tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52638082008-04-06T13:52:48.571ZDuncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318752842141939176noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263808.post-24979993855307318262008-04-06T13:51:00.000Z2008-04-06T13:52:48.637Z

Having completed the RYA Competent Crew last summer the winter seemed a good time to start into Day Skipper (for Sail and Power Craft). I ended up doing the Shorebased RAY/MCA Day Skipper / Watch Leader course at my local Port Edgar Sailing School, studying over a six week period during February and March. The course fills alternate weekends with the weekends in between for revision and exam

Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318752842141939176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263808.post-62353422195273806002007-07-01T11:51:00.000Z2007-07-01T11:58:22.982Z

This summer was targetted for doing the RYA Competent Crew Course so first task was to select a training school. You can get lists from the RYA web site but it may prove easier looking at other sites such as Sail Scotland and Visit Scotland. My criteria were: West coast of Scotland location Short journey to start location Reasonable cost with no hidden costs Small company or family firm

Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318752842141939176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263808.post-1176671764708340082007-04-15T21:12:00.000Z2007-04-15T21:16:04.716Z

First sail of the season, our second season with the Omega. First ever use of our gennaker, successfully! Purchased a small telescopic oar, just as well, foggy with not much wind, ended up doing a little paddling.

Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318752842141939176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263808.post-1171574648475976202007-02-15T21:15:00.000Z2007-02-15T21:24:08.500Z

Attended a very good talk at the PEYC as part of their Winter Talks series on Tides and Currents at Port Edgar, given by Jim Scott. One tip was that because of the various historical naval uses of the area there has been some very detailed surveying of the currents in the Forth and this can be purchased in the form of the Admiralty Tidal Stream Atlas NP220 - Rosyth Harbour and Approaches.

Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318752842141939176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263808.post-1169399441974073202007-01-21T17:09:00.000Z2007-01-21T17:10:41.990Z

Having completed the SRC course my thoughts are turning to doing Competent Crew. There is some time to get organised for this while waiting for the weather to improve so it seemed a good time to consider what to do about waterproofs. One option is to hire these for the duration of any course but using someone elses waterproofs did not really appeal and I have a preference for getting something

Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318752842141939176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263808.post-1163944869897127752006-11-19T13:56:00.000Z2006-11-19T21:08:39.393Z

Attended the one day training course for the Operators Short Range Certificate (SRC) for VHF Marine Radio at the Port Edgar Sailing School. If you have read the RYA guides G22 and G26 beforehand then the course is a little slow but does give the opportunity to practice using DSC with a software simulator and you get to ask any questions you may have. The practical assessment is an area where

Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318752842141939176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263808.post-1159694989831098592006-10-01T09:24:00.000Z2006-10-01T09:29:49.840Z

Walked up from Blackness castle to find the Blackness admiralty battle practice target, an old barge. The tide was coming is so couldn't get up close and so plan to return at a later date for a better look. Blackness admiralty battle practice target - http://forthyachts.tripod.com/Publications/CruisingGuide/cruisingp3.htm

Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318752842141939176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263808.post-1109435648992802902005-02-26T16:23:00.000Z2005-02-26T16:34:08.996Z

As I am originally born in Stafford and now live in Bo'ness I thought this little bit of history, taken from Bo'ness.org.uk was interesting. Bo'ness Potteries (c.1766-1963) First Pottery. Around 1766 brown earthenware pottery from local clay began to be produced in a Pottery on the south side of Main Street. Although he was declared bankrupt in 1773 Dr Roebuck, by using his sons name,

Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318752842141939176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263808.post-931282972003-04-23T18:56:00.000Z2003-04-23T18:56:15.000Z

Why not try the new site questionnaire?

Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318752842141939176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263808.post-922852192003-04-09T12:16:00.000Z2003-04-12T11:40:08.000Z

Welcome to the Astbury Blog. Please use this to post comments on the web site and its related topics such as Pottery, the Landmark Trust, Steam Engines etc. Use this link to visit www.astbury.org and check out the FAQ for help to get started.

Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02318752842141939176noreply@blogger.com