Yarmouth, 200th Harbour Master
June 29, 2022
29 Jun '22. HM 200. Yarmouth - why do so many people love this place?
Three and a half years after I started my voyage from Dartmouth, Tim Adams became the 200th Harbour Master I met. Common with many HMs, Tim started life at sea very young, just 15. Having learnt to build fibreglass boats in Sandwich, he went on to maintain a fleet of 125 Sunsail boats in the BVI. From there it was a career in super yachts, but as no ordinary skipper.
With a thirst for adventure he delivered yachts around the world. On one passage from India to San Francisco his yacht was attacked by pirates off Aden five times. My crew and I were wide eyed as he calmly told us that as long as you gave yourself a 15 minute lead, you could speed away from a pursuing skiff and they would give up.... If you have seen the Tom Hanks film - Tim is a real life "Captain Phillips"!
Tim became HM here in 2014, inheriting an indebted harbour business and an unusual liability on its balance sheet. Yarmouth pier is the longest working wooden pier in the UK. Opened in 1876, it is Grade II listed and the responsibility of the Harbour Authority. After some careful financial management the harbour is now very profitable and has a healthy reserve allowing preservation of the pier and much else. Tim told us it was a privilege to be Harbour Master here.
So why does every yachtie like Yarmouth? Well, imagine a tired and wet crew coming into a harbour after a long passage - for many boats, Yarmouth is the first port of call after a channel crossing. Not only are the tall piles of the visitors' berths easy to spot - painted different bright colours - but every boat entering the harbour is met by a friendly Berthing Assistance tender who "pilots" you to your mooring. If only every harbour made it so easy!
With a staggering 1.5 million people transiting his harbour every year, Tim and his 33 staff deserve the good write up they get in the pilot books, and if you are looking for an HM who is cool under fire (literally), Tim is your man! Thank you to the whole team.
Three and a half years after I started my voyage from Dartmouth, Tim Adams became the 200th Harbour Master I met. Common with many HMs, Tim started life at sea very young, just 15. Having learnt to build fibreglass boats in Sandwich, he went on to maintain a fleet of 125 Sunsail boats in the BVI. From there it was a career in super yachts, but as no ordinary skipper.
With a thirst for adventure he delivered yachts around the world. On one passage from India to San Francisco his yacht was attacked by pirates off Aden five times. My crew and I were wide eyed as he calmly told us that as long as you gave yourself a 15 minute lead, you could speed away from a pursuing skiff and they would give up.... If you have seen the Tom Hanks film - Tim is a real life "Captain Phillips"!
Tim became HM here in 2014, inheriting an indebted harbour business and an unusual liability on its balance sheet. Yarmouth pier is the longest working wooden pier in the UK. Opened in 1876, it is Grade II listed and the responsibility of the Harbour Authority. After some careful financial management the harbour is now very profitable and has a healthy reserve allowing preservation of the pier and much else. Tim told us it was a privilege to be Harbour Master here.
So why does every yachtie like Yarmouth? Well, imagine a tired and wet crew coming into a harbour after a long passage - for many boats, Yarmouth is the first port of call after a channel crossing. Not only are the tall piles of the visitors' berths easy to spot - painted different bright colours - but every boat entering the harbour is met by a friendly Berthing Assistance tender who "pilots" you to your mooring. If only every harbour made it so easy!
With a staggering 1.5 million people transiting his harbour every year, Tim and his 33 staff deserve the good write up they get in the pilot books, and if you are looking for an HM who is cool under fire (literally), Tim is your man! Thank you to the whole team.