Tobermory race,……Ian Nicholson in his yacht and mainly wooden racers
- Thread starter Wansworth
- Start date
mrming
Well-Known Member
Love this video - a real time capsule. When sailing gear mostly consisted of knitwear. 
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
Yes not a helly hanson in sightLove this video - a real time capsule. When sailing gear mostly consisted of knitwear.
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
Love this video - a real time capsule. When sailing gear mostly consisted of knitwear.
And military surplus - greatcoats, reefer jackets, gloves, etc.
I particularly remember a great ex-Swedish army peaked cap I had. Thick tweed-type material (different shade of drab green to UK forces), quilted lining, big pill-box type top, stiff peak much longer (and squarer) than usual (handy for ducking your head to keep spray out of your eyes), and extra layer inside could be folded out to cover your ears, forehead and neck.
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
Video not visible to me (says 502 error).
My first 'sailing' waterproofs (not sold as such) were thin bright yellow PVC. Definitely not breathable. No zips, just press studs (which quickly rusted), a waist drawstring on the trousers, and hood that didn't fold away. The jacket front 'closure' only overlapped by about an inch, so not very rain or wind proof at all.
I didn't look too out of place, though, amongst the hard-up ne'er-do-wells I sailed with, and their diverse rag-bag attire.
One day, though, in a new job a senior colleague had picked up that I sailed, and invited me to sail with her in her Merlin Rocket (I had to look up what one of those was), standing in for her regular crew who was unavailable that week (her husband preferred flying his light aeroplane to sailing, so you may see where this is going). I'd never raced before (aside from once in the Southsea Regatta with the Sea Cadets when I was 13, in a Navy 32' Cutter with dipping lug rig (which we could not get to dip, which may go part way to explaining why we came last!). I turned up to the inland reservoir club where the race was taking place, and found myself VERY out of place in my yellow budget waterproofs and gardening wellies amongst all the others in their hi-tech branded dinghy racing gear! (The boats, too, were astonishingly pristine and high tech (and terrifyingly expensive looking) compared to the budget cruisers (home-made ferro, junk rig, etc.) I was used to.)
I have to admit I didn't aquit myself well as crew. I will say in my defence that I'd sailed all round the East Coast, and across to Holland, but only ever in plodding low-tech cruisers. Otherwise I'd only ever sailed that heavy, stable clinker-built Cutter the once (my only previous racing experience), a Bosun dinghy once (but it changed changed my life), and a Mirror dinghy once, and all those had been many years earlier when I was a child. The Merlin Rocket seemed impossibly wide and slippery-floored, had numerous bits of string and gadgetry I didn't understand, I was much encumbered by my gardening wellies and Michelin Man garb and things seemed to happen at a speed I'd never encountered afloat before. As a result, I think I contributed substantially to us capsizing twice and ending up well down in the field. It transpired my skipper took her ranking in the race series very seriously, but aside from the heat of the capsize moments was commendably polite to me in the circumstances. It was perhaps fortunate that she was leaving for a new job very shortly thereafter, so I didn't have to suffer the ignominy of too obviously never being invited again.
A few years later I sailed to Brittany from the East Coast. My friend the skipper's parents were joining us on the South Coast, but had put their gear aboard before we left, and in the poor weather on our way to meet them I was able to borrow their proper Helly Hansen cruising sailing oilies. It was a revelation that one could be warm and dry (well, reasonably so) afloat in such conditions. When we stopped in Brighton to pick up the parents I maxed out the credit card and bought myself a Musto jacket, and some reduced price Helly Hansen (IIRC) trousers.
The latter were a mistake - I'd only got them because of the reduced price and my wallet was already open. I knew at the outset they were too big for me, but not how much of a nuisance that would be (especially when one needed a pee), and they were also the 'ocean' type model, and this made them rather too thick and heavy to be ideal for my sort of sailing, but I suffered them for many years because I couldn't afford or justify something better suited when I already had something that would do. The Musto jacket, though, served me very well for decades. Later in that trip I did so thoroughly enjoy and appreciate having proper waterproofs as I took the night watch in the cockpit in continuous torrential rain while we trundled slowly from Falmouth towards Roscoff. The annoying yellow PVC sort-of-waterproofs (I think it might have been my second set by then) were duly ceremoniously relegated to bottom-scrubbing and antifouling duties!
Yes not a helly hanson in sight
My first 'sailing' waterproofs (not sold as such) were thin bright yellow PVC. Definitely not breathable. No zips, just press studs (which quickly rusted), a waist drawstring on the trousers, and hood that didn't fold away. The jacket front 'closure' only overlapped by about an inch, so not very rain or wind proof at all.
I didn't look too out of place, though, amongst the hard-up ne'er-do-wells I sailed with, and their diverse rag-bag attire.
One day, though, in a new job a senior colleague had picked up that I sailed, and invited me to sail with her in her Merlin Rocket (I had to look up what one of those was), standing in for her regular crew who was unavailable that week (her husband preferred flying his light aeroplane to sailing, so you may see where this is going). I'd never raced before (aside from once in the Southsea Regatta with the Sea Cadets when I was 13, in a Navy 32' Cutter with dipping lug rig (which we could not get to dip, which may go part way to explaining why we came last!). I turned up to the inland reservoir club where the race was taking place, and found myself VERY out of place in my yellow budget waterproofs and gardening wellies amongst all the others in their hi-tech branded dinghy racing gear! (The boats, too, were astonishingly pristine and high tech (and terrifyingly expensive looking) compared to the budget cruisers (home-made ferro, junk rig, etc.) I was used to.)
