Schooner Malcolm Miller

I'll take a look at that report.

Is there, anywhere, public access to the Malcolm Miller's and Sir Winston Churchill's logs, going back decades and detailing their voyages?

I'm very interested to know which it was I saw, out by Horse Sand Fort, 3rd or 4th of October 1994.
 
Photos of Malcolm Miller alongside the Windsor Castle at Tolverne on the Fal.
Taken yesterday 2/4/11.
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Many thanks, Dylan - great photos!

All things considered, I reckon the MM doesn't look so poorly as I'd supposed.

Let's hope...;)
 
'kin trumpet, old chap!

caiman said:
A very long time ago,I happened to be 'Bosun's day worker' whilst anchored off St Ives in a SE 7-8 aboard the 'Churchill' as a trainee.The dawn was breaking-a grey face- we heard that the 'Mickey Mouse' had just passed Land's End, and was on a broad reach heading passed us, and on up to Lundy for a BBq with the Crew, and a film crew on board.As She hove into sight,I asked the Bosun's permission to go below and get my old 2 1/2 inch camera.
'No',He replied,'You're mine for the day'
'I don't care'I said,'this is a once in a lifetime experiance for me'and went below for my camera.
I took some still pictures,video had not been invented in those days,those pictures are still on the wall in my stairway.
The Malcom Miller came passed us at about 10 knots.Reefed staysail,fully reefed foresail,fully reefed main,storm trysail.She gybed passed us.She dipped her ensign.If that wasn't enough,there was some geezer up on the mast blowin a 'kin bugle!!
'That'I said to myself out loud,'is the Ship I wanna be on'.
She carried on up towards Lundy at a reported 14K.
I did go aboard Her a couple of times as Watch Leader after that.Outstanding sailing,and a bit of adventure,and an experiance for a youngish man.
I happened to be up the Fal in November 2010 and saw the MM exactly as described moored by the pub.I've often wondered about the fate of the two old STA Ships.They have touched a lot of lives over the years,mine,for the better.
Cheers

PS.I apologised to the Bosun later,and made sure that I was not found lacking in my day work.
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Well, Caiman,

really delighted to read your dit, which has made my day! I was on the other end of your tale. As a matter of record, I was playing my 'kin trumpet that day (rather than a 'kin bugle!). Unusually I was on the bridge, rather than in my more 'normal' spot in the Crow's Nest on the foremast (excellent for entering and leaving harbour etc with the yards and rigging fully 'manned'). After all, it was the tail end of a SE-ly gale, as you mention! As we passed you it was the low end of F8 having been a solid F9 overnight in the Channel. We were romping along!

Although I can't imagine you could have heard very much of it despite our 'close pass' to leeward of your choppy anchorage, you were 'greeted' with a medley of 'General Salute' (as we approached) 'Early One Morning' as we passed and 'Rule Britannia!' as we stomped onwards - great fun with the excellent morale onboard MM at the time, of course.

From the Master downwards we in MM were absolutely determined to 'show off' to SWC as we passed her and it seems that we did a good job. Captain Chris Blake was a great leader and keen on my musical efforts for the ship - he was later well-known with the replica of Captain Cook's Endeavour and went on to Spirit of Bermuda etc.

I sailed with SWC and MM over several years in the 1980s (Trainee, Watch Leader, Bosun's Mate, the toughest job onboard - Cook's Mate, and Supernumerary) and had many memorable moments. I was even signed on once as 'Official Trumpeter' (this voyage included being at St Malo for the start of the trans-Atlantic Tall Ships Race in 1984 of which more below).

Without any references close to hand, memory is a bit rusty, but I think you were probably off St Ives in SWC either in Summer 1982 (when I think we did have a film crew onboard the the schooners sailed around each other for footage) or in the Spring of 1984... [Later edit - memory returning - it must have been 1982]

If it was 1984, I think we in MM had been at St Malo to see off the competitors in the trans-Atlantic Tall Ships Race. I may be getting my voyages mixed up together, though, as the trumpet always sailed with me. [Later edit - think I am mixing up separate voyages in 1982 and 1984 below - sorry!].

