Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society
Reg. Charity No. 1095946

Three Brothers
Sailing Report No.12: 1300hrs, Sunday, 21st October, 2007

Forecast Sunny, light breeze,

HW 13.35 BST

When Jack and I arrived half an hour early Ian Johnson was on board the Three Brothers cleaning the decks.

Albert and Jack got the Gannet ready for use as the safety boat. The Museum was opened specially by Mike Salisbury so that the lifejackets could be used for the sail.

The main sail and large jib were connected to the mast and the mooring ropes disconnected.

The Three Brothers was towed out of the harbour minutes before the Yorkshire Bell returned. The tow was dropped south of the harbour and the bowsprit run out. The jib sail and main were then raised. The light south westerly wind sent us at a modest pace towards the south sewage buoy.

We passed the buoy on the seaward side and continued for another ten minutes before tacking back towards the shore.

Bubbles were coming from the back of Three Brothers as we made a semi circle round the buoy and headed towards Ebor Flats. A tack made after a further fifteen minutes and the Three Brothers was going seawards. After passing the sewage buoy again we turned slowly north eastwards towards Flamborough Head. At 3pm I was conscious that the water level in the harbour was dropping and we had to be back by 4.30pm.

We turned back towards the harbour and after five minutes were followed by the helicopter looking for someone who had activated a distress signal. We turned southwards when close to the harbour entrance to allow two fishing vessels to enter the harbour. When the area was quiet again we turned and headed for the harbour. The wind dropped as we approached the entrance so we dropped the main sail and then the jib before picking up the tow.

The Three Brothers was taken back to the berth and made secure. The Gannet was then returned to its berth as well as the dinghy.

Crew members: Keith Lewis, Paul Russell, Allan and Jane Ross, Frank Bull, Ian Johnson, Teresa Felton, Albert Brownhill, Ian and Jack Thompson