Tom Cunliffe asks 'Do you think you know where you are?'

Tom dusts off his old Walker Log and talks about expectations of accuracy. You never know what you'll find swimming in the sea...
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Пікірлер: 178

  • @darthkek1953
    @darthkek1953 Жыл бұрын

    "What's it all about? What am I talking about?" I have no idea but I do want you to continue!

  • @pamed76
    @pamed76 Жыл бұрын

    Dear Tom, I’m so happy to hear you talk about the essential things in life( on board a ship) 50 years ago when I was studying for the merchant marine we knew how to analog our way through the world. Do these “new” seafarers now about the old ways? If not, they’re f…d when there digital shit goes overboard. In my humble opinion it really is all about seamanship. Thank you for you sharing your wisdom!

  • @DmitryYR
    @DmitryYR Жыл бұрын

    Wow! Loved this little story so much!

  • @proskipper1
    @proskipper13 жыл бұрын

    You can't beat mark I eyeball !

  • @mickbrown9047
    @mickbrown90472 жыл бұрын

    I bought a Walker log last year - a "modern" one (circa 1980, a Knotmaster MkIII A) - just to mess about with analogue instruments to get back into the habit of mental dead-reckoning. Next on my wishlist is a half-decent sextant!

  • @williamstreet4304
    @williamstreet43043 жыл бұрын

    Tom, this is awesome. Know your GPS basis. If you are in the area of that 1859 - 1902 leadline, you might want to be a bit cautious. GPS says you are fine. Keel says you are grounded.

  • @dobermanpac1064
    @dobermanpac10643 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant Tom!! You don’t need to know!! I’m old school and love using old technology. Trouble today is we have lots operating boats, very few are actually sailing them. Their loss. I love sailing into port, maneuvering right up to the string or dock. Many will ask why I didn’t motor up, I smile and say , call me Magellan😎

  • @microplasticnews7293
    @microplasticnews72933 жыл бұрын

    I love you videos. I am working on a Nordic folkboat from 1959, I'm basically learning as I go. When I'm on the way to the docks I like to listen to your videos, always get inspired to get the boat ready for next season so I can join the proud line of wooden sailors :)

  • @joeymcmanus448
    @joeymcmanus4484 жыл бұрын

    Tom your videos are absolutely awesome to watch. Your so incredibly interesting with your years of knowledge. Great job keep up the work.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Joey, will do! Tom

  • @AfricanFlightStar

    @AfricanFlightStar

    3 жыл бұрын

    Agreed!

  • @750count
    @750count3 жыл бұрын

    I love this In 1986 we were sailing from the Pacific Northwest to Hawaii Sextant only of course There were 4 of aboard and for all our 1st time offshore It was a beautiful day, the boat sailing along on a reach and the monitor vane doing such a great job there was little to do but enjoy the ride at that moment The skipper came bounding out of the cabin and half panicked declared that we don't know where we are, which more or less may have been true All I could think is that it had only been a week and was totally relaxed about it We really didn't need to know where we were yet On a 3 week passage if it had been a month or more I might have been concerned We made it to Hawaii in 22 Days

  • @BrownEarthSnake

    @BrownEarthSnake

    Ай бұрын

    This story made me chuckle,Thanks

  • @theosalt1
    @theosalt13 жыл бұрын

    Enjoy you tales and yarns Tom. I come from an even more ancient era and now too old to go sailing and as well the body is falling apart. Very envious of the new wave of young adventurers with all the modern IT, GPS etc. and gadgets making it all too easy. The opportunity was too rare and difficult in my youth. However to add to the 'exact knowing where you' are is the use of satellite pictures and charts, as well as sending out a radio controlled drone to check out reefs and passages in especially difficult locations in the Pacific, otherwise not visible from the mast ladder view point [difficult if sailing short handed].

  • @bobthesnobscotland2821
    @bobthesnobscotland28213 жыл бұрын

    Cheers Tom love your videos they are smashing

  • @jimbaker8624
    @jimbaker86243 жыл бұрын

    Thank you. Wonderful video.

  • @albertlabos8400
    @albertlabos84004 жыл бұрын

    I love your comment about "you never know what you find swimming in the sea".....I cannot resist a giggle....I have all of Winston Churchill's wartime speeches as a set of LPs...on one of them there is a speech he gave to some troops to boost morale...It went something like this …."Well, I have wanted for some time to recount an incident to you which I have been prevented to tell you, but nonetheless I will...I was at sea on a destroyer and saw some debris floating by, and, among this debris was a door, and do you know, it had my initials on it !"

