Provident, a century of service 2024 CEntenary cruise
Cedric Mitchell describes our journey from Oban to Brixham to celebrate Provident’s 100th birthday.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS ON, A VERY PROVIDENT CRUISE
Sunday 12th May.
Once on board introductions are made. I am to share the forepeak cabin with Raymond, an ex-policeman and with myself probably the oldest sailors on the trip. Judith is also a policewoman (not retired!) who shares a cabin with Angela. David and Suzanne come from Watford and the last cabin is occupied by Dave, a physio from Stroud and Brian, a retired engineer from Glasgow.
Steve and Morag, the hosts and owners of Provident are helped by first mate Martin who I have met before on other boats. Finally, Giulio is the new chef. He is Italian and by profession a photographer but enjoys cooking and sailing. After a briefing from Skipper Steve (passage plans change with the weather!) lines are cast off and we make our way out of the marina. This is easier said than done. There are many adverse currents in the marina Provident’s offset prop means that she is not very manoeuvrable so leaving the marina is somewhat complicated process and aided by the tender acting as a tug.
Saturday 18th May. Day six.
Cast off soon after breakfast. Needed to turn around in the river, a difficult manoeuvre which was achieved with a combination of engine, sail and pushing from the tender plus a fair amount of thinking! Once out of the harbour sails are hoisted and a course set for Land’s End. On watch at 20.00. Two pigeons have hitched a ride on Provident. They turn out to be two Irish racing pigeons who have got lost on a race from Youghal, near Cork to Dublin. Guilio is considering pigeon pie. Sunday 19th May. Day six. On watch 04.00. The two pigeons are still with us having survived a night on the ocean. 05.00 and time to gibe, a delicate operation which involves the whole crew. Sheets must be prepared, preventer in place and my small part was to look after the back stay (important as it helps to support the main mast). We are now sailing a course of 180ºon a broad reach, Provident’s best point of sailing. We are approximately 95 nm from Land’s End. Back on watch again 12-4.00pm. The weather has changed for the better. We now have a steady F2-4 and plenty of Sunshine. One pigeon has gone. The other flew off and came back before finally taking off and carrying on his way. For about 40 minutes we are surrounded by a playful school of dolphins surfing the waves all around us. Morag has just done a video interview with me which will form part of a film for the National Historic Fleet of which Provident forms a part. Monday 20th May. Day seven. Overnight we pass Long Ship lighthouse and Land’s End. The 12-4 watch passes with calm sea, no wind and a chill in the air. Once around Land’s End there is much more marine traffic. ETA Brixham is now Tuesday evening. Today we sail past Falmouth and finally spy the day mark at Fowey where we pick up a buoy. 270 miles from Arklow we settle down to G&Ts on deck. Steve has gone ashore to the pub to get ice for our drinks…
Tuesday 21st May Day Nine.
Today is our last sailing day. Skipper and mate cast off and got us under way at 06.00 whilst the lazy crew were still in their bunks. We are hoping for some wind in the afternoon so that we can arrive in Brixham under sail, but so far, the sea is like the proverbial mill pond. We have another 33 nm to reach our destination. We pass a warship leaving Plymouth and by lunch time we are passing Bolt head and Salcombe. Still a few miles to go as we pass Dartmouth and Berry Head heaves into view around tea time. On the bright side we were accompanied by a school of dolphins who swam around the ship. For the last time we hoisted all the sails but even with this much canvas the wind would not help us so again the engine was powered up and we passed Berry head and made for The Heritage Quay at Brixham. The sails came down. Provident arrived at the Heritage Quay in style, was turned around with the help of the tender and moored alongside Pilgrim, another Brixham trawler. A bottle of bubbly was opened to celebrate our arrival and photos taken. A successful end to the centenary cruise. The next day - with a last look at the 100 year old lady - I set off home..
