The Ken Vasey Trophy

This trophy is awarded every year for the "Best Log" or "Best Narrative" that has been published in the VAGB Newsletter over the previous year. For many years the trophy had been held by Willie Wickens "Iona Lady" but since he has sold his Vega it has given every one else a chance. This year the trophy has been awarded to Steve Birch "Southern Comfort" for his log narrative from Newsletter 27. It is reproduced below. If you wish to enter for the Ken Vasey Trophy (2000/2001) then all you have to do is join the VAGB and submit your log or narrative for publication. Do not worry about spelling or punctuation, this not an English Exam but just a chance to share your Vega experience.

(by Steve Birch  Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703)

The original plan was for two Vegas, Southern Comfort and Nuit Blanche, to sail from Southampton to Hoorn, in The Netherlands, for the Millennium IFR. Well, things did not go quite as planned. Tom Sutton sold his Vega, Nuit Blanche, to Fred Stamp who has now started on a journey to New Zealand (he has now reached Cadiz). Instead of his Vega, Tom had purchased a Jupiter 30 called Rozema. As Tom lives aboard his boat this was understandable, just! Tom had already paid for his trip, so it was decided that he should still attend as an Honorary Vega. The 5th July was pencilled in as our departure date thus giving us ample time to travel to Hoorn in time for the opening ceremony of IFR-2000. The crews consisted of Steve Birch and Allen Barnby aboard Southern Comfort with Cai Christainsen joining at Ramsgate and Rozema’s crew were Tom Sutton and John Vaughan with Ross Dring joining them at Ramsgate.

After a delay of a day both Vegas left Southampton Water enroute to Langstone Harbour, a short shakedown cruise to check for any problems. We arrived at Langstone harbour with the tide streaming out, bad timing yet again! Both boats managed to hook onto a visitor's buoy but the line on the buoy Rozema picked snapped and away they drifted towards the next buoy. Luckily there were no other boats in the vicinity and the second buoy was picked up without any further mishap. Due to it being a spring tide the water rushed in and out of the narrow harbour entrance at a great rate of knots (over 6 kts.). As we were moored in the narrowest part of the entrance it was quite an experience during that night. The only quiet time was during the slack (10 minutes) but even then we were bumping against the buoy. I checked the lines two or three hundred times during the night as paranoia had set in. Finally morning arrived and we left with the tide heading for Brighton via the Looe Channel.

The trip to Brighton was beautiful with a fresh south-westerly throwing us to the east. Before we arrived at Brighton we had decided to carry on the Eastbourne, as the weather was fine and the wind fair. The only problem would be the race around Beachy Head but we managed to pass this before the tide turned foul. Eastbourne is about five miles North of Beachy Head and is an ideal haven after a long day's sail. The entrance is via a lock with the channel being dredged to 2 metres, or so the chart says! After we entered we were told that the dredger was due as the entrance had silted up badly causing problems for any deep draft vessel. Luckily we were told this after we had entered the marina because Rozema draws 1.65 metres and at low tide this would have caused problems. Sovereign Marina have now dredged the channel to LAT Chart Datum. The following day brought an un-seasonal NE 5-6, which meant we would have a very uncomfortable 45-mile trip to Dover. We decided to attempt the journey and left the lock at 10:00 which would ensure the tide was fair for Dungeness. Southern Comfort left first and battled across the entrance bar. The waves were breaking and with under two metres clearance, it proved to be uncomfortable. After about half a mile of battering into the waves we decided to return to the comfort of Eastbourne. Once we had turned round and the tide and wind were both in our favour it was almost pleasant. Rozema could not chance trying to get over the bar with her draft so we both re-entered the lock and tied up in our previous berths. Comfort was the order of the day as we waited for favourable forecast.

