Portland Race: how many tides meet, thereabouts?

[Sans Bateau]

Indeed, yes. A programme called "Fifties British War Films: Days of Glory"...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pkj2m

...I never got the idea that Donald Sinden was losing his mind, or too thespian to have a foot in the real world...

...but the 'seven tides' reference did make me wonder whether he knew a great deal that I don't...or perhaps, very little!

Ah! The BBC, no point in them getting a researcher to check the facts then. That explains everything.

The Bland family in Sutton Coalfield will be impressed though, "its the BBC, it must be true".

 

[Uricanejack]

I don't have the books to hand, but I think you'll find 7 knots off the Bill at times - I was referring to Sindens' ' 7 tides ' in the OP though.

I stand corected. I believe Jimi has posted the actual rate is 7.2.
You can learn somthing new every day. if you pay attention.

I think you have the right of it the old guys not as daft as it sounds. just not a sailor.

 

[Uricanejack]

I was pretty sure a real corvette Played the Compas Rose
There is every probability Donald Sinded sailed on her

The ships

Compass Rose on location
Compass Rose was portrayed by the Flower-class corvette HMS Coreopsis (K32). The Admiralty had disposed of all the wartime corvettes, but eventually she was located in Malta by one of the film's technical advisers, Capt. Jack Broome DSC RN (who had been escort commander of the ill-fated Convoy PQ 17). Coreopsis had been loaned to the Hellenic Navy and renamed Kriezis, and was awaiting a tow back to England and the breaker's yard.[3] Compass Rose carries the pennant number "K49", which was in reality the number of HMS Crocus.
Saltash Castle was portrayed by Castle-class corvette HMS Portchester Castle (pennant F362, as in the film).

As you can see the Compas Rose was a fictional vessel. She was played by a real Flower Class Corvette. Most had been scrapped by the time the movie was made. Much of the fim was made on location. Donald Sinden having played a main character would undoubtedly have left Pinewood Studios and been filmed on board and quite possibly at sea for sea going scenes even of Portland Bill. The photo is of the Coreopsis on location.

 

[Seajet]

UricaneJack,

thanks for that; along with ' Yangtse Incident ' which had a vaguely similar background ( the real Amethyst in some scenes but she was ready for scrap so the steaming shots under command of the real Cdr Kerrans done by sistership Magpie ) The Cruel Sea has to be an all time classic, should be mandatory viewing for all those who think footballers are 'heroes' !

 

[Woodlouse]

UricaneJack,

thanks for that; along with ' Yangtse Incident ' which had a vaguely similar background ( the real Amethyst in some scenes but she was ready for scrap so the steaming shots under command of the real Cdr Kerrans done by sistership Magpie ) The Cruel Sea has to be an all time classic, should be mandatory viewing for all those who think footballers are 'heroes' !

Along with HMS Achilles which played herself in the Battle of the River Plate.

 

[jimi]

A book which is also brilliant and bears little relation to the film is Perfect Storm

 

[ANDY123]

My wifes uncle was in this film - he was in the engine room (National Service) being thrown all over the place in the Portland race

 

[Boreades]

Maybe someone somewhere told one of the Luvvies something like "there's tides from seven different directions", and the rest is lost in translation.

Send three and fourpence, we're going to a dance.