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Albert for sharing that grand anecdote about Winston. What a delight. Tom

  • @914va
    @914va4 жыл бұрын

    You are so right......as I have found this out the hard way so many times.

  • @atschris
    @atschris4 жыл бұрын

    Good food for thought!

  • @saltybuster946
    @saltybuster9464 жыл бұрын

    Wise words Tom

  • @jamesvan-lint7351
    @jamesvan-lint73513 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Tom. Your videos are wonderfully informative. Thank you.

  • @charleselertii6187
    @charleselertii61876 ай бұрын

    Exactly Tom! I think a DR plot on a chart is important, even with the new GPS. I found that some GPS chart plotters did Not match with paper charts and hand bearing readings in the islands of Belize. The paper charts were based on 100 year old surveys. The GPS chart plotter said we were pin dry land. But in reality not.

  • @cd4222
    @cd42224 жыл бұрын

    Tom, what a pleasant and colorful way about you! I truly enjoy your videos!

  • @hetschipVeronica
    @hetschipVeronica2 жыл бұрын

    Briliant

  • @pauldutot2608
    @pauldutot26084 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Tom. Very informative.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    You are more than welcome Paul. Thanks for listening. Tom

  • @johncollymore1697
    @johncollymore16974 жыл бұрын

    Such entertaining and enthusiastic commentary from an experienced seafarer - keep up the great work Tom! On all your thousands of nautical miles sailed, how often have you lost the 'impellor' of your Walker Log - perhaps eaten by a fish - does that happen, or is it an urban myth! And secondly, a Walker Log normally stays with a boat, or is part of her gear - how did this one end up in your shed, which vessel did it come from, the old pilot cutter 'Hirta' maybe, perhaps when she was re-fitted with a 'thru-hull' log...? Cheers.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Good questions John. In the early days the impellers were shiny and the tropical fish loved them. I lost a couple I think. Always suspected large pelagic predators too big to take my lure. Then they brought out the black ones and they are definitely not so tempting! This particular log has been around a long time. I kept in on Westernman (40ft gaff cutter built for me in N America) whose through-hull log was never any good, but hung onto it when she went on from me. I think the new owner probably sorted the electric one. Tom

  • @johncollymore1697

    @johncollymore1697

    4 жыл бұрын

    Many thanks Tom. A lovely artefact to keep, in its box, alongside, say, one's 1942 Henry Hughes & Sons Ltd sextant in its box. A two-day Mercer chronometer, or the like, would all make for a lovely collection. Cheers.

  • @minkusmcminkus7598
    @minkusmcminkus75984 жыл бұрын

    Great stuff as always

  • @Clipper024
    @Clipper0243 жыл бұрын

    Your quote "Nowadays, with GPS we know where we are all the time, but you know we don't, because we're only as good as the chart we're sailing on." is as true in life as in navigation. Thank you

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    3 жыл бұрын

    My pleasure Peter. Tom

  • @terrulian
    @terrulian4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, Tom. Always a pleasurable listen during a taxing time!!!

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for listening. Tom

  • @jjroots1436
    @jjroots14364 жыл бұрын

    What a shame you're not navigating us through our current troubled waters Tom. We would be sure to get safely through to the other side. So nice to have your charming company on the way too. Thanks and fair winds.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    I'm quite glad I'm not in charge JJ. Bit like being the skipper in the fog. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't! Thanks for your very kind remarks. Tom

  • @allofus6133
    @allofus61334 жыл бұрын

    As always, good information.💪

  • @life.sunsets.sunrises
    @life.sunsets.sunrises3 жыл бұрын

    Top info as always Tom ,Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    3 жыл бұрын

    My pleasure Adam. Thanks for watching. I'm glad you found it useful. Tom

  • @alvessail4718
    @alvessail47184 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the reminder of what is the basics of navigation 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Glad it was helpful!

  • @frank.johnston
    @frank.johnston4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Tom, food for thought and very interesting as always. Very tidy workshops too BTW 😉 Fair winds.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Frank. I like to keep it tidy if I can. Years of being on a boat I guess where you have to know where everything is and be able to put your hand on it in the dark. Tom

  • @cjprimata
    @cjprimata4 жыл бұрын

    Perfect back on the day, we ask where to head the navigator use to say Sail fast on that direction stretch his arms and fingers we just had to sail fast. When I was a young lad doing races from port to port! A tilt around the can he was a lot more precise with our headings or when to tack or jibe!

