1972 - 1984 | Putting to Sea

NOTE: Some of this is identical to what is written on Wikipedia, as both were written by the author of this website, stardust5980 (aka celesteshipping5980). 

NOTE TWO: Huge thanks to Kenneth Kennedy and Kerry Kennedy for providing Kenneth's book 'ALL AT SEA' which provides almost all of the information on this page.

Putting to Sea

- De Wadden was put on a trial run the following Sunday, as well as taking some family members aboard. They departed Dunoon at eleven o'clock, heading up to Long Loch at a slow pace. The boys and crew rushed about the decks in great excitement as Kenneth spent his time steering and listening for any falters in the engine's sound. They soon came alongside Terry and Mike, only staying for half an hour as Kenneth was anxious of an engine failure, heading back to Dunoon. Upon returning to their buoy it became lost beneath the bow, so Kenneth was forced to rely on frantic shouts and waving from Rusty and Andrew. Jack was manning the telegraph in the engine room, and after Kenneth's third request for astern Jack shouted back 'What are you buggers doing up there. A couple more starts and you've had it'. Luckily, Kenneth spotted Rusty pulling the buoy over the side, responding to Jack that he was finished with the engine.[1]

With that done, he dashed for the bow and assisted Rusty and Andrew in feeding a heavy wire rope through the hawsepipe, and by the time Jack appeared they were winding the heavy chain up from the bottom using the capstan. It was clear they needed an engine to drive the windlass. With that, their first trip was over without disaster.[1]

For the next few weeks, they were all back at building works due to lack of funds. Each night Kenneth would check the riding light and do a little more repair work. He replaced ratlines and fitted new ropes to masthead blocks. By this point, Summer was over and winter was creeping in. He was told by a pier master that there was a force ten southerly gale due in. He knew he would have to get the ship shifted as fast as possible to prevent the gale from taking her ashore.[1]

References

1.  Kennedy, Kenneth M. (1985). All At Sea. Retrieved 2023-12-16.