can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Webster - A Treacle Miner's Tale



NEAL WARD, A TREACLE MINERS TALE ARC EUROPE 24.5.2014

Well were do I start? Here I am onboard Yacht Webster as part of the World Cruising Clubs Arc Europe which has taken us on leg one over six days from Tortola on the British Virgin Islands 900NM to Bermuda where we spent a few days on a glorious Island with a great atmosphere and some of the friendliest locals I have ever met.

Leg two started almost two weeks ago now crossing the Atlantic to Horta on the Azores and we are approx three days away sailing at 8 knots with fifteen knots of wind on the beam GLORIOUS! It did not start out this way though, as the start and first few days saw some very challenging conditions and high seas but that's sailing for you!

So what about me, the Dunchideock Treacle Miners Sailing Club (DTMSC) and how I find myself onboard Captain Charlie (Chas) Baynes yacht Webster with a fellow Treacle Miner, David Tipton and a Minister of Justice from Slovenia, Igor (the invincible) Bele? Its a long story but here we go.

I was lucky enough to be invited to be the navigator onboard Yacht Goldrush for the Biscay crossing to Bayona as part of Rally Portugal 2007 by Skipper Frank Grinhall. We were also joined by retired police officer Mr Trevor Broome who I was to meet for the first time and strike up a friendship that continues. It was great and a whole new experience for me but I had to fly home two days after arriving with not only a hangover from hell but some great memories and the vow to return again to do the whole Rally.

In 2008 I bought my own Yacht Serendipity and after sailing and preparing her it was decided to enter the Rally Portugal in 2010 with a crew consisting of myself as Skipper, Trevor Broom, Dave Tipton and Ian Mallett. It was here and on a earlier Blue Cup race in Greece that it was decided to form the Dunchideock Treacle Miners Sailing Club . After Bayona myself and Trevor sailed alone in what turned out to be an event full of fun, frolics and new friendships that will stay with me forever. Our first honorary members of DTMSC in the way of Ian Bell (chief fire officer for Bondi Fire Station, Sydney Australia) and his partner Zina. In true Rally style they were some of the close friends that are made and were nicknamed the Australian synchronized diving team after both going man overboard in the marina and at the start of a race. Ian now displays a Treacle Miners Leaflet in the Bondi Yacht Club where he was commodore. This was the start of the Treacle Miners international organization.

In 2010 I sold two thirds of Serendipity to David Tipton and Chris Nail fellow Treacle Miners and we took part in the 2013 ARC Portugal as it was now called. Again a blast with great new friendships, fun and frivolity. Oh as well as great sailing of course! Unfortunately the last leg to Lagos saw us breaking down in flat calm seas and after everyone on the fleet trying to help us by towing or trying to fix or find a solution in true rally style. We had no option later in the day but to again request a tow some 13 miles out as dark was approaching and the sea state was not good. The job fell to our new found friend Charlie (Superman) Baynes and his wife Kate who we had made great friends with along the way as well as respecting Charlie's fitness (Triathlete!) and sailing skills during the various leg races where Webster won class one and we won class two overall. On approaching Lagos Harbour entrance in the darkness we could hear the breaking swell and were advised not to enter under tow but it was our only option so Charlie agreed and in what was probably one of the scariest moments of my life we caught a favourable wave and made it safely in. PHEW! We were met by the whole rally fleet and marina manager Ingrid and her staff in what was a true Rally Spirit occasion. Charlie and Kate had saved us!! Needless to say Charlie and Kate were made honorary Treacle Miners and given life membership of DTMSC. Charlie is also now chief accountant in our international mining and exploration division.

Following this we left Serendipity at Lagos taking advantage of the great WCC Rally deal and marina facilities along with other yachts including Webster where our friendship continued until they left to head for the Canaries and participate in the Arc. Serendipity is still in Lagos so we will be reunited with her in a couple of weeks.

After keeping in contact with Charlie he invited David and I to help bring Webster back as part of the ARC Europe back across the Atlantic. We obviously could not say no so here we are once again on another great adventure making new friends in the safety and well organised manner of all WCC events. My moto, never judge a book by its cover and get to know everyone.

So what is a Treacle Miner? Everyone believes all treacle to be a man made product as commonly sold in supermarkets, WRONG! We are miners of natural treacle an elixir of life found only in a few parts of the world below rich seams of tungsten and sold in small barrels known as 'wadkins'. I am lucky enough to live in the small Devonshire village in the UK of Clapham which borders Dunchideok. This is where the mines are located but due to current demand for our specialist product by Michelin star restaurants and choclatiers for the making of specialist pattissiaries, we are actively searching new sites. Obviously during any WCC sailing events (not races? NO!) we explore the areas in a hope to find new reserves and maybe start a whole new treacle rush. Investors are always welcomed but membership is by invitation only for special people we meet along our travels.

Our current companion Igor Bele has already met this criteria and his specialist legal, interpretation and mustard sandwich making skills has led him to being offered the post of our international legal representative for current secret acquisitions around the globe.

So if you ever find yourself in the UK don't forget to look us up and remember the mines are only open to visitors once a year during the Dunchideock Summer Fete.

KEEP ON SAILING AND KEEP IT TREACLE

HI HO!!

NEAL onboard the good ship Webster.
Commodore, DTMSC
-------------------------------------------------
Do not push the "reply" button to respond to this
message if that includes the text of this original
message in your response. Messages are sent over a
very low-speed radio link.

The most concise way to reply is to send a NEW message
to: "Charles Baynes" <[email protected]>
If you DO use your reply button, be sure to delete
the original message text and these instructions
from your reply.

Replies should not contain attachments and should be
less than 5 kBytes (2 text pages) in length.

This email was delivered by an HF private coast station
in the Maritime Mobile Radio Service, operated by the
SailMail Association, a non-profit association of yacht
owners. For more information on this service or on the
SailMail Association, please see the web site at:
http://www.sailmail.com



Previous | Next