Josefine's Log

2007 An Exciting New Year For Josefine

2007-03-01T04:26:00.000-08:00

Josefine will be sailing from Watchet to Cardiff, spending a couple of hours in Cardiff Harbour then returning to Watchet in the evening. We still have limited spaces on this passage Approx 12hrs
The cost of this sail is £67.00 per person
For more information & Bookings 07971 376172

Happy New Year

So, Josefine has completed her first season as a chartering yacht from Watchet Harbour Marina in Somerset. It’s been an exciting first year and the Sailjosefine crew is looking forward to being very busy during 2007 from Bristol to Minehead and Pembrokeshire and Cornwall. Already we’ve got a number of festivals planned… but before all that there’s plenty of essential up-keeping for Josefine to undergo. This month she’s been partially de-rigged for myself and the team to get her ready for mid-March when we take her to the Boat Jumble (a boating jumble sale) in Cardiff. There’ll also be plenty of sail training going on between now and then to make sure everyone’s up to speed and ready to set sail.

Josefine’s been chartered for trips all over the South west at various points throughout the season which we’ll combine with stays at some of the Festivals we went to last year such as the Plymouth Classic Boat Rally and the Fowey Classics . They were all unique in their way and everyone who came along has fond memories of the events. Towards the end of last season we undertook trips to Cardiff and these were successful so we’ll be available for these again this year – just call Alison on 07971 376172 if you’d like to book up. We’re also able to go to Bristol or anywhere in the Bristol Channel region and of course further afield for longer trips.

We’re also going our first festivals abroad this summer when we set off for La Semaine Du Golfe in France at the beginning of May. It’s their second year offering a week of nautical events, regattas, races and parties that see people from all over Europe joining together – they’re promising the biggest and best event yet with fifteen tall ships already confirmed to be there. Josefine still has space for people to come with us so again give Alison a call if you’re interested. The Brixham Trawler Race is next on the Itinerary… The highlight of trawlers all over the country it should be a bit different to our other events but interesting all the same. There is a possibility of us going to St Maws Pilot Cutters World Championship in June, we will be heading off too France from the Fowey Classics in August for the Paimpol Festival du Chant de Marin, we still have spaces available for this passage. I’m sure there are more I haven’t mentioned but keep checking back for the latest events and let us know if there are any dates that interest you.

Looking ahead to the rest of the year and we’re hoping to be able to offer more of our specialised services this year… If you know anyone who’s getting married and want an original idea for a hen party or a stag evening then Sailjosefine will be able to help be it a short trip before a night out or a longer trip to test your sailing skills. We’re also able to offer specialist fishing trips, artists day (lazy, hazy days spent sketching, painting or photographing the South West Coastline). In addition to all this we’re available throughout the entire year for funerals and the scattering of Ashes at sea… we’re able to offer services suited to whatever it is you’re looking for so get in touch if you think we can help.

So 2007, it’s going to see Josefine all over the place - although we’re based in the West Somerset harbour town of Watchet you’ll be able to spot us in Wales, Cornwall, Devon, Ireland and of course on the continent this year. Well, it’s going to be a busy one and all’s left for me to do is wish you all a wonderful 2007 and we hope to see you aboard Josefine at some point during the year.
Charles

2006-09-20T07:55:00.000-07:00

Josefine ' Star of the Sea'

2006-08-29T00:57:00.000-07:00

Josefine ‘Star of the Sea’

Somerset-based wooden sailing boat, Josefine, has had an eventful year so far. Not only has the Danish ship turned seventy-five years old, but also, she’s started her first season offering charters and trips all around the South west, Pembrokeshire and Southern Ireland. And she’s now the star of a new film following Josefine’s adventure to the Milford Seafair Haven this summer.
Custodian and skipper, Charles Atkinson, set sail on his venture almost two years ago when he first decided life on the sea offered a welcome alternative to his Oxford Ironwork business. 2006 marks the culmination of a great deal of preparation including rigorous testing of Josefine to ensure she’s seaworthy, and of Charles, to become a commercially endorsed yacht master – not to mention the search for crew. Charles says: ““My Ironwork business eventually became the victim of it’s own success.
“I had in excess of two years worth of orders on my books and found I never had any time for my family or myself.
“I considered moving abroad but eventually asked myself – what would I really like to be doing? And the answer was, I’d like to sail a fine ship.
“We can now take people onboard and out sailing which is what I’ve wanted from the offset so I intend to make the most of being able to share her with as many other people as possible.”
The main function of Josefine is to offer team-building voyages for companies and individuals who’d like to learn traditional sailing techniques. Charles considers it essential for us not to lose these skills. He says: “As a society, we need to know about how things were done yesterday in order to do things effectively today.
“The other vital thing about sailing is that it offers a way of travelling all over the world using little or no fuel and being virtually self-sufficient on your own Island.”
The environmental factor is important to Charles and his crew and they all flag this reason up as to why they enjoy sailing, particularly on Josefine. Alongside training people to sail Josefine, the Sailjosefine crew also host wedding receptions, artists’ days and fishing trips. In addition, Josefine will be used for producing footage for use on television and film and has her own film crew available when required.

