Roach1948
New member
A tremendous account of the first ever East to West Atlantic crossing by the Northern route in a small 25’ yacht in 1950. It took 46 days.
I have to say I am a bit addicted to any adventure taken in a Vertue and I was rewarded by Humphrey Barton’s account of his epic crossing. It really is a hair-raising read as his account is clearly a day-by-day account that has been written in a rolling and pitching cabin. There are several North Atlantic depressions that he battles through. The roller reefing requires two people to reef – and he hardly ever complains, but it is clear from my interpretation that he does he piqued at being called to reef when off-watch.
What particularly struck me is that it was done with very little “modern” equipment. There was no VHF even and communications were done using code flags and Morse code!. All navigation was by sextant and there was no self-steering. The tiller was just lashed using tiller lines. All food was tinned and there was no engine – the space being reserved for a large water tank.
It is clear from this account that the Vertue is indeed a pedigree yacht. The only criticisms are of the boom gallows that catches the boom when very close hauled, and he recommends a telescopic one for future Vertues.
When he gets knocked down South of Bermuda, the doghouse windows smash-in and the cabin is flooded. It is very clear how important storm boards would have been in such a situation as would strums to the bilge suctions as lots of detritus blocks them up at a critical moment. Interestingly the sea anchor tears apart (this seems to be a common occurrence even today). Given the extremes of weather he never uses his tri-sail, as it is much easier to reef down rather than change sails in the conditions he encountered. He makes many more of these interesting observations.
One clever addition is that of the gimballed table. How many people have gimballed tables these days? It clearly is of a great advantage on an ocean crossing.
All in all a very rewarding read for anybody that wants to cross oceans in a small boat. Told in a delightful prose, which we may consider a bit old fashioned today, but nevertheless expresses the hardships they endure, with good old-fashioned British resolve, and in very English understated manner.
I have to say I am a bit addicted to any adventure taken in a Vertue and I was rewarded by Humphrey Barton’s account of his epic crossing. It really is a hair-raising read as his account is clearly a day-by-day account that has been written in a rolling and pitching cabin. There are several North Atlantic depressions that he battles through. The roller reefing requires two people to reef – and he hardly ever complains, but it is clear from my interpretation that he does he piqued at being called to reef when off-watch.
What particularly struck me is that it was done with very little “modern” equipment. There was no VHF even and communications were done using code flags and Morse code!. All navigation was by sextant and there was no self-steering. The tiller was just lashed using tiller lines. All food was tinned and there was no engine – the space being reserved for a large water tank.
It is clear from this account that the Vertue is indeed a pedigree yacht. The only criticisms are of the boom gallows that catches the boom when very close hauled, and he recommends a telescopic one for future Vertues.
When he gets knocked down South of Bermuda, the doghouse windows smash-in and the cabin is flooded. It is very clear how important storm boards would have been in such a situation as would strums to the bilge suctions as lots of detritus blocks them up at a critical moment. Interestingly the sea anchor tears apart (this seems to be a common occurrence even today). Given the extremes of weather he never uses his tri-sail, as it is much easier to reef down rather than change sails in the conditions he encountered. He makes many more of these interesting observations.
One clever addition is that of the gimballed table. How many people have gimballed tables these days? It clearly is of a great advantage on an ocean crossing.
All in all a very rewarding read for anybody that wants to cross oceans in a small boat. Told in a delightful prose, which we may consider a bit old fashioned today, but nevertheless expresses the hardships they endure, with good old-fashioned British resolve, and in very English understated manner.