  • @timallen6025
    @timallen60254 жыл бұрын

    Such wise words, as ever. A deep sea capt once advised/said to me; the worst seas he ever encountered were on the Great Lakes and more importantly , the instrument he trusted on board ship more than any other was the ships RADAR. Twice in 10 years I have been lucky enough to use it myself "in anger'' , oh-so-grateful to locate river entrance groins poking seaward from shallowing featureless shorelines after my distance was all run and in bad haze visibility.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Tim. I love radar too - just so long as it's set up correctly. I imagine the Great Lakes are a bit like the Baltic sea. They kick up a nasty steep short wave very quickly. Tom

  • @pstokes9807
    @pstokes98074 жыл бұрын

    Informative and entertaining, as ever. Thanks.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. Tom

  • @jeffreysearle2996
    @jeffreysearle29963 жыл бұрын

    It matters if you can’t find the pub. 😎

  • @1life2liveADV
    @1life2liveADV4 жыл бұрын

    I am always amazed at the information you discuss and think what it was like to sail the seas before modern electronic devices. You are great story teller Tom and you have me watching and listening to the end of video wanting more. You 're correct, we all take these modern devices as being accurate and they probably are, but to be able to use those old devices would be an asset. Thank you

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Truly, Rodney, it was a different world. There was nothing like watching the miles spinning off while sailing down the trades with the flying fish coming over the rail. Tom

  • @MrBluoct
    @MrBluoct4 жыл бұрын

    He’s back 🤙

  • @aorakiboydog
    @aorakiboydog4 жыл бұрын

    Nice shed and interesting topic Tom.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Salty. Glad you enjoyed both shed and subject. Tom

  • @reloadncharge9907
    @reloadncharge99074 жыл бұрын

    Good episode Mr Tom! That Walker log needs to be displayed alongside a nice Heath sextant.....thx! Andrew

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Andrew! Tom

  • @9714621
    @97146213 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Tom. Looking at charts saying last surveyed by Matthew Flinders lol

  • @edl617
    @edl6173 жыл бұрын

    Wisdom

  • @proskipper1
    @proskipper13 жыл бұрын

    Sometimes it is more important to know where you are not - I often use clearing lines when tacking to windward if I have a clear landmarks and charts so much easier ....

  • @Nerd3927
    @Nerd39274 жыл бұрын

    This is so important to know and so well put together it gave me goosebumps! In a new ECN chart you can right click and find the CatZoc (Category Zones of Confidence) and also the date and method used for the survey. In North America you can find 1948 and lead line quite often! Also the Hdop of the GPS is often ignored. When you have only 3 satellites in a cluster with the same inclination and azimut you can easily get an (un)precision of 100 meters!

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks S/V Adma for your kind words and vital input. Tom

  • @billwhiz1
    @billwhiz14 жыл бұрын

    Boatyard what an amazing series cant believe there only 10 episodes

  • @patrickjoneill5836
    @patrickjoneill58364 жыл бұрын

    I have a little chuckle every time we get a water bill from a chap who comes round and reads the meter at our front gate in Thailand. His machine prints out the bill which includes the Lat and Long of the meter to 6 decimal places, and I think of the little hand-held Garmin which got me around the south coast of England and across the Channel. They used to say you couldn't rely on that to be within 100 yards, but it was fine for me, and a lot better than the Dinghy Decca which it replaced, and than my dead reckoning, which was rubbish.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for sharing that chuckle Patrick. Tom

  • @contessa3292
    @contessa32924 жыл бұрын

    Many thanks indeed - once again - for a great yarn, Tom - from your shed, and from the world of the Walker Log! Can't beat it. Nice brief video at the end there of you aboard a fine craft. You've got a mic and are talking - can't remember that one off hand; have I missed that video! Best wishes, William.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi William. That was taken in the Aegean and was from a video I posted last October called 'The Wine-dark Sea'. kzread.info/dash/bejne/poSpw9OwocTUaKQ.html. Tom

  • @contessa3292

    @contessa3292

    4 жыл бұрын

    Of course it was! I remember now! Thanks Tom.

  • @karhukivi
    @karhukivi4 жыл бұрын

    Very true, Tom. I was using a GPS for a land survey back in 2001 and was puzzled by the lack of correspondence with the map, an error of at least 50 metres in the E-W direction was apparent. I tried to ring people I thought might be able to check out their GPS units, as I was convinced it must be the US Navy doing something, but no luck. The next day the error had grown larger and now I was beginning to suspect my GPS unit. One day later and the error was about 200 miles! I tried resetting it and downloading the latest firmware but the error persisted. It was still good for speeds and a few other functions, but positioning was gone. Brought it back to the outdoors shop where I had bought it, and it was expensive too, but the "expert" just switched it on and said "it works, what's your problem!" Cretins....