M/F
Josefine’s sailed at least a million nautical miles – that is the equivalent distance of thirty-eight and a half times around the world or to the moon and back twice. She became Charles’ boat in 2003. The sixty-six foot, oak on oak boat was built in Denmark by ship-builders, Andersen and Ferdinandsen and officially registered for the first time in 1931. Rigged as a gaff ketch, Josefine was used for ring seine fishing in the Baltic and North Sea for forty years. The boat would be away for several weeks at one time before returning to port. However, her fishing days drew to a close as she was re-commissioned and used as a sail-training ship in Denmark for almost fifteen years before being re-registered under the British Flag in 1989. She was then relocated to the south coast of England and completely rebuilt and refitted. After this, and for a brief time, Gibraltar was her home until Charles became the proud owner of the ship. His first challenge was to find her a new home in South West England. After a number of stops on the way, she eventually arrived in Watchet, a coastal harbour town in West Somerset, which is now the permanent home of Josefine. She officially conforms to the M.C.A. codes of practice category 2, for up to 60 miles offshore.
Sail Josefine – Pembroke is released at the end of November this year. It follows the journey of Josefine and her crew to Milford Haven and features information about sailing techniques, charting courses across the Bristol Channel and spectacular footage of the Welsh and Somerset coast plus highlights of the Milford Seafair Haven 2006.

More details about Josefine and how to get your copy of Sail Josefine - Pembroke can be found at http://www.sailjosefine.com/webmail/redir.php?http://www.sailjosefine.com/webmail/redir.php?http://www.sailjosefine.com/ or call 07971 376172 for more information.

Fowey to Falmouth - August 4th 2006

2006-08-19T02:29:00.000-07:00

Fowey to Falmouth – August 4th 2006 (Cheryl)

I arrived at Fowey, after an hour’s drive from Falmouth – the destination to which we’d be aiming for by sea today. Fowey a meandering, twisting town was busy with shopkeepers and locals preparing themselves for a day trading since it’s high summer and the tourists are still coming. A still, sunny morning – the atmosphere reminded me of holidays on the South Coast of Cornwall as a child. I was joining Josefine and the crew on one leg of their tour of the Southwest – they’d already been to sea festivals at Mousehole and Plymouth and visits to the Isles of Scilly and South Wales.

Charles arrived right on time and after a short float across the harbour to the pontoons, I reached the Josefine who was squished in between a number of other classic boats all slowly getting ready for the race to Falmouth in between banter between each other. Laura was checking the charts (not maps) and Ian was waking up – so there were five of us altogether. I felt a bit guilty for not really doing very much except waving my microphone about trying to capture the sounds of the ropes and traditional creaks of the ship as the sails went up – calmly at first and then with urgency as Charles’ son George counted down the minutes until we had to go. Thanks to the lack of wind; as we left Fowey, I did wonder if we were actually drifting backwards but as we left the shelter of the land the speed picked up and Josefine looked fantastic. I was really impressed.

I have to admit to being quite worried about being seasick! So for the first few hours of the journey I sat at the back of the boat and barely moved as Josefine wobbled up and down. I also have to admit, that, not really in the spirit of a true sailor, I had hoped for the sea to be like a pond! But there really had been no need to worry and by the time I heard there was an hour until we got to Falmouth, I’d forgotten about my concerns and didn’t give seasickness another thought.

Before that though, after some lunch and having found my sea legs, Charles let me steer (not sure if there’s a sailing term for that but you’ll know what I mean) and I managed to almost hit a lobster pot – which did take some expensive fishing tackle – oops. I still don’t know if Charles went back for it the next day. But, apart from the lobster pot incident, I enjoyed being at the helm.

