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Arlanza and Penang
Published in ‘Sea-Breezes’ magazine “ARLANZA” and “PENANG” by David Bray and Simon Adams We have a breakfast bar in our kitchen, but it has never …
Arlanza
From the brush of David Bray Arlanza “Arlanza” was one of three ships built by Harland and Wolff, Belfast, for the Royal Mail Line services …
Great Western
From the brush of David Bray The Great Western In the development of merchant and naval shipping, the ocean-going paddle steamer was ultimately a dead …
Big Ships Need Big Tugs
From the brush of David Bray Big Ships Need Big Tugs “Big ships need big tugs” said Sir William Hoy, Chairman of the South African …
Alondra
From the brush of David Bray Alondra ALONDRA in the Mersey When I was about 11 I started reading “Sea Breezes”. At that time the …
Royal Archer
From the brush of David Bray Royal Archer Almost forgotten nowadays is the fleet of small passenger-cargo vessels running regular services around the UK and …
Yellow Peril
From the brush of David Bray Yellow Peril As a kid in Great Yarmouth, the coasters of F T Everard were a familiar sight. There …
Saga Ruby
From the brush of David Bray Saga Ruby Delivered in 1973 for Norwegian American Line, and originally named “Vistafjord”, the “Saga Ruby” was the last …
Larpool
From the brush of David Bray Larpool The “Larpool” was a tramp steamer built in 1924 by Pickersgill’s in Sunderland for Headlam & Sons of …
Sirdhana on the Hooghly River
From the brush of David Bray Sirdhana on the Hooghly River The Apcar company was founded in 1819 by the Armenian Apcar brothers. Originally based …
Teapot
The Tale of “Teapot” First published in the NWT Journal, Spring 1989 by “Leveret” (David Bray) The wherry lay on the White Swan quay in …
Random Jottings of a Skipper
Random Jottings of a Skipper First published in the NWT Journal, Autumn 1986 Author: Admiral Elsan (David Bray) Quanting up to West Somerton I would like to …
Breydon Days
Breydon Days On 28th June 2019 “Albion” and “Maud” sailed in company across Breydon”. I would guess that this was the first time in eighty …
Footsteps of Arthur Ransome
Footsteps of Arthur Ransome First published in the Spring 1984 NWT Journal. Author: Leveret (David Bray) Arthur Ransome Some things are precious, and among our …
Wherrying with Nat
Wherrying with Nat I have often been asked the question – “How did you learn to sail Albion?” Well, it’s a long story, and it …
Otranto
From the brush of David Bray Sea Breezes – Otranto OTRANTO was built by Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness in 1926 for the Orient Line’s Australian service. One …
Dynamic Positioning – new 3rd Edition
DP Operator’s Handbook – 3rd Edition A major update of this definitive work is now available after a major update. Accepted as the standard textbook …
A visit to Sydney
A Visit to Sydney It was 1970. I was 2nd Mate in a cargo ship, the “City of Canberra”, sailing on the MANZ line route …
Nautical Heath and Safety
Nautical Health and Safety I had always wanted to join the Merchant Navy. And here I was, cadet with Ellerman Lines. Joined my first ship …
Ten and a Chinaman!
Ten and a Chinaman (Why nautical speed is measured in knots) Ship speed is measured in “knots”, a knot being a speed of one nautical …
Queen Mary’s Whistle
Queen Mary’s Whistle In November 2014 I had a speaking appointment aboard Queen Mary 2. Very pleased finally to get to lecture on board this magnificent …
Small World – The People You Meet
The People You Meet… One of the joys of serving as a cruise-ship speaker is talking to the members of the audience after a lecture. …
An Old Friend – John Biscoe Launch
An Old Friend From 1972 till 1975 I served as Navigating Officer in the RRS (Royal Research Ship) “John Biscoe”. This was an interesting appointment, …