Stuart Hill (Sailor)
Encyclopedia
Stuart Alan Hill also known as Captain Calamity is an English amateur sailor, jurist and activist in the Shetland Islands independence movement.
, Kent
, the son of a nuclear engineer. His early career included driving a van and working as a construction worker.
He spent about twenty years in Claydon
, near Ipswich
, in Suffolk
England
, where he was the village blacksmith.
Louis Rivett-Carnac, of the Great Yarmouth
coastguard said
Mr Hill’s problems began when his launch was delayed for a month after he suffered an allergic reaction to resin he was using to treat the hull of his boat. He launched into the river Stour near his Manningtree home in May 2001. As he set off “someone had to chase after him with a spare centreboard” He damaged his vessel when he "crashed into another boat only minutes after setting sail". Six days and 100 miles later he had to be towed ashore by Lifeboat Ruby and Arthur Reed II
after calling Cromer coastguard in Norfolk to report his mast, taken from a sailboard, split.
Soon after he ran into trouble with the authorities for “selling promotional T-shirts without a licence”
After a 3 week delay he set sail into high winds and what Coastguards described as "the worst weather forecast possible" and progressed less than 3 miles in three days. He got as far as Sheringham before a Lifeboat and helicopter went to his aid. Mr Hill refused their assistance and stated he wished to carry on with his journey. Coastguards received numerous calls from concerned members of the public “who thought he was about to go down.” but he “insisted on carrying on against the advice of coastguards and rescuers.”
Mr Hill had made it as far as Trimingham
, south of Cromer
, Norfolk
, before another rescue attempt was made. He had reportedly gone to sea “with a hole in the hull of his boat, which let in gallons of water, soaking his radio and cutting off communication with the shore” and “spent weeks drifting off the coast of East Anglia” “(But) each time the coastguards came out to him, he sent them away until he had to admit that there was a hole in the vessel that he had described as "unsinkable"”
Louis Rivett-Carnac, of Great Yarmouth
coastguard said
He again caused trouble for rescue agencies when he was "spotted drifting in circles 22 miles out in busy shipping lanes" and the Coastguard were unable to contact him. On his return to inshore waters the Lowestoft
lifeboat in Suffolk
had to put to sea to warn him he was so close to shore that he was in danger of running aground. Chris Barnes, honorary secretary of the Cromer
lifeboat, said
He also “blundered” into an area of sea “intended for a practice bombing run by RAF Tornados”
He made it as far north as Shetland calling in at Baltasound
in Unst
to get supplies. He was next spotted rounding Muckle Flugga
lighthouse heading out into the Atlantic. Soon after, his vessel capsized in 20 ft-high seas 50 miles (80.5 km) west of the islands in August 2001. "He was asleep in his bunk" when his boat overturned but managed to contact rescuers with via a satellite phone and spent around an hour in the sea clinging to the upturned vessel. Kieran Murray, helicopter winchman on Coastguard rescue helicopter Oscar Charlie based in Shetland said Mr Hill was "extremely lucky" to survive
He spent a night in hospital suffering from hypothermia but stated that he was “undeterred” and may attempt the journey again. He later wished “he hadn't called them (the rescue services). If only he had held on until the next morning when it was calm and clear, he might have made it and shown the world that a small guy could build a world-beating boat.” Despite the multiple problems with his boat and the eventual capsize Mr Hill dismissed claims that it was unseaworthy stating "The boat was designed for extreme conditions and it's stood up really well".
Despite being “heavily criticised for wasting the time and resources of the coastguard and lifeboat services" Mr Hill felt “no guilt about taking up so much of their time”. He said "If there's a service for those in peril on the sea, surely it should be used - I only really cost them the diesel."
He alerted Shetland coastguard via mobile telephone at 10.30pm and told them that he was "drifting without engines in a boat full of water" in the Sound of Papa on the West of Shetland. A spokesman from the coastguard said the "Sound of Papa was a treacherous place to be in a small boat."
The coastguard helicopter and Aith lifeboat were launched and Mr Hill was picked up by the crew of the lifeboat and taken ashore just after midnight.
