me food for thought.

Merry Christmas
Thank you all for the kind replies and especially the variation poems. Getting I like the second one best (fireside). For farmer Piles yes the shop rider has remarkable power for towing though does get bogged easily. You might see the ali dinghy on the top of the trailer with wheels attached to the transom. A hole bored through the bow deck drops on to a pin on a bracket low on the shop rider. Keel upwards. A pair of holders carry the full sized oars vertical. The advantage for me is no parking problems for shop rider on the beach when I have gone sailing. Only once had council ranger wondering if some old git has committed harikari in the river whne I left it there. Batteries are 40AH deep cycle x2 and it is on it's 3rd set of batteries. Charged by 2 x10watt solar panels in series.
There are 2 essential models of shop rider one larger than the other. The smaller being more suitable for inside super markets but is more unstable both sideways on a slope and tip[ping over backwards. They fit tramp wheels on the smaller one. We have one of each one for SWMBO. I removed the tramp wheels from the back of the smaller one to fit a tow hook. On it's own I came in my gate with a steep grassy slope. Wrapped on the power (easy rider imagination) and she went over backwards left me sitting in the seat lying on the back rest with front wheels up the air. No harm done but I got a scare. So the bigger model is best. Just keep your ear to the ground. They are like 4ksquid new but second hand if you are lucky 200 squid. The owners tend to rotate from show room to mortuary. The modern versions tend to have the lithium batteries which make the whole thing lighter so less power, perhaps not so good with a tow load. (just a guess) Happy New Year ol'will
 

Sandy

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Or more appropriate at this time of year especially:

Must I go down to the sea again, to the lousy sea and the sky
When all I ask is an armchair and a hearth to stick it by
Not the wave's trough and the short chop and the wet pants flapping
In the chill wind, on my beam ends and the tempers snapping...
That was brilliant, but if you time your trips well winter sailing is just magical.

Some of my best sailing has been in winter, thank goodness for boat heaters.
 

Farmer Piles

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Another sea related poem for you all. A very different sentiment though.

The cormorant or common shag lays its eggs in paper bags,
the reason you'll see no doubt, it is to keep the lightning out,
but what these unobservant birds, have failed to notice is that herds,
of wandering bears come with their buns and steal the bags to catch the crumbs.

Happy New Year
 
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michael_w

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Ode to the Lavac

I must go down to the heads again, to the broken seat and ask why
Does the lid not fit and the pump not work, however hard I try ?

And the valve's stuck, and the vacuum's gone, and my guts are crying
For a peaceful ****, with a detailed book on lunar alts rising.

I MUST go down to the heads again, I can no longer be denied,
It's wild call and a clear call, though I still retain my pride.

And all I need is small container, perhaps a black rubber bucket,
A dash below, and then on deck, to leeward I will chuck it.

I MUST GO down to the heads again, the seal is quickly mended,
And the pipes are all cleared, and the outlet works as intended.

All I ask is that the suction sucks, and the smile upon my face
Will 'clipse the sun rising; it's not surprising, the heads is a calmer place

Shamelessly plagarised from the internet.
 
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