The 2002 Telemark Cruise
Report by Ken Jensen (W1348)
Photos by Ken jnr. D. Jensen (W6141)
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----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2003 3:21 PM
Subject: The Blonde Swan +"The Russet Swan"

 
The TELEMARK-SKAGERACK CRS. 2003
A Tribute to two Lady Swans.
 
Attendance was down one-third due lack of good health and a stolen trailer. Only two W's and five W-sailors got under way in pouring rain. Despite this very wet fact, for two days good humour was predominant, and not one sour remark from our blonde, gracious Lady Swan (of W8246 Russet Swan), who got her well-shaped behind throughly wet the first day, but fared a great deal better the second rainy day through borrowing a solid pair of Norwegian Fisherman oilskin pants. "But where are the Scandinavians/Norwegians?" the Lady asked, "don't they know of this fantastic area with big lakes and exquisite mountains?"
 
The second night our campfire was saved by the above attractive Lady - right in front of some interested  noses - by doing the natural housewife trick, namely pouring food oil into the nearly 'drowning' fire.  That night, memories of my far past came back (from before the mast in commercial sailing ships) as due to lack of forethought/seamanship - entirely my fault - my two mattresses were like a dripping sponge. So off went the oilskin-jacket, and on went my oiled wool-sweater before the jacket came back in place making a proper seaman's pyjamas - and so good night (in my dreams ready to be called on deck for foul weather work!).

From the third day onwards the weather was just marvellous. On day no. 7, on the final leg for Russet Swan, shower activity was experienced, while heading for Larvik SC (at Viksfjord by the marvellous Skagerack Sea) and the great reception there from Turid & Gudtorm Heldal, W7172 Taggo.

To become frightened is natural and of little consequence (may cause a change of underwear!) as long as panic is kept at bay. There is a comforting saying: "This person is just too stupid/dumb to get frightened!"
 
W-crs. in GENERAL:  All aboard should know as much as possible about handling the individual W-cruising vessel - all sails, ropes, anchor, oars, cleat positions a.s.o. day or night - from aft of the mast when cruising.
 
Sailing + Seamanship:  It only takes a fairly basic amount of seamanship to handle, sail and navigate a W, but there is no limit to what should (must!) be learned, when leaving pottering, racing, daysailing and "bed & break-fast" cruising behind for  real  W-cruising.  No one will ever manage to learn it all !  The idea is to keep trying and keep picking up seamanship-experience every day afloat.  "It's out there that you pick it up!", says sailor-king Paul Elvstrøm (four OL-Gold Medals in dinghysailing).

Many items go into a W-cruise, and every single one of them should have its assigned place/position, and "ALL IN PLACE  MAKES PLACE FOR ALL" is the all times ship-shape-order demanding every crew member to know/learn what it implies: through introduction, training and guidance. Naturally, queries should be brought forward to get things right and thereof improved handling. Loose equipment in the cockpit, especially as tricky footsnarling 'flotsam' on the floorboards is banned. Stow your gear in your sailor-bag and store it to be ready.
 
In Command and Helming: The helming person calls the 'shots' for maneuvering/navigating the vessel under the authorithy of the skipper (such is our law here), so the helming person is only in command, if this person, at the helm, happens to be the skipper, who will only - at any time though - interfere when judging need of info, education or that inability (lack of knowledge and seamanship) seems obvious, and eventually could develop into a potential threat to vessel and crew.
 
I am sincerely happy to report a safe arrival at the Skagerack Sea of Maitken and Russet Swan with the blonde Lady Swan a bit shaken from being banged by the boom, but still a happy and indeed a much more experienced W-camp-cruiser with expert pack out-in knowledge, which was initiated/picked up through pre-training (splendid idea!) on the lawn at home and refined during the cruise. That's it: learn new ways/handling while under way.
 
Ken W1348 Maitken, Norway.

The blonde, gracious Swan by the Russet Swan, W8246.

The members of the Telemark Cruise 2003 from left to right:
Ken (W1348), Malcolm (a fine seaman) & Gill Henderson (a gracious, blonde *Swan*),
Ralph Roberts + Cedric (of North Sea Crossing Fame).

A 37-year-old W. heading out in the rain - and did it pour!
From aft, the two young crew and then add +25% of the young ones' age for the old fox by the mast.
The two closed-cell fender-cushons, 30x25x6cm covered in blue canvas (not  nylon - much too slippery!)
will shortly go inboard to sit on, and that's real comfort!