Drifting Across Time

Drifting Across Time

Original work is acrylic on canvas.

In my early years boating, I sailed in the Bristol Channel, launching a small gaff-rigged, copper riveted, mahogany clinker-planked boat from the Pier Beach at Clevedon in Somerset. When the fast-Spring tides were right – morning and evening - we would sail down-along past the English and Welsh Grounds lightship, on down to the islands of Flat or Steep Holm or perhaps to Barry or Portlock harbours, depending on wind and tide. At the light ship, we would drop off fresh milk and bread, and in return, be paid in handmade rope door mats – six weeks on duty without fresh supplies. We would return on the evening flood tide on the English side of the Channel, past Weston Super Mare, Brean Down and Swallow Point. By that time, the sun would be low in the sky over what was then industrial South Wales, Cardiff and Newport Llanwern steelworks. Because of the dust particles in the air, the sunsets were mostly spectacular, but sometimes they were a little peculiar in the summertime. They were sunsets, which J.M.W Turner, the artist, painted – The Haywain and The Fighting Temeraire.  Drifting back on the tide, perhaps with a few zephyrs of wind to steer by, in the pink fading light, is a memory for me which,  drifts across time.