SPS Training Course

Taymara has provided courses for a variety of charities and government agencies including Transform (formerly Cyrenians), The National Health Service, Positive Steps, The Salvation Army and The Scottish Prison Service.

This page shows the first 6 week training course we did specifically for the Scottish Prison Service recently. This was an intensive course encompassing seamanship, personal safety, boathandling, navigation and passage planning and culminated with a passage from Newhaven to Perth and back with the trainees being responsible for all aspects of the entire trip including planning, boathandling and navigation. Hard work, a lot to learn in a short space of time, but still enjoyable.

Phone Taymara Head of Unit Bob Richmond 01382 542516

E-mail Taymara webmaster, Ken Bushe contact@taymara.org

Passing near the mouth of the River Earn where it enters the Tay.

Joining

Regular meetings on Marigot, berthed alongside North Carr Victoria Dock, Dundee - Thursdays 7.30 pm and on Sundays throughout the winter

Preparing the ropes to leave our berth at Newport




		Navigation Training

	Phone Taymara Head of Unit Bob Richmond - tel. 01382 542516

	E-mail Taymara website - contact@tyamara.org

		For Tay River Trip enquiries, booking and general information click www.tayrivertrips.org

		For other enquiries

		Phone Taymara Head of Unit Bob Richmond - tel. 01382 542516

		E-mail Taymara website - contact@tyamara.org

Setting the GPS for the trip

While Taymara staff supervise the entire trip, all the work is done by the trainees.

Trainees take the navigator, helmsman, deckhand and lookout positions in strict rotation

The navigable channel here is so narrow that we must steer to within 20yds of our charted route.

Passing Elcho Castle on the port side

Approaching Kinnoull Hill

Herons near Perth

Concentration is vital on this trip as the vessel must be navigated and steered accurately for 40 miles along the twists and turns of what is for the most part an extremely narrow navigable channel

Turning in Perth harbour

Coming alongside the Sand Quay in Perth

Group photo in Perth before the return journey

Bob takes over briefly while a coaster passes us en route to Perth

Quick photos on the stern for those not on duty.

Coming alongside again at Newburgh after a successful trip. The trainees did everything expected of them in the handling of the vessel, safely and efficiently.

Here is the rest of the course from week 1

Since its inception, Taymara was crafted to work with a variety of agencies which are involved with giving a fresh start to individuals who wish some assistance to get their lives back on track.

Our courses allow for full use of the vessels under close supervision. This is day one of the most recent course with all the trainees getting their first experience at the helm of Badger as well as tuition in rope-work and knots, safety equipment, and personal safety on board.

Our training courses are geared towards giving a structured training in all aspects of seamanship on our well maintained vessels in a safe and competent manner. These courses are not designed to be particularly easy but they are designed to be accessible, rewarding and enjoyable. The aim of every course is to engender confidence and self respect in each individual as well as giving them the opportunity of working within a welcoming, and occasionally humorous, marine environment with an experienced team of trainers, craftsmen, engineers, qualified crew and skippers.

Day one of the latest course again. Bob gives an initial introduction to the vessels and tells how to move around safely aboard them at sea and in harbour.

The tide was suitable so we used Badger for the initial introduction to a vessel at sea and for boathandling practise.

Over the years, Badger has trained many good crew and skippers to a high standard. While she is an extremely fast, manoeuvrable and powerful craft, she is also a superb sea boat; tractable and forgiving in nature with very few vices and she elicits real affection from everyone who has trained and sailed in her.

Approaching the Tay Rail Bridge on the first day of a course with a new trainee at the helm.

Passing under the Tay Rail Bridge.

Week 3 of the course dealt with buoyage, pilotage, rules of the road.......

.........steering to the GPS.......,

and enjoying it

Week 5 of the same Training Course (31st May)

Before boarding the vessels we see that the first of the cygnets has hatched from a clutch of six eggs

We leave them to get on with it though as the height of the tide dictates our time at sea. We fire up Marigot and cast off

The course today includes boathandling experience for all the trainees. All the classroom theory the trainees have learned about Rules of the Road, navigating by pilotage and the correct interpretation of buoyage is put into practise in the wheelhouse.

On deck for more knots and ropework practise

The tutoring isn’t all onesided though. ......Ok listen up. This is how you do that Kate Winslet thing...

Heading out to the Fairway Buoy about ten miles distant at the “start” of the North Sea

Keeping a lookout and a quiet moment.

The helmsman is steering the course given by the navigator who is using GPS as well as setting the course close to the buoys.

There’s so much space here.

Six dolphins appear off the starboard bow and speed straight towards Marigot to ride on the bow wave

Six big bottlenose dolphins, as fast as light.

Bob resets the GPS


	The pilot boat “Taybird” passes on her way to put the river pilot aboard a foreign vessel entering the Tay






	Heading back in the deepwater channel after passing Taybird portside to portside in the correct manner


	A bit like landing a plane - coming alongside a slipway in a strong tidal flow concentrates the mind


	Jumping ashore to take the ropes beside a splendid Badger wearing her New Coat


	2 more of our cygnets have hatched since we left.


	Photo - Joel Devereaux


	Mum holds her wings just right


	Taymara is a charity run entirely by volunteers on a not for profit basis for the benefit of the local community.


	We aim to provide a community boat service and maritime experience through sightseeing and dolphin watching trips which allow great opportunities to see the river and its wildlife as it should be seen - from the water!


	In addition, we aim to provide sea training for individuals and vulnerable groups who might normally be excluded from this experience. We also work closely with organisations who provide recovery and rehabilitation programmes which encompass drug and alchohol abuse.

		(Taymara is registered in Scotland, Charity number SC039319. Company number SC334650)


	Thanks to all our sponsors and all those who have supported us -


	Mr Clive McKeag, The DC Thomson Charitable Trust, The St. Katherines Trust, The Mathew Trust, The Tay Charitable Trust, The Alexander Moncur Trust, The Robertson Trust, Forth Ports and the Port of Dundee, The Apex Hotel, Dundee City Council, David Winch and Gareth Norman of Secureforce Controlled Environments