  • @ancientmariner7473
    @ancientmariner74734 жыл бұрын

    Hmm....well I remember the bit about "standard port" and then ah that's a good idea, then woke up on the sofa at 0405......

  • @S.P.A.R.K.Y.
    @S.P.A.R.K.Y.3 жыл бұрын

    A higher hand in it all!

  • @gonagain
    @gonagain4 жыл бұрын

    Fascinating. Thanks! I'm an old seadog and am very familiar with my sextant and Walker log. It's what we had and we did very well. The echo sounder was very handy in a fog.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    I bet you remember the old Seafarer echo sounders with the glowing LED that swept round and whose position coincided with hands of the clock. At 15 minutes past the hour you were in 15 feet or ditto fathoms. How sensible they were. Tom

  • @gonagain

    @gonagain

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns State of the art! Back then...

  • @glypnir
    @glypnir3 жыл бұрын

    And someone may have driven a 2CV into the water since the last survey. I’m suspicious even of the Navionics charts updated by boaters recent sonar observations. I wonder if they always calibrate correctly for the depth of their transponders. I hear there are still lots of drunken matelots, even on the Texas waters I go out on very intermittently. My favorite story though, is on the risks of too much accuracy. I hear at least one alleged mariner decided to use the locations of center channel buoys as waypoints. Of course they rammed the first one.

  • @pierstheoneandonly
    @pierstheoneandonly4 жыл бұрын

    I'm an absolute lubber but with a heritage of seafarers (clipper captains and Severn pilots). Watching this (the first TC vid I've seen), put me in mind of the novel 'The Riddle Of The Sands' which I recently read.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Good to hear from a descendant of the Severn pilots. Trust you've come across my book, 'Pilot Cutters Under Sail'. It's about to be reprinted in heavy paperback format. If you enjoyed 'The Riddle', look out for 'In the Shadow of the Sands' by Sam Llewellyn. A grand sequel. Tom

  • @pierstheoneandonly

    @pierstheoneandonly

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Tom thanks for the tip; I will seek both of those titles out. Also enjoyed your Buckler's Hard reminiscences and appraisal. On local (Romsey) school and family outings, this was a destination that was somehow missed, so good to get a sense of the place.

  • @nigellucas560
    @nigellucas5604 жыл бұрын

    Tom your turning into a true confession channel. In 1979 the Xxxxx Star was heading south by west a half west. My watch ended and I advised the next keeper that I put the sounder on as sun and celestial positioning was uncertain for the past three days. During my drowsy sleep I was put hard agains my bulkhead wall as the vessel canted hard to port. at 18 kts it was something of a manoeuvre. All the crew off watch would have been awake in their bunks, like me. All settled to a relaxed and regular thud. Next watch we were seen to have A/C because we had been 50 miles further west after 4000 miles since the canaries. Well done BritishMerchant Navy training and well done **** Star marine management for predicting the unexpected.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Grand tale Nigel. Thanks. Tom

  • @jeffjames4064
    @jeffjames40644 жыл бұрын

    An engaging video Tom, I'm always on the lookout for sage advice. I don't need a GPS device to tell me which state of confusion I'm in.😁

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Jeff. Well put. Pleased you enjoyed it. Tom

  • @GC987
    @GC9874 жыл бұрын

    What a brilliant backdrop - I'm admiring your tools, tankards (one for your good self and 4 others for your mates) the bird house, of course the bird (with the bike) and wondering what cars those old number plates used to be attached to. Very enjoyable. Thanks !

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Graeme. I'm chuffed you like my shed and all my 'treasures'. PXL is the number plate I inherited with my 1949 Bentley. I didn't think it was quite the thing, so had a proper one made up. The yellow one is off my Harley which I bought in the UK and shipped to USA to ride cross-country and back. (You can read about the trip in Good Vibrations). I acquired a US plate, but kept the old one anyway! Tom

  • @SailingTaranto
    @SailingTaranto4 жыл бұрын

    More top quality common sense from the master of it :-) Cheers Tom

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Many thanks Taranto! Tom

  • @waterboy8999
    @waterboy89994 жыл бұрын

    This is has got to be your best instalment yet Tom. I like the GPS, and my chart plotter with its 2010 vintage chip, but I have learned not to trust it too much, with Rocks in lower zooms.....! I have sailed over rocks that were supposed to dry according to it But I've never trusted the depth due to what you have just said about when and how the surveys were carried out, I hadn't really thought about the hard stuff being in the wrong (right) place, I'm pleased to say I've not hit a shed yet. Great stuff.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks David. You must be a sound mariner. I have a tale about hitting a shed which I recount in my after-dinner speech! All best Tom

  • @waterboy8999

    @waterboy8999

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns . That must be fine tale! Thanks for your reply.

