An Unforgettable Journey: Sailing from Totnes to Bideford (The Extended Cut)

The Instagram Illusion

If you've seen my recent posts, you'd be forgiven for thinking my journey was a perfect blend of tranquil waters, picture-perfect sunsets and sourdough baking. For the most part, it really was dolphins and calm waters.

However, in an Instagram vs reality moment on the final leg of our trip, we experienced a one-in-a-million bit of bad luck; that's a story worth telling.

That Fateful Night

It’s 1 a.m., the skies are clouded over, no moon in sight, and we're navigating the choppy aftermath of Storm Betty near Hartland Point. My cousin and experienced sailor, Kate, is with me on deck, and we're on high alert but optimistic. Our watch is ending, and we are more than ready for our bunks. I’m on the helm, and Kate is checking the coordinates and ensuring we are keeping the lighthouses in sight. If you have sailed in the Lundy / Hartland area or know of it, you’ll know that it isn’t the easiest of passages. With treacherous tidal races on either side, we are being sure to keep to the channel.

Alex, another very experienced sailor and Kate’s husband is kitting up to take over our watch alongside Toby, who is still sound asleep.

Overall, our watch had been uneventful: mugs of cappuccino early on to keep us going and pork scratchings to stay any hunger (a super sailing snack if you are looking for one!), I’d really enjoyed helming in the big seas, surfing down the waves and persuading Tempo back onto the compass-baring course with big turns on the wheel. I’d been really nervous about this passage and conditions, but so far so good.

Suddenly, we hear an almighty crash; it feels as if we have run aground. Confusion breaks out; have we run aground? Impossible, we were navigating by both GPS, waypoints and lighthouses!

Alex launched through the companionway, up on deck and flicked on his head torch in time for us to see that we had collided with what looked like a 12-foot motor caddy that had broken free of its mooring.

Toby, who had been sleeping soundly, soon made it on deck. Talk about a rude awakening!

First Responders: Coastguard & Team Dynamics

The moment after the collision was a whirlpool of adrenaline and urgency. At this point, I am still at the helm. It’s a fight to keep on course. I directed Kate on where to check for damage and how to access the trickier parts of Tempo to look for incoming water. Alex made an immediate note of our current bearing and immediate details of what happened in the logbook. He called the coastguard, who were amazing. After checking we were all okay, that we were not taking on water, and what safety equipment we had onboard, they kept tabs on us for the next six hours over the radio, proving the value of quick and open communication. We were all very relieved when daylight and our mooring buoy were in sight.

Damage Control & Immediate Actions

Inspecting the boat in daylight revealed some heart-stopping truths. We have some quite bad hull damage in the collision area, with over half an inch of fibreglass gouged out in places. Inside, you could see the wall of the boat looking scarily thin. This incident could have led to a full-blown disaster had it not been for our immediate and coordinated response.

Valuable Lessons Learned

1. Preparedness Over Panic: Our training and safety gear weren't just accessories; they were lifesavers. When you're prepared, you replace panic with procedure.

2. The Coastguard Is Your Friend: This was a wake-up call for us all. The coastguard is a lifeline that’s always there. It's better to call and not need them than to need them and not have called.

3. Insurance is Non-Negotiable: Yes, it's an added cost, but can you really put a price on safety? This experience has turned me into an advocate for boat insurance; that being said, I am yet to have finalised the claim.

4. Teamwork Triumphs: Navigating this crisis as a team was a testament to our resilience and bonds. Every instruction followed every quick decision made contributed to our safety.

5. The Ocean Teaches Humility: This journey taught us that no matter how experienced you are, the sea always has more lessons to deliver. I’m sure plenty of metaphors are there to take me through many more experiences.

I sailed to see.

Metaphors come in many different forms.

Silver Linings and Future Adventures

Could this situation have been avoided, possibly, but only with the use of tech more advanced than that is on our 40 year old Moody. There was nothing we could do to avoid this incident with the available equipment. It really was a one in a million.

If someone offered me a 6 figure sum to hit a small, unlit, unmanned boat less than half our size in the dark, in the open sea, honestly, I don’t think I could manage it, no matter how many times I tried.

We got a crash course in survival and teamwork that you can't put a price on. I'm incredibly proud of how we managed the situation and can't wait to implement these learnings in our future adventures.

So, as I relish the safety of home, I'm also buzzing for what’s next. The sea is a tough teacher, but the lessons I am taking from this are invaluable personally and in business. 🌊⛵