Drumler

Towards the end of the summer 2013, I was thinking of buying a boat since I live on the north bank of the Deben river.

I had my heart set on a shiny Boston Whaler; shallow draught, good for tidal estuaries, low maintenance, fast, practical; great for family picnics, waterskiing, boys’ fishing trips, etc.   I used to play around in one as a teenager, growing up in Long Island Sound, so I know my way around power boats.

I had pretty much found one when some local friends said that Drumler was for sale and suggested I consider buying her instead.  No way! I thought – far too much hassle maintaining a wooden boat and, anyway, although I had grown up sailing dingies (Sunfish and Lasers, mainly), I had never sailed a yacht and so have no idea how to sail.  But, fatally, I couldn’t resist having a look.  Here are some photos I found of her:

Drumler on her Deben mooring

Stemhead showing the highfield lever to release or tension the inner staysail stay.

Foredeck with forehatch, anchor and sampson post

From the fore hatch looking back

Mast with goose neck (there’s a winch lever which rotates the mast to reef the sail). Notice the absence of any halyards fed back to the cockpit.

Starboard Deck – lots of brightwork for varnishing!

Original sheet winch and port side cockpit seat

Cabin looking Aft – cooker, sink and freezer locker to the right; chart table, radio and fuse box to the left. David Dow (previous owner) just visible through the companionway – no doubt varnishing!

Cabin looking forward – note original kerosene gimbal lamp on the right

Aft Cabin (the wooden in the middle sometimes contains a heads but, in Drumler has a back-up battery)

Stern View with her spray dodgers in place

And the more I researched Drumler – and Vertues generally – the more I fell for the romance of the Vertue legend.  After a week of growing mania and sleepless nights fretting over sailing legend versus powerboat, I finally told my wife that I was thinking of buying her.  To my amazement, although she has also never sailed, she thought it a great idea and so, a few hours later, the deed was done!

I hastily arranged a Competent Crew course to give me at least enough skills to take her off her mooring, and immediately enrolled on a Day Skipper course.  Here’s the plan:

Year 1: Learn the basic theory, and learn my way around Drumler.  Keep mainly to the Deben unless accompanied my more experienced friends.

Year 2: Complete Day Skipper practical (5 days on Drumler), venture to nearby rivers: the Stour, the Orwell and possibly the Ore (tricky entrance!)

Year 3: Practice sailing in the North Sea, get comfortable with navigation, possibly a bit of night sailing.  Generally improve seamanship.  Possibly take her to St Katherine’s Dock in London.

Year 4: Take her across the Channel, probably to Holland; maybe to Norway#

Year 5: Cross the Atlantic – my very own mid-life crisis!

Well.. you gotta have goals in life.  Oh yes, one more thing: to earn membership of the Ocean Cruising Club.  I’m not sure why, but I just think its a pretty cool club to belong to.