  • @livingladolcevita7318
    @livingladolcevita73184 жыл бұрын

    good thoughts Tom of course when the tech goes wrong just hope one has paid attention when learning the old way. Picking up on your vlog about sea sickness I used to teach canoeing sailing( dinghys) etc and going out in a force 4 in a sea kayak to learn rescues and such no probs bobbing like a cork, however getting on big boats different matter lol

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Mark. Funny about seasickness - I've found the smaller the craft the better, very often whereas a rough crossing on a ferry....... Tom

  • @jerrytugable
    @jerrytugable4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Tom, a charming film, thanks. I have a couple of Wasp logs, one of them only reads 2 miles. I wondered if you can relieve them of a few thousand miles with a Black And Decker, like a Ford Cortina, but no you can't it does not work..must be genuine 😛

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for picking me up on pronunciation. I pride myself on my English, but I've no ego issues, so it's nice to be corrected when I don't get it right. As to the Black and Decker. Perhaps if you were to ask a used-car dealer down at the docks, he might be prepared to slip you the wink! Tom

  • @jamesl5149
    @jamesl51494 жыл бұрын

    Very engaging presenting style. I hope it's viable for you to keep making these videos longer term

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    I hope so too James.I intend to keep these free vids going as long as I can. I'm also making 'how-to' videos which are going up on my website. If you're a member (Introductory offer of £15 until end June) you'll be able to view these for free. If not, you'll have to cough up. I'm currently working on one about tides which will be 'showing' next month. Tom

  • @shadowofpain8144
    @shadowofpain81444 жыл бұрын

    I would give up a lotto winning to sail around the world with Tom.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Now, there's an offer! Tom

  • @danielmccarthy1982
    @danielmccarthy19824 жыл бұрын

    Informative and entertaining as ever Tom, but I kept getting distracted trying to place the British-twin head gasket that was peeking over your shoulder... Triumph 750?

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Ah, well spotted Daniel. It's exactly that. T140. Blew out like a good-'un when I tried for the ton. The big one partly behind me is from my 1949 Bentley. It took me nearly a month to get it off the car, so I keep it along with my other junk in my cave. Tom

  • @vonhier
    @vonhier4 жыл бұрын

    Believe it or not, for the first 5 minutes of your video I was really asking myself: Is he telling me to make use of my old Sum-Log again? My boat is from 1975 and still is equipped with this nice mechanical instrument. I am glad I followed your explanations to the end of the video. Thank you for very useful information on charts and accuracy. (Love your shed, too!)

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Ulrich. Well, good to learn you still have a Sumlog. I remember those. You never know, one day it might be just the thing! Tom

  • @AfricanFlightStar
    @AfricanFlightStar3 жыл бұрын

    Great story Mr Cunliffe, and I love your "shed", it's a class act indeed. (How the dickens do you keep it all so clean? Looks museum-like inside.) As to that Walker's Log, now there's thing of pure beauty. Love it. The question I have is - when the 'fish' is nicely polished up as I've seen some to be, is there no chance that a hulking big marlin or other game fish might come by and take a swipe at it, thinking it's live bait? Just wondered about that, would be really sad to lose your 'the fish' from your log, especially if you were half way across the Atlantic. Perhaps you'd care to comment? Thank you!

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hi African. Yes, You're right. The brass 'fish' used to get taken regularly by mis-guided predators. In the end, they produced the 'fish' in black which seemed to sort it. I like to keep the shed pretty tidy - otherwise it's like the midshipman's chest - nothing to hand and everything on top'! As for being clean - it's amazing what a camera hides! Tom

  • @googlecontrolled
    @googlecontrolled2 жыл бұрын

    When I learned to fly we were taught GPS means Global Positioning Second.

  • @rogerbayzand4455
    @rogerbayzand44554 жыл бұрын

    I seem to remember on my chart of Alderney there were areas last surveyed in the 1800's still pretty accurate for the visible rocks but you needed your wits about you working close inshore. A tip my dear old Dad gave me was to aim deliberately off to one side of the port you are aiming for when the viz is poor. This came in really handy when trying to find the entrance to Lymington in the fog as one bit of marsh looks the same as the other, at least you knew which way to turn when you spotted it.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Your Dad knew a thing or two Roger. That's classic fog navigation. Tom

  • @terence8127

    @terence8127

    3 жыл бұрын

    It was the same in aviation before GPS in places like the Amazon, if the airport or landing strip was near the river you would deliberately fly say 10 degrees off, then you knew which way to turn to find the strip. It worked fine.

