In just over two weeks, Shimoni will sail from Eastbourne on the first leg of her Round Britain adventure. Time for some Joining Instructions! I don’t want to burden you with too much detail, so if you have any questions, please call me on 01666 860335, 07876 114114 or drop me an email.
Where and When
According to most accounts of circumnavigations, this is the most challenging bit for the crew – so good luck! Please see the crew changeover schedule page which tells you who is joining and leaving when, and the location of the marina at which it is planned to happen.
What to Bring
A suggested kit list can be found on the Kit List page.
To save lugging sleeping bags around, I shall have duvets and pillows aboard and suggest that you each bring a duvet cover, a sheet and a couple of pillowslips each. If you really want to use a sleeping bag, please do but still bring the pillowslips. The cabin allocation is attached. See the Blog (below) for a description of the layout. If you are in the Skipper’s Cabin, please bring a double duvet cover and sheet, otherwise singles will do. For anyone sleeping in the saloon, I have a sleeping bag aboard which I guarantee will be clean!
If you don’t have your own foul weather clothing – or don’t want to lug it about – we have some very good Musto BR1 and BR2 kit available aboard. Gents: one Medium Suit and one Extra Large Suit. Ladies: Suits in sizes 10, 12 and 14. We have gents wellies in sizes 8 and 11 and some teeny weeny ladies’ boots the sizes of which currently escape me. Please let me know if you wish to use any of the kit – first come, first served. Sufficient automatic life jackets with crutch straps, automatic lights, and lifelines are aboard for everyone (and some spares) but please bring your own if you prefer.
Emergency Contact Details
Shimoni, her emergency beacons and her radios are registered with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. In the very unlikely event of a problem, the MCA will contact my shore-based nominee (my wife Sue) and she will let your nearest and dearest know what is going on. For that reason, could you please complete the Emergency Contact Details Form (sent separately for reasons of privacy – it will not be published on this site) and send it back to me as soon as you are able.
BLOG
I’ll keep you updated through this Blog and by email or phone as necessary. The Blog will benefit from further development! Indeed, setting it up at all has been a voyage of discovery – don’t believe anyone who tells you that it can be done in 20 minutes!
Victualling
I intend to victual at the beginning of each leg to take account of personal tastes (and distastes!) and would be grateful for your help in doing the shopping when the time comes. This will also give me some variety as I will be exposed to a different set of menus for each leg! Or maybe not; beans are always popular! If you are a keen chef, you will be more than welcome to try your hand in the well-equipped galley.
Ship’s Kitty and the Royal British Legion
The usual Ship’s Kitty system applies: the costs of fuel, berthing, victualling and (sensible amounts of!) drinks for each leg will be shared amongst us all at the end of that leg. In addition, I would be very grateful as we commemorate a rather special brace of years, 1914 and 1944, for a modest donation to the RBL. A collecting box for your cash/cheques will be aboard.
Summary
I hope that this is enough to allow you all to get where you need to be, on the right day, and with the right kit. Recognising that you are all busy people with complicated lives, staying on-schedule is my first priority. If necessary, due to weather or other issues, I may do some extended passages to make this happen. That said, I have every confidence that the sun will shine and he winds will blow fair throughout!
Looking forward enormously to sailing with you all and – for those not coming this time – I do hope we shall have the opportunity in the future.