We finished the race in approx five and a half hours and then made our way into Falmouth where I tried to convince George I lived in Pendennis Castle as we passed it – needless to say the story didn’t wash. But I did like seeing Falmouth from the sea and trying to spot the different landmarks. Josefine was anchored up and after another short ride on the little boat, and a stop at the petrol station in the sea, we eventually reached the land. Quite windswept and having caught the sun, I was really satisfied with a fantastic day on such a lovely sailing ship. So, my first trip aboard Josefine – well, the brochures were correct – you really do experience the sights and sounds of a traditional sailing ship and it’s better than words can describe. I wonder if I can enter my own competition to win a cruise on the Bristol Channel!

Check back soon for news from the crew on the rest of the Southwest tour including the Sea Salts and Sail Festival at Mousehole, the Henri Lloyd Falmouth Week and the Plymouth Classic Boat Rally.

Milford Haven Sea Fair 2006

2006-07-21T03:11:00.000-07:00

Milford Haven Sea Fair 2006 – Log entries from Charles – Skipper.

Saturday 31st June

Time to head home and an early start with a bit of engine maintenance, with everything tested and double-checked; but we got going almost straight away as the lock was due to close at 10:20hrs. No wind at all, so we motored on but didn’t make much headway. Ian began to get concerned that we wouldn’t reach Watchet by 23.30hrs, as high water was 23.00hrs. We decided to go on and made the gates at 23.51hrs, which was perfect timing. Back home very late Saturday night after having done about 13 – 14 hours sailing.

Friday 30th June

Joined Ginny & John for a brunch of fresh prawns, garlic, freshly smoked mackerel, bread and salad – wonderful! After this we upped anchor and got back in through the lock and into Milford Haven for Friday night. As soon as we had moored up at Fish Quay I went off with diver-friends, Carl and Phil to have another look for the keys. Once we found the position we spent an hour diving but to no avail. Very grateful to them for trying although they have not given up and have offered to try again at a later date. The Milford Haven Farewell party started at 20:00hrs so unfortunately I missed a lot of that but made it back just in time to catch the end of it, which was great. We then went back to Josefine and had a few drinks with friends till 01:00hrs before turning in.

Thursday 29th June

After a good night’s sleep we awoke to find that there was no wind at all. So, accompanied by John & Ginny in their boat, we motored round to Watwick Bay - a good holding area. Once the mist burnt off, a beautiful day started to erupt, so we had a fishing, beach and barbeque day in this glorious spot that could only be reached by anchoring off and going ashore in a rib. It was a fantastic day with good company, swimming and guitar playing towards the evening, Ian taking a turn. We did have a bit of a mishap in that the original set of keys to Josefine got dropped into about 8 m of water. Even with our best efforts, diving and taking the position of where they fell, we did not find them.
We marked the position, and then returned to Dale Roads and anchored off onto the Griffin Arms once again for an evening of sea shanties and a band playing outside with lots of people and atmosphere. Snowy the pub owner laid on food and it was a fantastic night where we returned to Josefine just before daylight.

Wednesday 28th June

The Race to Skomer Island… Our crew of friends came aboard at 08:15hrs and we made our way to the starting line at Milford, although we were a fraction late. It made little difference as we found that there was no wind and the whole fleet went on full canvas and just drifted down. It wasn’t until we got to Dale that we got a bit of wind but most of the fleet by this time were ahead of us, Josefine being much heavier for her size than most of the others. There were a couple of vessels behind us so it was very pleasant and off we went to Skomer Island. We saw Puffins and Dolphins out there, - but didn’t see any rabbits Cheryl - sorry about that! We then got a reasonable wind so we carried on out past Skomer Island for a bit of extra sailing before tacking and coming back round a bit closer into Skokholm Island, for a look.
Back at Dale the crew disembarked onto John’s rib and headed for the Griffin Arms. I stayed aboard Josefine for a couple of hours to make sure she didn’t drag on anchor and that she had a good holding. I then joined the rest of them at the pub. At this point a few of our friends had left so John, Ian, Laura and myself went back to Dave & Penny’s boat for a curry and a few drinks, then on to John’s boat for a night cap, with Ian falling asleep on both boats! John then dropped us back at Josefine and we all turned in.