At St Malo we had 'saluted' the other ships as they arrived (i.e. braced outboard and fully manned the yards and rigging) with 'General Salute' followed by the relevant national anthems from the Crow's Nest. This proved a particular hit with the largest competitor - 'Darn My Jersey' (Dar Młodzieży), the Polish Merchant Marine Academy ship - then only a couple of years old and on the 'other side' in the Cold War.

Dar Młodzieży (DM) was too big to enter the basin and manoeuvre under her own power and so was handled by two tugs at a stately pace. Consequently her cadets were in their best uniforms and lining the ship's rail from stem to stern - a most impressive sight.

The Poles may have slightly bristled when 'General Salute' was blown from MM and all in the rigging stood tall; perhaps they were thinking 'what the hell is going on here' in Polish? As I continued with 'La Marseillaise' and 'God Save the Queen' they may have got the idea, but the reaction when I played the Polish National Anthem was most impressive; they gave us a resounding cheer and threw their caps all over the place!

As MM was not a competitor in the race across the Atlantic, it may have surprised some of the other ships at St Malo that the smallest ship there (MM) and the largest (DM) suddenly became 'best pals'. A number of interesting inter-ship competitions developed including a very memorable, but somewhat unevenly-matched 'tug of war' on the main deck of the DM. I was privileged, being quite a young chap at the time, to spend a lot of vodka-lubricated time onboard DM with MM's Master. Being invited by DM's Captain to climb to the top of her mainmast and 'blow my own trumpet' was quite something. I can't remember how high that is, but it must be about 160' or so and is quite a climb, but what a view!

Anyway, hope this recollection jogs some other happy memories - and I haven't even scratched the surface. Does anybody else remember the aftermath of the Blackwall Engineering non-'floating' drydock near disaster in December 1984 at Canary Wharf - as it used to be? Yes, I did a bit of volunteer 'shipkeeping' too. We had to get a 'scratch crew' together to motor her down to Shoreham and dock her there. The New Year came off the South Coast on the way, so we 'rang out the old and rang in the new' in the old-fashioned manner.

I will try to PM you after posting this, as I would love to get copies of your pictures.

As for MM now, well, she doesn't look too bad at all in the recent pictures; let us hope she gets back to sea before too long. They were beautiful ships and superb sailing vessels.

My, this is rather long, but what fun those days were!
 
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Bring her back, bring her back...

Sir, that variety of post, I could read till dawn! Feel free to add long post-scripts...

Many thanks for helping to bring the MM to life. I only started this post because, after seeing one of the schooners from my dinghy, mid-Solent in October 1994, and being seriously impressed, I wondered (after I gained internet), where she was/is now.

I couldn't have predicted the fun it would drum-up from ex-crew members!

I'm hoping there'll be more - more memories, and, in the not too distant, some more of the MM, sailing. Mr Dylan's photos, (shown somewhere here), taken within Falmouth Harbour in recent days, made me optimistic about her condition.
 
VI- The last time I had goose bumps like I did after reading your reply was when I was into racing Motor Cycles.Coolio!!:)
I must confess that after I'd posted,I went to look at the photo on the wall,and there it was-gone.Replaced by a pic of a Grey Fergie I'd restored.However,it will be in the house and I promise to dig it out.While I'm at it,I'll dig out my old Cruise 'reports'.
I remember a tug of war verses the SWC on the China Clay Dock in Fowey on one cruise.I also remember we smashed the gaff on the Main(I think) on another.On the same cruise,the SWC blew an engine(?)
I have a vivid memory on being laid out on the aft deck one morning watch whilst running under the 'course' towards St.Catherine's light on the IOW.The weather was about a F6 I think.We were bowling along at a good rate anyway.As it came light,the Bosun appeared at the hatch and smiled.He looked aft at the weather and frowned a bit.He then looked forrad and saw that we were under the square sail.He then ran to the bridge,His body language changed drastically.I new something was wrong and roused the watch.We were told to brail up the course which we did.We were then asked for volunteeers to go aloft and stow the course.(I apologise if my terminoligy is wrong,I'm into multihulls now !!) As Watch Leader I led the team aloft and ensured we did a tidy stow.The ship was giving it loads rolling,it was awesome! Real 'Peter the Whaler' stuff.Real Square Rigger stuff!The watch was mentioned in 'despatches' by the 'Old Man' on the half deck just before happy hour.
Proud?You would'nt believe it.I don't think any of the lads in the watch had been afloat before they stepped aboard for that cruise.
Outstanding memories.
Cheers
 
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caiman said:
As Watch Leader I led the team aloft and ensured we did a tidy stow.The ship was giving it loads rolling,it was awesome! Real 'Peter the Whaler' stuff.Real Square Rigger stuff!The watch was mentioned in 'despatches' by the 'Old Man' on the half deck just before happy hour.
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I know exactly what you mean, having done a few such "heroic" stows on Stavros. The feeling when you get back to the deck is amazing.