The following day proved perfect with a fine south-westerly F3 blowing and sunshine showing us the way. The trip to Dover was perfect and I even enjoyed sailing past Dungeness Head, which never seems to end. Before we reached Dover we again decided to extend the day's journey and carry on to Ramsgate, as the tide was still fair. A further two hours saw us tie up in Ramsgate next to Arlan, the Vega owned by Peter Bachelor and family. They seemed pleased to see us and had an alcoholic glass of rum waiting as soon as we had tidied up Southern Comfort. Rozema arrived soon after and entered into the inner harbour for a much smoother night. The trip had been great and we were now ahead of schedule. The extra crew members, Ross Dring from the USA and Cai Christainsen from Denmark, were not due to join us for a further three days so we decided to explore Ramsgate, especially the Royal Temple Yacht Club. If you are ever stuck in Ramsgate then do not worry, the town is great and the Yacht Club is fantastic. Try the daily menu at the Yacht Club, good food and a fair price. We spent three happy days at Ramsgate before our respective extra crewmembers arrived.

We had decided to make straight from Ramsgate to Iljuimden instead of via Harwich, this would save a day but it would entail a long gruelling journey. The forecast gave us a window of about 36 hours so Rozema and Southern Comfort left the inner harbour and made for the shipping lanes. The sailing was fast, if uncomfortable, with the wind from the aft port quarter. Four dolphins were spotted from Southern Comfort and stayed for about 15 minutes. Lots of photos were taken but not of the highest quality, I must take my thumb away from the lens! The trip was long but mainly uneventful with a F4/5 from the aft quarter for the whole time. Rozema had an engine problem when closing the Dutch coast whilst close to a couple of unlit oilrigs. The chart shows that all oilrigs are lit but we can promise you that this is not the case! The engine problem turned out to be a blocked fuel pipe that Tom managed to clear once dawn broke. The entrance to Iljumiden was bumpy but once we passed the breakwater it all calmed down. Turning to starboard we entered the Marina and tied up for a well-earned rest. After ten minutes two custom officers came on board, searched the boat, checked our papers and wished us bon voyage. I am always worried when I see guns and uniforms! That day Scandi, Bugle and Jenavive joined us after crossing the North Sea. Rozema, Bugle and Southern Comfort decided to travel carry on to Sixhaven (Amsterdam) that day. We reached Sixhaven in the afternoon and entered via the tree-lined entrance. Sixhaven is a beautiful marina located in the centre of Amsterdam, opposite the main Railway Station, but it can become very congested during the summer. We were crammed into every little nook and cranny, like sardines in a tin. Finally all the boats were tied up and we shared a lovely evening meal aboard Rozema. Tales of the crossing of the North Sea were mixed with expectations of the coming regatta. The other Vegas joined us the following day and all was well. An evening in the centre of Amsterdam was organised, followed by a night at a very welcoming bar. Folk songs, Rugby songs and stories were sung until all were hoarse. I think the rendering of "Oh Sir Jasper" and "Swing low sweet chariot (complete with actions)" had the Dutch bemused. It was a wonderful night and boded well for the following few weeks. I am glad we kept the songs to that evening and did not carry them on to the IFR Captain’s Dinner at Hoorn the following week. I do not know how English Rugby songs with actions would have gone down at the Captains Dinner!!!!

The following day, complete with hangovers, we made our way to the lock that opens up to the entrance of the Maarksmeer. After entering the Maarksmeer, sails were hoisted and away we went. Most Vegas kept close tacks towards Hoorn whilst Southern Comfort decided to check out the very far side of the Maarksmeer in a single tack! Now wonder we were at least an hour behind everyone else! During our tack into Hoorn, from 8 miles away, we heard on the VHF that Diana and Bugle had broken one of her crosstrees. Immediately every British Vega made utmost speed to her rescue. We all met outside the entrance of Hoorn with Bugle and her broken crosstree in the lead. All the Vegas, with Rozema bringing up the rear, engined into the Marina just inside the entrance to Hoorn. What a welcome we received with at least thirty Vegas already there. We had made it and were now ready for the coming attractions, but first - where was the nearest shower and more importantly - The Bar!