  • @CheersWarren
    @CheersWarren4 жыл бұрын

    Tom, Don't for get to put your website in the notes, we all need a North Star to find it! Cheers Warren

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Warren. I must remember to put a link. Tom

  • @tinnturps
    @tinnturps4 жыл бұрын

    Come on ol' Tom, give us some more stories 'n' tales of the sea. Some of us old sea dogs have run-aground on 'retirement village reef' and losing our sea legs.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    OK. Can't leave you stranded ashore. I'm off to my boat at the end of the week, so will feel more inspired to yarn. Recently I've been making vids about tide navigation for my members' club on my website. www.tomcunliffe.com. Tom

  • @SeabreezeRJ
    @SeabreezeRJ3 жыл бұрын

    epic. grateful for your sharing! ~__/)__*

  • @ianredsell7976
    @ianredsell79764 жыл бұрын

    Hi Tom, its a bugbear of mine that we do not seem to be able to find the survey data on the electronic charts. For example on Navionics it would be useful to see that little Survey chartlet somewhere. If it's there I can't find it. As you say its an optimist or a gambler who uses it to navigate too precisely, tempting as it might be. Love the videos

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Ian. Very good to hear from you, old chum, and pleased you're enjoying the vids. All best Tom

  • @SimonMcArley
    @SimonMcArley4 жыл бұрын

    Hate to disappoint but the NZ Navy has just completed a comprehensive charting of our pacific neighbours, replacing in some cases charts drawn by some bloke called J Cook.

  • @tomburton8239
    @tomburton82394 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Tom. I bet it took you a good while to figure out how to tell this so clearly: so easy to come over as a befuddled story. But you cracked it. Well done; clear and not a wasted word. BTW for some reason it brings to mind Heisenberg’s Uncertainly Principle. In case you don’t recall it... it says that the more exactly you try to measure something, the more the act of measuring it interferes with the thing you measuring and so changing it. All about sub-atomic physics, but the idea’s interesting and had parallels. For example, if a copper’s trying to measure the speed of passing cars, and tries to get a precise measurement by, say, using big kit and a tripod and on a straight bit of road, then the drivers will see him and change their speed. But if the copper settles for a less accurate measurement, then the drivers may not see him and not change their speed. The point of all this is... if you want to know something (e.g. lat/long, how many people attended an event, how many died of C-19) you must first decide how accurate you want the answer to be. High accuracy is expensive and interferes with the answer, so should be saved for where it’s really necessary. Real world example 1: the degradation of GPS accuracy for open use. Real world example 2: how accurate is a car’s speedometer? Clearly they’re not super-accurate as that would be super expensive (and have to cater for the wear of the tyres etc.). But they need to be cheap and accurate enough to (a) avoid the manufacturer being sued for lots of owners getting tickets due to a misleading speedo, and (b) give a decent idea of speed. The answer: everyday car speedos under-read vehicle speed by between 3% and 8%.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Tom What a fascinating comparison. I really enjoyed that and you're very kind about my efforts at explanation without reference to Heisenberg! I've always been intrigued by that. Thanks for sharing the principle with us. Tom

  • @richardfoster5851
    @richardfoster58514 жыл бұрын

    Get on me old fruit ,Cheers me dears Richard Plymouth🇬🇧👍

  • @iainlyall6475
    @iainlyall64753 жыл бұрын

    but that's why they had a lead and line with tallow(?) on the lead. gave depth and type of bottom..... shale, sand, rocks etc. of course, with sailboats of not more than 8ft of draught who cares. would love to hear you talk about this :-)

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    3 жыл бұрын

    Exactly Iain. The lead could tell the expert navigator a lot. Tom

  • @proskipper1
    @proskipper13 жыл бұрын

    I would be interested in your views on calculating the "Circle of uncertainty" when plotting dead reckoning - thanks.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    3 жыл бұрын

    Good question. I inspect the data (course steered, distance run as modified by tide, current and leeway, plus any doubts concerning log and compass accuracy), then apply intuition backed up by experience. Sorry not to be more empirical, but that's how it is. Tom

  • @proskipper1

    @proskipper1

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns ​ Tom - much appreciate your reply having taught practical real world navigation in small sail boats I find it interesting in this obsession to define exact position. My personal approach is to Identify hazards on a passage then define safe areas to sail ie contours or clearing lines then sail best course re wind and water conditions - keeping a broader view allows me to build a mental map of the environment avoiding gross errors.... Regards Tim

  • @tribsat100
    @tribsat1004 жыл бұрын

    Hello Im a newbie sailor! Ive done many things but have a burning desire to sail around our entire coastline at 62yrs. You inspire my can do attitude. Ps is that a triumph or similar twin head gasket hanging up behind you Regards Stuart Bell

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Ahoy Stuart. Good for you - go for it. I don't know which coastline you're talking about, but if it's the UK then you'll have a grand trip. Yes, it's from a Triumph T140 Bonneville. Its other nasty habit was blowing out the occasional spark plug! Tom

  • @boptah7489
    @boptah74894 жыл бұрын

    GPS on mobile phones is land based.. Even GPS at sea is reliant on HAP's. ( High Arial Platforms).

