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Craftmanship, Craft, man and ship.Tres Hombres Cardiff Den Helder July 2010 It was on the 6 th of july on the beautifull island of Texel,a man sitting in his isolated room, wandering what to do next. Life had beaten him, the final stroke seemed to be given. Then, the telephone rang, a gentle young man's voice invited for a voyage from Cardiff to Den Helder with the incredible Brigantine rigged "Tres Hombres".Busstickets will be arranged, leaving on saturday 19.30 from Amsterdam. The man of Texel looked deeply in his wife's eyes. Saturday they went, as less luggage as possible, hitting the road, all the way to Cardiff.A buss is not a ship but for good things, sometimes you have to offer. For a busstrip the journey went on smoothly, only the customs took some time, and as a good Dutchman, the man had a quarrel at Victoria Station about the price of the ticket to Cardiff. Sunday 11.00 am, arrival at Cardiff busstation, not without seeing Cardiff Castle. Half an hours walk brought them to the promessed reward "Tres Hombres". The brigantine rigged ship was just taking a breath from an exhausting voyage of tacking across the Irish Sea, bringing Norwegian Wood from Bergen to Cardiff for the terrace of the Norwegian church community in Cardiff. Her crew was guest of the Cardiff slow food festival.Sunday found her climax in a well prepared buffet in the Norwegian Church with words of thank you. Monday the cargo was taken out the ship, piece by piece, all by hand, the feeling good of being part of the chain.Tuesday, the ship was taken out through the lock by Cardiff harbour services.10.00 o'clock shiptime A southeasterly wind force 4 Bft. blew her out of Bristol bay. Getting through the Lock, putting up the sails straight after leaving the lock straight away impressed with professionalism. Lundy was left on Port, using the sudderly wind as much as possiple for getting Westward in preparation of the Westerly gales to come.And the gales did come. From near the Irish coast, the course was set South South East, to pass Bishop Rock on 17 Miles Beamward at 04.00 o’clock thursday morning, the lighthouse beaming her light under the dark hasty clouds, confirming a proper position.Entering the Channel, the wind increased in force but luckely from the right direction. With eleven knots speed, the “Tres Hombres” made her way through the water.The crew being capable of reducing sail just in time with all the effort that was within them. A marvelles coïncidence of nature forces in shape of waves, wind, wood, intelligence and muscle power combined in keeping the ship floating for the sake of transport. Life dynamics. During day time the wind slacked off a bit, to increase again in the evening. Rapidly the Island of Wight was passed, the ship sailing parallel to the shipping lane in which vessels of newer generations were carrying their cargo, driven by smelly engines.What is time? Why rush around with great amounts of materials instead of nature being our driving force, meanwhile teaching us how to behave in harmony. The French coast firstly represented by cape Gris Nez, appeared on friday evening in bright sunshine. The port beam of the ship is approximately 10 Miles away from Dover. About the white cliffs is nothing to be said, which is not said already, but indeed, they do impress. The wind, Southwesterly now force 5 bft, pushed the brigantine along the shippingline North to the right point to cross, heading towards the Dutch coast. Calculations were made for the ETA in Den Helder. All estimates failed as at saturday 08.00 pm the wind dropped, with 30 Miles left to overcome. Sailing without wind appeared to be far more difficult than in a gale. With a proper adjusting of the sails and changing the coarse more to windward, a slight speed was generated and Mile by Mile the coast approached. The sunset filled the sky with firish red, enhancing the flaming desire in the hearts of the crewmembers. Den Helder here we come, but nature forced to patiënce and obligated to absorb the beauty of a starry night in glitter on blue darkness made of emptyness. Sunday morning another lighthouse appeared, this time it is called Lange Jaap and reminded the man from Texel of approaching home. The island lied ahead. After three more hours of sailing in a light breeze, at the change of the tide, the anchor was dropped two cables from the entrance of Den Helder harbour. A tug helped the “Tres Hombres” passing two bridges and a lock. The manouvring went as professional as the sailing, with credits to the captain of the tugboat “Arend”. Only the communication was not perfect, but always at least something must remain to be improved. At two o’clock p.m. the ship found her peace along the quay. Furling up the sails and making the ship proper was rapidly finished. The save return became celebrated with food , beer and Tres Hombres rum and faded into a sound sleep for everyone. The couple of Texel found their own matras at home, delighted that youngsters discovered the true value of ancient craftmanship as the key to the richness of human existance hidden in plain natural behaviour. Peter Lock,spectator.

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Tres Hombres Captain Jorne Langelaan

Craftmanship, Craft, man and ship. by Peter Lock