The most memorable was probably stowing the fore upper topsail at 2am in a force 9 hailstorm halfway back from the Azores. It was deemed too rough to send the voyage crew up, so it was we three deckhands plus the leader of the watch on deck, doing both upper topsails (or possibly fore upper and main lower, not sure), which meant one person per side. That was bloody hard work!

Pete

PS: Re-reading, it looks a bit like I'm trying to "top" your story. I assure you I'm not, just sharing in that feeling of a job aloft well done :)
 
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Thank you, Caiman, likewise PRV. No exaggeration, there's nothing like a story from you gents who sailed the ship, to bring it back to life in the readers' minds.

Whatever you remember, please, type it out! I'm half out-on-a-yard just thinking about it.
 
dancrane said:
there's nothing like a story from you gents who sailed the ship, to bring it back to life in the readers' minds.
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Just to be clear - I never sailed on the schooners, although I would have liked to. I wasn't aware of the organisation until 2005, when a fellow 4th-year student mentioned an upcoming trip she was going on, and by that time the brigs were well established and the schooners long gone. As my first (and, I expected, only) voyage I did the Tall Ships' Race to Norway that year, on William. Not entirely without drama either - we answered a Mayday, put a salvage pump on board the casualty, and trashed our RIB recovering it back on board.

Pictures of that trip are here.

Pete
 
Glad you enjoyed the memories

caiman said:
VI- The last time I had goose bumps like I did after reading your reply was when I was into racing Motor Cycles.Coolio!!:)

Proud?You would'nt believe it.I don't think any of the lads in the watch had been afloat before they stepped aboard for that cruise.
Outstanding memories.
Cheers
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Great times, weren't they?

You are right about the sense of teamwork and pride that these ships and their voyages instilled.

I have managed to unbefuddle my memory a little and am now sure we must have passed you on that memorable windy morning at St Ives in summer 1982. My confusion above is because MM had been to St Malo on that trip too (as well as the other mentioned in 1984)! It doesn't seem like nearly 29 years ago since that 'summer morning'!

We got to Lundy before you that day and I remember blowing some more derisory notes on your arrival there to cue the start of the MM's ship's company 'singing' SWC into her anchorage nearby. Both ships (or was it just MM - can't have been) then had a great big BBQ on the beach (although I seem to remember that a large aluminium pan got a bit carried away and caught fire, spitting spats of metal in all directions!).

I certainly did plenty of trumpeting over the years with the STA Schooners, but it is a bit of a 'tinny' sound on its own, whereas if you have ever heard a ship entering harbour with the bagpipes skirling, now that really is something!

Now, if that isn't 'fred drift', what is?

If you think you might find a picture, please send me a PM (I couldn't find how to do this for you, but I am practically a forum virgin!
 
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V I-consider it done,it will take me a bit of searching,but I'm sure I've still got the photies.I will have a look after work this evening.I remember the pics as being dark and a bit grainy in the old 2" square film format.I know that I've still got the A4 'Charts' that were given to each trainee at the end of each cruise.They will have the dates,cruise details,and the names of the Crew and Trainees aboard at the time.I've only managed to send one PM myself, so we are all still learning.I think the BBQ was confined to the MM Crew.I can remember that I didn't get any of it,allthough I did go ashore(first time on Lundy).I have never seen the film that was made by that film crew.If you have any pointers as to how to find it,please let me know.
PRV-No worrys.During my formative years I was into both Gaff and Square Rig ships.To sail on a 'ship rigged' vessel was my ultimate goal,and so,yes,you have 'topped' me:) Respect. As I type this,I am sitting within 2 metres of a fully ship rigged model in a glass case about 3foot long.A model hull of a 'Bluenose' Schooner,and a glass cased model of a locally built Barque 'Pride of the Sea' built in Borth-y-Gest(Porthmadoc),so some of the 'tradition' is still inside me somewhere.
Dancrane-Nice one.Thanks for starting this.
Cheers
 
caiman said:
I know that I've still got the A4 'Charts' that were given to each trainee at the end of each cruise.They will have the dates,cruise details,and the names of the Crew and Trainees aboard at the time.
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Ah, the Track Charts! We're still doing 'em :)

Here's the one for my last-but-one voyage, which I happen to have scanned in.

