University II

The weather on the route across to Wales was pretty decent and I enjoyed bouncing along in my new command.  Picked up The Smalls lighthouse and sailed my way into the Bristol Channel.  Now, a word to the wise from an old seadog.  Entering an estuary like the Bristol Channel without a serviceable engine is going to be hard work.  It becomes even more problematic if the wind happens to be in your face so to speak.  The text book answer is to tack up with the tide and anchor somewhere safe while the tide is against you.  Simples as the Mercat advert goes.

However, this was in my youth, early 20's and I have already mentioned my youthful short temper.  This combined with a stubborn streak from way back saw me plugging my way up the Bristol Channel for three days, sail only no engine.  During these three days with no sleep I contrived to see all the local landmarks pass me bye one way then the other way.  King Canute had nothing on your Belfast thicko.
I have always been convinced that at some point during this losing battle against one of the strongest tides in the world I saw a family of killer whales.  My memory is crystal clear that it was mum and dad and a baby orca.  They came up to the boat, eyed me for a bit, swam around me once or twice and then disappeared.  Later when I asked someone at the university my memory was pooh poohed as a probable hallucination.  To this day I am not convinced that it was an hallucination.

Sometime during the fourth day without sleep, and on my fourth or fifth passing of Barry harbour an RNLI launch came out alongside me.  "Are you the Irish guy from Newcastle, Co Down".  Yes, I could hardly deny it.  "Take a line, we are taking you in, your mum has been on the phone for days".  He did sound a little exasperated.  Line on, towed into Barry.  These gentlemen were salt of the earth, got me through to worried mum and then got me a temporary berth until I could get yacht up to Cardiff, where I had already arranged a berth.  Embarrassed of Belfast got himself to Cardiff and to the University accomodation officer forthwith, Woodvale road, near the Woodvale pub, somewhere I would spend a lot of time.

Accomodation officer gives me the bad news, "we thought you were not coming, I do'nt know if I can arrange accomodation, better get yourself across to the maritime department and see what the course lecturer thinks".  Worried now, I get across to the department and see the Course tutor.  He is not sure I can catch up on three weeks work but does me a great favour and asks the class.  They vote in my favour and I am on the course.  Funny thing life.  I think it was not long after this that the class voted me in as Maritime Entertainment Officer for the course!  Life at uni was about to begin.