  • @paulputnam2305
    @paulputnam23054 жыл бұрын

    💪🗺👍

  • @grahamsmith4988
    @grahamsmith49884 жыл бұрын

    Hi Tom. Is your workshop gimballed? I was very confused by the view out of the window behind your left elbow as it seemed to be moving? No, I've not been at the rum! Always distracted by the old parts in your 'shed', like the 'bonnie' head gasket etc.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    No Graham, no gimballing in my shed. Perhaps it's the shadows creating a strange effect or maybe there's ghosts out there! Lots of 'treasures' though! Tom

  • @redmenacetv
    @redmenacetv4 жыл бұрын

    This turned into the 4 yorkshiremen scetch at around the two and a half minute mark.

  • @PhilbyFavourites

    @PhilbyFavourites

    4 жыл бұрын

    Tom V: I like your thinking!

  • @superwag634
    @superwag6344 жыл бұрын

    That looked like an old Iphone 4S... Surely not in 2020! haha

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Good enough for me mate. And it's paid for! All the best Tom

  • @embrj1453
    @embrj1453 Жыл бұрын

    i thought the charts on the GPS were satellite images

  • @seeuathebeach
    @seeuathebeach4 жыл бұрын

    At the end of your compelling video, you're steering while sitting on the leeward side: is it because of the circumstances or because of a personal preference from which we might learn something? Thanks!

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Kevin. I'm sitting down there for a couple of reasons. Yes, it was best for the film angle, but I also like to see the jib lift when I'm closehauled. On this yacht, they are best viewed from there. Tom

  • @seeuathebeach

    @seeuathebeach

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Thanks Captain and fair winds!

  • @AndyPidsleyAPi
    @AndyPidsleyAPi4 жыл бұрын

    Hands up who has sailed into port with the log still out behind

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Andy. Me for one! Got it round the prop too as a very young man. The dinghy painter's another one.... Tom

  • @PhilbyFavourites

    @PhilbyFavourites

    4 жыл бұрын

    Andy Pidsley: very few now. I saw one of those walker logs at a boat jumble about 10 years ago. They are historic now - much like young Tom........

  • @cherub2972

    @cherub2972

    3 жыл бұрын

    I got mine through the opening in the rudder where the prop used to be. No idea how but had to go for a swim to clear it. I did a bit of short tacking so maybe then. Only a few months ago. I use it and a compass.

  • @philgray1023
    @philgray10234 жыл бұрын

    I was sure you were going to say, "what you have to ask yourself is, 'are you feeling lucky punk?'"

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Phil. I missed my chance there! We could do with a few Dirty Harry look-alikes. Tom

  • @Rob-fx2dw

    @Rob-fx2dw

    4 жыл бұрын

    Good One Phil. Luck plays a part but you need to keep track of how many knots you have done since the reliable last fix. But ! You know in all this excitement I kinda lost count myself!

  • @ushillbillies
    @ushillbillies4 жыл бұрын

    Great bit of practical advice . heard you had covid 19 ?

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks. I don't know what Rumour Control has been putting out, but I haven't had C19, so far as I know. In the best of health, I'm pleased to report. Hope you are too. Tom

  • @ushillbillies

    @ushillbillies

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns I was given this apparently wrong information by an acquaintance in our home port of Gibsons British Columbia . I have since learned that he must have been referring Patrick Childress , as he has recently tragedy succumbed to C 19.. Glad you sir are healthy as am I and my lovely..

  • @simonhantler8062
    @simonhantler80624 жыл бұрын

    do the gps charts have the info on them about when that part of the chart was surveyed?

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Good question Simon. You mean the Vector charts on commercial plotters I guess. The answer is that for all practical purposes, many do not. The example I used was actually from a Raster-scan chart which, while electronic, has the lot!

  • @simonhantler8062

    @simonhantler8062

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns yes on the commercial cruiser plotters, are they called vector? i would imagine the info on paper charts isnt accessable on digital charts, ive never seen it, shame. theres an opportunity for someone to sell the info to garmin, B&G etc. be great to be able to access it at the click of a button. love your videos, really entertaining and educational.