Pete
 
That's a great gallery of pics you have there, PRV. Unforgettable stuff.

One dumb question; was the Green Watch so-called because they're all conspicuously vomitting, or for another reason?

I'm very glad to have begun this thread - it's gone in various directions I couldn't have predicted!

Especially good to see recent pics of the MM afloat and looking like her owner intends eventually to rig and sail her as before.
 
dancrane said:
One dumb question; was the Green Watch so-called because they're all conspicuously vomitting
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Yep, exactly that :)

The actual watches are Red, White, and Blue, but when there's a gang of people hanging over the rail taking no part in activities, they're invariably known as Green Watch.

Pete
 
dancrane said:
Especially good to see recent pics of the MM afloat and looking like her owner intends eventually to rig and sail her as before.
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Yes, it does look as if things are about to happen. When I last saw her in the autumn she was covered in polythene sheeting. So if the winter winds havent blown it away then someone is going to do some work.
I'll take another look next week to see if there's anyone aboard.
I went aboard her once in 1980? her Master a certain M K-B and I had the same kind of small yacht, H-Boat.
Are those davits new or have they always been there?

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Fair question, Dylan...I'm sure one of this thread's contributors will know the answer.

I wonder if the vessel's owner, or the project manager (or anyone involved) is reading this thread? It'd be great to have even a few words, from someone who knows what the exact plan for her is.

If you're able to snap further developments as they occur, I'll be excited to watch the progress...as I expect, will hundreds of other readers!
 
Malcolm Miller

I was lucky enough to take part in the 1972 Tall Ships Race from Nab Tower to the northern tip of Denmark on the Malcolm Miller. We were a boys ship and the Sir Winston Churchill was a girls ship. The first time an all girl crew had taken part on either ship if I remember correctly.
We joined her in Southampton then enjoyed several parties and events before a parade of sail (in thick fog!) down the Solent to the start.. I don't remember the watch names etc but I was one of the team who went to the upper yard on the foremast to furl the square sails. Scary and exhilerating all at the same time.
The race went from the Nab, around the Basarelle Light Vessel (spelling may be a bit off here!) then up through the Channel and North Sea to the finish off Frederikshafen, Denmark.
Weather was filthy in the North Sea and I remember a small yacht (probably about 60') that also raced coming alongside in Frederikshafen and tying tight to us so that our pumps could help hers to slow the water coming in.
After a day or so in Frederikshafen we went to Copenhagen for end of race parties which were amazing.
In Copenhagen I was one of about 6 in the crew who were offered the chance to go aboard the German square rigged ship Gorch Fock to sail to Kiel for the opening of the Olympics. If the MM was amazing this went way beyond. Something like 300 naval cadets as crew, all operating with German efficiency to do everything by human power. Climbing one of the 4 masts was like going up a skyscraper on the outside.
After the Gorch Fock I hitched a lift back to England on one of the other race entrants but can't remember her name now.
Overall a fantastic experience but I'm having to trawl the memory for details after nearly 40 years. I hope the MM can be brought back into service but I wonder what her hull plating is like after so long afloat. It must all be getting a bit tired by now.
 
V I- You are correct,the St Ives 'fly past'was in July 1982.SWC cruise No.273.
I next sailed on the MM 6-20/11/1982 cruise No.257.Then cruise 278 Feb/March(no year shown).Then cruise 306 8-21/9/1985.Then cruise 371 27/11-3/12/1988.All on the MM.It was cruise No.257 that we lost the main gaff off Cherbourg.
I have the 'Charts' of these cruises on my table.I was incorrect in saying that all the Crew are named on the charts,it's just the officers(aft more honour,forrard better Men ??)except for cruise 371.
Still looking for the pics.
Cheers
 
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