I have to admit I didn't aquit myself well as crew. I will say in my defence that I'd sailed all round the East Coast, and across to Holland, but only ever in plodding low-tech cruisers. Otherwise I'd only ever sailed that heavy, stable clinker-built Cutter the once (my only previous racing experience), a Bosun dinghy once (but it changed changed my life), and a Mirror dinghy once, and all those had been many years earlier when I was a child. The Merlin Rocket seemed impossibly wide and slippery-floored, had numerous bits of string and gadgetry I didn't understand, I was much encumbered by my gardening wellies and Michelin Man garb and things seemed to happen at a speed I'd never encountered afloat before. As a result, I think I contributed substantially to us capsizing twice and ending up well down in the field. It transpired my skipper took her ranking in the race series very seriously, but aside from the heat of the capsize moments was commendably polite to me in the circumstances. It was perhaps fortunate that she was leaving for a new job very shortly thereafter, so I didn't have to suffer the ignominy of too obviously never being invited again.
A few years later I sailed to Brittany from the East Coast. My friend the skipper's parents were joining us on the South Coast, but had put their gear aboard before we left, and in the poor weather on our way to meet them I was able to borrow their proper Helly Hansen cruising sailing oilies. It was a revelation that one could be warm and dry (well, reasonably so) afloat in such conditions. When we stopped in Brighton to pick up the parents I maxed out the credit card and bought myself a Musto jacket, and some reduced price Helly Hansen (IIRC) trousers.
The latter were a mistake - I'd only got them because of the reduced price and my wallet was already open. I knew at the outset they were too big for me, but not how much of a nuisance that would be (especially when one needed a pee), and they were also the 'ocean' type model, and this made them rather too thick and heavy to be ideal for my sort of sailing, but I suffered them for many years because I couldn't afford or justify something better suited when I already had something that would do. The Musto jacket, though, served me very well for decades. Later in that trip I did so thoroughly enjoy and appreciate having proper waterproofs as I took the night watch in the cockpit in continuous torrential rain while we trundled slowly from Falmouth towards Roscoff. The annoying yellow PVC sort-of-waterproofs (I think it might have been my second set by then) were duly ceremoniously relegated to bottom-scrubbing and antifouling duties!
Last edited:
awol
Well-Known Member
Quite a few of those faces (including me) are still alive and sailing though Ian Nicholson doesn't use his spinnaker much these days. "7' - enough for anybody" is still used though we tend to use 2m on my boat.
scottie
Well-Known Member
I understand that Ian never was an owner of LOLA
As all his boats wereb saints
As all his boats wereb saints
SaltIre
Well-Known Member
In the video Magnus says Lola was owned by Glasgow engineer David Rombach.
https://www.woodenboat.com/issue/283/aboard-lola
Last edited:
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
'Tis visible to me now. (I don't know what has changed.) I'll check it out later.
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
He built a downed St Mary
yotter
Well-Known Member
Davie Rombach was owner of Lola, I sailed with him along with my brother when we were nippers, he would sometimes allow us to fish while racing
RunAgroundHard
Well-Known Member
They don't talk like that these days, even the ones still alive, except, maybe, in Kilmacolm.
SaltIre
Well-Known Member
Is that the same St Mary that ran aground at her start off Crinan?
awol
Well-Known Member
Now 97 ( I think) and still sailing, racing and telling stories.
RunAgroundHard
Well-Known Member
05 June 2024. Quite a remarkable person.
IIMS Conference 2024 - The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS)
Bodach na mara
Well-Known Member
Yes. However David Rombach makes a comment on the soundtrack "Oh, Saint Mary,s on a rock again!" thus letting slip the truth about the earlier incident in the narrows of the Kyles of Bute. Despite the soundtrack of the bit of film having crew member Sandra calling out depths and the boat seemingly being tacked into clear water, it did run aground there. I was on another boat, Brunette, and we got past, along with most of the rest of the fleet. I sailed a lot on other people's boats in these days, including a couple of times on the annual race between Cultra and Tighnabruaich on St Mary with Ian Nicolson.
iain789
Well-Known Member
Subsequently owned by my late friend Dr Neil MacDougall. I sailed with him on her in the 1980sDavie Rombach was owner of Lola, I sailed with him along with my brother when we were nippers, he would sometimes allow us to fish while racing
adamstjohn
Well-Known Member
I absolutely loved that little film, amazing boats and commentary. Terrific to see yachts of this age racing. Proper job.
awol
Well-Known Member
The film is of my youth. People sailing and racing for fun because they like it and the other people doing it. There were no marinas, just swinging moorings, and dinghies were a necessity. Today it feels as if fun is no longer enough. It's not as if there is a shortage of boats, the marinas appear to be choc-a-bloc, so why is social racing vanishing? Windward/leeward in a plastic-fantastic with a crew of 10 seems to be going out of fashion, it's certainly not my preferred course choice. If any one can explain the logic or offer the solution, please do.
Of course, it may just be my rose-tinted memory but there are still vestiges of that past and I am relieved that there are still those who turn up for events like WHYW (Class 8), the "Slow" class of Round Mull, CCC races, CCYC races., etc.. There is still hope - the CYCA have calendared an Opening Muster with various Clyde Clubs co-operating to meet up in the Holy Loch with the social activities in the HLSC estate - Ian Nicholson will probably be there!
Of course, it may just be my rose-tinted memory but there are still vestiges of that past and I am relieved that there are still those who turn up for events like WHYW (Class 8), the "Slow" class of Round Mull, CCC races, CCYC races., etc.. There is still hope - the CYCA have calendared an Opening Muster with various Clyde Clubs co-operating to meet up in the Holy Loch with the social activities in the HLSC estate - Ian Nicholson will probably be there!