  • @daleskidmore1685
    @daleskidmore16854 жыл бұрын

    There are plenty of stories of people coming unstuck with satnavs on land. Always trust your eyes, ha, ha. Keep well Tom.

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Dale. You too. Tom

  • @philgray1023

    @philgray1023

    4 жыл бұрын

    Mine tries very hard to get me to drive directly through a river where there never was a road.

  • @JCs-Music
    @JCs-Music4 жыл бұрын

    GPS, its for the military.

  • @markphillips2008
    @markphillips20084 жыл бұрын

    But was there a trick for retrieving the line without it twirling itself into a Gordian Knot the size of a volleyball as the fish would keep spinning until you could bring the thing aboard? I never discovered a way other than coming to a stop. And even then....

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Good question Mark. Yes there was / is. What you do is carefully unhook the line from the log mechanism. You them pay this end out while hauling in the fish end. Once you have the fish in hand, hold it while the hook end trails astern. It untwists quite quickly and you can them coil it neatly away. The trick is not to let it go, of course and the way you do that is to let it out around a stanchion so that if you do drop it you've every chance of grabbing it before it disappears! Tom

  • @katmanclancy
    @katmanclancy4 жыл бұрын

    So it would be the same on the lakes Tom? Bloody hell there could be a rock were it shouldn't be...

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yes, it could well be Clancy. Don't want to put the wind up you, but it's worth taking it into consideration. Tom

  • @katmanclancy

    @katmanclancy

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns thanks Tom!

  • @johnlawrence2757
    @johnlawrence27574 жыл бұрын

    Shed Man speaks

  • @geabyrne
    @geabyrne4 жыл бұрын

    Tom, Have you anything made on cat rig yachts?

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Sorry no, I haven't. We don't get many in the UK but I always admired them in New England. Tom

  • @geabyrne

    @geabyrne

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Thanks Tom! I only discovered them recently and they have me interested. 😊

  • @gordonmurdoch3811
    @gordonmurdoch38114 жыл бұрын

    Where am I? That's easy, I'm half way up the stairs. What I want to know is, am I going or have I been?

  • @simontuffs4106

    @simontuffs4106

    4 жыл бұрын

    Which way are you facing, do you ever walk up the stairs backwards...... Should be able to work it out from there...atb

  • @gordonmurdoch3811

    @gordonmurdoch3811

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@simontuffs4106 To avoid "the walk of shame" would it not be prudent to head for the smallest room in the house no matter which way you're facing?

  • @ratusbagus
    @ratusbagus4 жыл бұрын

    Erm... Oh great one? I can be within 15 meters of a turn of the century lead line drunken survey or I can be + or - a quarter of a mile of the same survey?! I think I'd be safest though, if you were in the cockpit with me...... THEN it wouldn't be that irrelevant.

  • @josephinebennington7247
    @josephinebennington72474 жыл бұрын

    And the story right behind you on the number plate?

  • @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    @TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Josephine. PXL is the number plate I inherited with my 1949 Bentley. I didn't think it was quite the thing, so had another one made up. The yellow one is off my Harley which I bought in the UK and shipped to USA to ride cross-country and back. (You can read about the trip in Good Vibrations). I acquired a US plate, but kept the old one anyway! Tom

  • @tyroneshulace3203
    @tyroneshulace32033 жыл бұрын

    The interesting fact about GPS is .... Who owns it? It is a proprietary property. Most people don't realise how quickly it can be turned OFF. Now what are you going to do? Hint; Google .. The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS, is a satellite-based radionavigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. Now question is ; What the H... Is United States Space Force? Hey Tom... Can I please buy your sextant, Log, dividers etc etc NB. Always good to have spares. ;)

  • @Dg-zj6jo
    @Dg-zj6jo2 жыл бұрын

    PXL 405 WAS THAT YOUR BIKE SIR

  • @fredjones7307
    @fredjones73073 жыл бұрын

    The Walker Log reminds me of the Bill Tillman story of ten knots and a Chinaman. I tried to look up the saying because I wasn't sure if the ten knots bit. The saying isn't on there, probably been removed because of the PC brigade, anyway I'll let you tell the story..

  • @tommypetraglia4688

    @tommypetraglia4688

    3 жыл бұрын

    Pretty tough for your type when racism is no longer in fashion... isn't it.

  • @jerrytugable
    @jerrytugable4 жыл бұрын

    'Surveyed' and 'surveyor' are stressed on the second syllable.