Tuesday 27th June

Following an interest expressed in Josefine and arrangements made the previous evening we collected Ruth and Marc at 09:45hrs and took them up the river for a two-hour sail as our guests. After a pleasant sail we deployed Laura to return our guests home using the tender, allowing us to carry on down the river towards Dale, Laura catching up with us a short time later, which worked very well. We arrived in Dale in the evening at the visitor’s pontoon for old gaffers. We had pre-arranged a six-guest crew for the following days racing, who consisted of friends we had met along the way – John, Ginny, Dave, Penny, Caroline & Christina.

Monday 26th June 2006

By Monday morning the weather had closed in a bit so we decided to diverge from our itinerary and take a trip up the River Cledau to Lawrenny and anchored underneath the castle. We got talking to a few people from Lawrenny Yacht Station who offered us a mooring just a couple of miles back down the river, so this is what we did.
The Sail And Oar Section was holding a barbeque at the local pub, The Lawrenny Arms, and they very kindly invited us to join in. We had a wonderful evening of good food, wine and stimulating company - Many thanks to them for this fantastic evening.
During the course of the evening we met the landlord and landlady, Ruth and Marc, and consequently sat talking till the early hours, planning future visits and wonderful things that may be possible for next year and Josefine’s prospective guests.
On returning to the boat we were amazed to see fish jumping everywhere. We quickly got out our fishing rods but even with our best efforts, casting far out to where they were, we didn’t manage to catch anything, not even a twitch, quite extraordinary.

Sunday 25th June

The number of boats had swelled from sixty-seven to around a hundred by Sunday morning and we spent the day seeing old friends and meeting new ones. We met a very interesting couple who had just bought a hull of a Danish Kotter. They wanted to keep everything as traditional as possible so were very interested in Josefine’s lay out and configuration.
In the evening we had a Skipper’s meeting and managed to get ourselves registered. We then attended a Sunday night party followed by a trip to the pub, leaving at a reasonable hour to return to Josefine for a look at our itinerary.

Saturday 24th June 2006

We slipped lines from Hammer Head B in Watchet at 04.35hrs heading for Milford Haven.
The Wind was a South Westerly 2 with some cloud but generally good visibility. We proceeded on a bearing of 300 degrees Magnetic, eventually tightening to 290 degrees Magnetic, reaching Lynmouth Point by 08:55hrs. Josefine was birthed at the fishing quay in Milford Haven at 18:04hrs. Unfortunately we were unable to register as the offices closed, but were still able to attend party being held in marquee at Phoenix Bowl! Met a few people and had some food very pleasant, then carried on to Chart House for the rest of the evening.

Josefine's Events Calendar

2006-06-01T03:02:00.001-07:00

This is a list of events that Josefine will be attending this Summer, having just been M.C.A certified she is now able to offer the opportunity to those who would like to experience these Seafaring Festivals on board
this Classic Sailing Boat.

Sea Haven, Milford Haven, WALES - 24th June - 2nd July
Sea Salt & Sail, Mousehole, Cornwall - 14th - 16th July
Plymouth Classic Boat Rally, 28th - 1st August
Fowey Classics - 1st - 4th August
Falmouth Week - 5th - 13th August

With dates between festivals Josefine will be available for private charter. If you are interested in more information or booking any of the above please phone : 07971 - 376172

Josefine Day Chartering including light refreshments , can cost from an hourly rate of £7.70 per person based on a party of twelve people, or for Josefine exclusivily £940.00 including VAT. Festival prices vary according to particular requirments and duration of sailing.

Sailjosefine.com has professional stills and filming available by arrangement with a charter package.

Josefine's first Log

2006-05-26T07:55:00.000-07:00

READ LOG BOOK ENTRIES FROM MEMBERS OF THE SAILJOSEFINE CREW – KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR THE LASTEST NEWS OF LIFE ONBOARD JOSEFINE.

Friday 27th May 2006

Josefine’s now ready for guests. Since 2004 the 66ft traditional Wooden Sailing boat’s gone through a set of rigorous tests and officially conforms to the M.C.A. codes of practice category 2, for up to 60 miles offshore. Josefine has been professionaly restored to the highest standard over the last two years.She is now has new saftey and life saving equipment.
Skipper and owner Charles who’s had many years of boating experience passed a gruelling twelve hour long exam to become a commercially endorsed yacht master. He’s also spent many hours tending to Josefine paying much attention to detail making sure she is ready to offer the opportunity to those who would like to experience sailing in this classic 1931 Danish Kotter.

The crewmembers have also achieved their competent crew certificates and are looking to move up through the RYA syllabus while working aboard Josefine. Josefine’s now available for group charters, seafaring festivals, artists’ days, sail training, corporate management team building, receptions and more.

