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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 0013.PDF
JANUARY 5, 1939 FLIGHT. 5 ith 40 h.p. re-cruising in a Small Seaplane yachtsmen and fishermen, we came up with an old paddle pleasure steamer on its way to the next port of call at Swanage, so, opening up our side door, which on Jemima can be done while flying, we photographed and waved to the holiday-makers on board. From St. Albans Head we coasted along past Warbarrow Bay and Lulworth Cove, where Charles, with unaccustomed zeal, tried to tell me the story of his upbringing, part of which, as far as I could understand, took place in and around the coves at Lulworth in the days when chil dren could be left to roam on the beach in their birthday suits without fear of objection. On approaching Weymouth I decided to point out the height of the petrol gauge to Charles, because for some time I had noticed that it had been going down quite fast, and "... left without wishing in any way to appear nervous I was secretly feeling rather worried as to how and where we were going to get down to obtain some more fuel. Originally, the plan was to see if there was a suit able petrol pump on the front at Weymouth, and, if so, to land and obtain some fuel, but it was becoming apparent that the wind was blowing rather more towards the shore than we had anticipated, with the result that there was too much sea for Jemima to get off in again, even if she could be persuaded to settle down without damage. After several hurried journeyings of the map between the back and the front seat Charles announced that the inland lake formed by Chesil Bank would probably be the safest place to effect a landing, and the fact that there would probably not be a petrol pump within miles would have to be put up with. Picking a Spot While circling over the site I could see the water was not very deep, and there were certainly a lot of posts sticking up everywhere, but Charles managed to choose a suitable place and we were soon moored to the recently constructed R.A.F. jetty, used, probably, in connection with the bombing range on the beach. I wonder whether the bird sanctuary, which I believe is situated somewhere along this lake, has been affected by the bombing practice. It was here that Charles excelled himself by borrowing a bicycle to career off to the nearest garage. On returning down the hill from the Coastguard cottages, where he had sent a message for fuel, he found, on nearly reaching the end, that the owner apparently did without brakes, for on applying them there was no effect. The road ended in the lake, and so did Charles, or pretty nearly so. With his coat tails flying and his hair visibly standing on end, he got into a terrific skid in trying to turn and slithered up a grassy bank, ending up, with a stream of blasphemy, in a heap within a few feet of the water. The petrol came in the end, and after putting in four gallons and paying cash, we started to depart. Now Jemima realises she is an aeroplane only when she is flying; on the water, both Charles and I agree that she is better at imitating a yacht than anything else. The wind was now quite strong, about 20-25 rn.p.h. on the ground, and in these conditions Jemima refuses to turn her tail towards the draught. We did try it once, but she almost ended our holiday by trying to imitate a submarine, so after that we both decided that it was wiser to let her go her own sweet way and sail. The procedure is as follows j When moored to a lee shore you cast off and allow Jemima to drift to leeward. If you want to go backwards and to the right you apply right rudder and she tacks backwards in that direction ; if you want to go backwards and to the left you just apply left rudder. Perfectly simple, and in a fresh breeze she sails backwards at what appears to be about two knots. d via the entrance of the river, where the remains of the Herzogin Ceeelie lie awash ..." If you want to go farther to the right than one tack will take you, then you have to start up the engine ; when I say "you" I mean Charles, for in a strong breeze she does not like my fairy weight out on one float. With the engine slowly ticking over you then tack forwards to star board, but with the water rudder down to help steerage way, and to get as broad a tack as possible. On gaining the leeward shore you stop the engine and begin the process over again. Perfectly easy, not in the least dangerous, and Jemima enjoys it. It didn't work quite according to plan, however, for about half-way back on our first tack we suddenly found ourselves standing still and, on looking into the water closely, found that Jemima had run hard aground. We knew the tide was ebbing, but did not realise there was so little water. Charles immediately turned slightly cross- wind, opened up wide and in a few minutes we were up on the step, when there was, of course, little to worry about, as our draught was now very small. She came off quite easily and, turning down-wind, we aimed to pass about two miles off Lyme Regis, one off Sidmouth, and then keep fairly close in to Exmouth, to vet it for a possible refuelling point on the way back. Torquay was passed over the point, which was the cause of a few nasty seconds on the leeward side, where there were quite considerable down-draughts. Jemima's 40 h.p. cannot cope with a very high rate of ft. per min. draught downwards, so that we rapidly found ourselves getting unpleasantly close to the water. This sort of thing doesn't seem to worry Charles, who never fails to remind me that air cannot go down into water and must flatten-out some time; even so, it is apt to be a little worrying. Well Under Way Brixham Harbour seemed very empty. Perhaps it was because the trawlers were all away, but I rather believe that the good old days, when the Harbour was crowded with its famous straight-stemmed fishing smacks which many believe to be the most seaworthy type of craft round our shores) have now disappeared ; and to some extent the smacks have been replaced by the mechanically propelled drifter. The neighbourhood of Dartmouth is very hilly and con sequently was too bumpy to merit our exploring, so we kept about half a mile out at 20o-3ooft. and carried on. Our destination was Salcombe, so to avoid having to go all the way round Start and Prawle Points we put Jemima into her best climbing angle, opened everything wide and shot heavenwards at our maximum rate of climb of about 100ft. per min. On attaining 500ft., where I thought I sensed a distinct change in the temperature, Jemima, with Charles and I, set off on a long overland crossing to the upper reaches of Salcombe Harbour. After what seemed
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