Page 32 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 62

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

1966 – Tall Ships and Picking Grapes

By Roger Williams

The first Tall Ships race was held in 1956 and featured 20 of the worlds largest
sailing ships. The race was organised by the Sail Training Association (STA) with
the principle aim of encouraging friendly rivalry between sea faring young peo-
ple, and was from Torbay in Devon to Lisbon Portugal. It became very popular
and is now held every year.
For me – Pte Roger Williams, 1966 attach a piece of silver paper from your
was a very good year indeed. It started fag pkt onto a line, and catching mack-
with me leaving B Coy (21st intake) in erel was guaranteed).
the Spring, and being posted to the 3rd Meanwhile we worked our way
Carabiniers (POWDG), a cavalry regi- around the south coast to Falmouth
ment in Detmold BAOR. where the race was due to start on
Now apparently the Regt had been Saturday 9th July.
sailing yachts (chartered from the British By race day 28 sailing ships were
Kiel yacht club) every year in the Baltics gathered in Falmouth. There were 3
since moving to Detmold. Then in late classes with “Joya” entered into class
1965 one of the sailing officers had an B. We were the smallest yacht with Sir Grape Picking
ambitious idea – why not enter the Tall Winston Churchill a 37 metre training It was common practice in the 60s
Ships Race in 1966. But first, where to schooner the largest. Falmouth was very and 70s for British troops to help the
find a suitable yacht and an owner pre- welcoming with a drinks reception for German wine growers along the Rhine
pared to let us sail her. Luck came to the all the crews and parties of every sort. and Mosel rivers to pick their grapes
rescue when a friend of a friend was keen Come race day and we sailed out to at the all important harvest time, (Sep/
to have his 15 ton racing yacht “Joya” the start line. The headlands were cov- Oct) depending on weather.
placed in the Baltics for the summer. It ered with cars and coaches and there Now as it happens within a few
was too good an opportunity to miss, was a vast spectator fleet. weeks of returning from the Tall Ships
so approval was gained and the hard All went well until a gale, as promised Race, what do I see on Regt orders?
work began. Charts and oilskins, insur- by the shipping forecast, hit us as it got Wanted – volunteers to pick grapes in
ance, transport and a crew to be picked, dark on Sunday night. During this time September for two weeks. I couldn’t
amongst a hundred other things. Of some of the mast fittings were damaged believe it when the Master Chef let me
course I knew nothing of this as was busy and one of the crew was injured. It put my name forward. Success again,
peeling spuds and onions and still adjust- became apparent that we would have to and come late September about eight
ing to this new life in the main kitchen. put into Dover where he was transferred of us set off on the train to Bernkastel
(My Master Chef was Eddie Stubbs and to hospital. where we were collected and taken to
one of the L/Cpls a certain Sid Swan). We rejoined the race asp and then our respective farms.
The first I heard of the need for a had a very fast 4 days sailing, with strong The days went as follows: Up early
cook amongst the crew was when the following winds through the North Sea. and a hearty breakfast, jump on the
Master Chef called me into his office. At 3.20 pm on Friday we sailed past trailer with the whole family and travel
Was I interested in sailing – of being the Skaw Lightship (the most northerly to the steep slopes. Put on your grape
part of a crew – of being away for a point of Denmark) and the finishing collecting basket and climb up and
month. As I recall I was very interested line. We were all exhausted but thrilled down picking grapes until the basket is
indeed! But first I had to convince the at the same time, and couldn’t wait to full or you’re sinking under its weight!
crew skipper that I was suitable. get ashore for a cold beer and a hot meal Transfer grapes to trailer. Come lunch
At interview it seemed that they (compo and mackerel had lost its appeal and it’s a Haybox stew and wine and
thought I had sailed before – and so I at this stage). schnapps. At day end return to farm
got the job. But first there was a day’s sailing to and unload into the huge wooden vats
On June 26th we left Germany for Copenhagen where we moored off the where the grapes are crushed. Have
Lymington to take over “Joya”. We had “Mermaid” statue. In just under 7 days hearty dinner, wash and brush up and
just 12 days to weld the crew together we had covered over a 1000 miles, and off to the village pub for beers and to
before the start. We practised sail drills that evening we learned that we had meet the local frauleins.
by the hour against the stop watch, ( it achieved third place. After briefly seeing This is not so bad after all! Once
seemed I had to learn these skills as well the delights of Copenhagen, we retired back in the kitchen and the Master Chef
as cook a meal on a cooker that kept to stay with a Danish Cavalry Regt who said “That’s it, the next time you leave
moving!) As I recall the majority of our royally entertained us until the follow- this kitchen its to go to Soltau on exer-
rations was 10 man Compo, interspersed ing Sat and the prize giving at the Tivoli cise, where you can practise your No
with fresh veg/ bread etc. We also had a Gardens. There we collected our Silver 1 burner skills”. YES 1966 was a very
never ending supply of fresh mackerel. Salver before finally saying farewell and good year indeed – -and England won
(I soon found out that you only had to returning to Detmold. the World Cup!

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