There are many opportunities for you to charter Josefine especially in and around the many festivals and events she’ll be attending.Her first trip will be to the Seafair Haven (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire) on June 24th for a week. Charles is very keen to spot rabbits on Skomer Island, just off Southwest Wales as he informs us the creatures were first bought there before they came to the UK from Normandy many moons ago.

Following that, it’s a trip back along our 2004 voyage around to Mousehole in Cornwall for the Sea Salt and Sail Festival before we head on to the Plymouth Classic Boat Rally on July 28th. Here classic boats will come from all across the globe in a spectacular weekend of events. With little time to rest and put our feet up, we’re sailing right back along the south coast to the Fowey Classics from August 1st to August 4th and the ‘Henri-Lloyd’ Falmouth week immediately after.
There we’ll be able to enjoy a week of live music and celebrations at the famous maritime harbour – interestingly, the deepest harbour in the UK. We’ll arrive in Falmouth on August 5th before returning along the coast to Poole for its Traditional and Wooden Boat Meet a week later on the 20th and 21st August.

In between all this we’ll have charters and trips for more people to experience sailing aboard Josefine. There are still a few slots free that we’re looking to fill if you’re interested – use the contact page to let us know your requirements and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

We’ll also be running a competition to win a day sailing with us – come back soon for more details.

Friday, 3rd September 2004 - GRAHAM JENKINS (Crew)
We're up at an outrageous 0300 with tea in the dew damp dark morning, uncoupling Josefine from her morning, and get underway with the Harty point light flashing over to starboard, and the lights of Lundy behind, cooking and scoffing hot porridge on the move, we, all being quiet, half asleep, reflective, and not very talkative in companionable silence.
There is no wind, again, save for the cold draft that our wake makes. As I've got a long drive ahead of me, everyone agrees that I can stand down and sleep for a couple of hours – a strange kind of restless, half asleep sort of sleep, with the gentle motion of the boat, the creaks, the sound of the wash singing in a kind of sadness. I don't want to go home.
When I wake it is full daylight, & I'm much refreshed. The water has changed from Lands End blue to a kind of muddy brown as we head up into the Bristol Channel. Almost the kind of Essex muddy water I know so well.
Way over in the smudgy South Wales coastline I can see the Industrial chimneys of Cardiff, and the sun shines on the coves and creeks of Devon to starboard. We run into a region of floating debris – plastic pots, oil drums, floating branches, attendant seaweed, and I sit lookout at the bow peering into the sun, trying to spot them and signalling to Charles to steer to avoid the biggest bits.
"Watchet is behind that headland with the radio masts on it", says Charles. What radio masts, I can't see them, at least not without binoculars. Ah, what it is to have good eyesight.

A ferry appears out of Minehead, and looks as if he's not going to give way (Us being the stand on craft). I don't like it because he is much bigger than us, but he turns off eventually and we give him a wave.

At 09.30 we have the last few miles to go. The Watchet harbourmaster is expecting us, Charles having discussed moorings to him on the phone a few weeks ago, and given our ETA even more recently. So he's there when we call on the VHF. We're steering now 130 degrees towards the entrance, looking for a yellow buoy, which I think I see, but which is actually a pretty little wooden cutter who has come to welcome us and guide us in.
And the pier heads look ever so narrow in front, and we, the crew are busy arranging warps and fenders, and digging out the heaving line. Just as we pass the entrance a small yacht pops out from the inner harbour on the port side, giving us all palpitations, to the delight of the few tourist onlookers and pier head fishermen. But Charles is cool and in control and knows exactly what he is doing, going hard to port towards the inner harbour, reversing and manoeuvring to get round the tight narrow entrance.
I'm feeling too warm now in my cold morning weather-gear, and there are the pontoons ahead. With couple of jiggles to make, we head down to the end pontoon. The harbourmaster and his assistants are there to greet us and take lines. The monkey’s fist of the heaving line hits the pontoon, (hurrah, I managed to do that perfectly for once, without the Boggart getting the lines in a muddle). Neatly picked up by the shore crew, the mooring warp is pulled out and flipped onto the cleat -I adjust the bowline.
Sylvia & Liz sort out the stern lines, and suddenly there's nothing to do in a hurry anymore, & the dockside crew are all smiling and welcoming & we're tidying up lines and setting the spring lines.
The trip's over.
[To read more of Graham’s logbook entries from the 2004 voyage, please CLICK HERE]