Hylton Henry, coxwain of the Aith Lifeboat said Mr Hill was very lucky to be alive.
Mr. Hill hoped to salvage his boat and use it again.
Stuart Hill told the Shetland Times newspaper that his reputation as a calamitous mariner was one thing he would "like to put to bed" but "it seems to follow me around."
website claiming that he had installed "devices" in the waters surrounding Forewick Holm "that can hole the hull of any boat and others [devices] designed to foul propellers."
(renamed Forvik Island) made a declaration of dependence which he says created the Crown Dependency of Forvik
, his rights to the Island of Forewick are disputed. King, the islands owner stated in March 2009 Hill had not paid for the island as agreed.
. Hill claims the island is not part of the United Kingdom
and therefore not part of the European Union
.
Early life
Hill was born 1943 in BromleyBromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, the son of a nuclear engineer. His early career included driving a van and working as a construction worker.
He spent about twenty years in Claydon
Claydon, Suffolk
Claydon is a small village just north of Ipswich in Suffolk, England. The meaning of the name is 'clay-on-the-hill', though it is not much of a hill....
, near Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he was the village blacksmith.
Attempt to circumnavigate the British Isles
Mr Hill gained the name “Captain Calamity” after he caused 5 lifeboat launches and 2 rescue helicopter call outs during a failed attempt to single-handedly circumnavigate Britain in a “15 feet (4.6 m) dinghy” during 2001. His vessel "Maximum Exposure", a “converted rowing boat” “likened to a glorified sailboard” with a sail "canibalized" from a windsurfing board was considered by many, including the Coastguard and RNLI to be under equipped and “unfit” for such a journey.Louis Rivett-Carnac, of the Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
coastguard said
"This type of craft is totally unsuitable for what he wanted to do. Even if you were Francis Drake you would have trouble in a craft like that."
Mr Hill’s problems began when his launch was delayed for a month after he suffered an allergic reaction to resin he was using to treat the hull of his boat. He launched into the river Stour near his Manningtree home in May 2001. As he set off “someone had to chase after him with a spare centreboard” He damaged his vessel when he "crashed into another boat only minutes after setting sail". Six days and 100 miles later he had to be towed ashore by Lifeboat Ruby and Arthur Reed II
Cromer Lifeboat Ruby and Arthur Reed II ON 1097
Ruby and Arthur Reed II was a Tyne-class lifeboat stationed at Cromer in the English county of Norfolk from the 16th of December 1985 and was the No 1 lifeboat between various relief’s until she was replaced after 21 years service by the Tamar-class Lester ON 1287 in December 2007...
after calling Cromer coastguard in Norfolk to report his mast, taken from a sailboard, split.
Soon after he ran into trouble with the authorities for “selling promotional T-shirts without a licence”
After a 3 week delay he set sail into high winds and what Coastguards described as "the worst weather forecast possible" and progressed less than 3 miles in three days. He got as far as Sheringham before a Lifeboat and helicopter went to his aid. Mr Hill refused their assistance and stated he wished to carry on with his journey. Coastguards received numerous calls from concerned members of the public “who thought he was about to go down.” but he “insisted on carrying on against the advice of coastguards and rescuers.”
Mr Hill had made it as far as Trimingham
Trimingham
Trimingham is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is north of North Walsham, east of Cromer and north of the city of Norwich. The village straddles the B1159 coastal road between Cromer and Mundesley. Near-by road communications with Gimingham are the A140...
, south of Cromer
Cromer
Cromer is a coastal town and civil parish in north Norfolk, England. The local government authority is North Norfolk District Council, whose headquarters is in Holt Road in the town. The town is situated 23 miles north of the county town, Norwich, and is 4 miles east of Sheringham...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, before another rescue attempt was made. He had reportedly gone to sea “with a hole in the hull of his boat, which let in gallons of water, soaking his radio and cutting off communication with the shore” and “spent weeks drifting off the coast of East Anglia” “(But) each time the coastguards came out to him, he sent them away until he had to admit that there was a hole in the vessel that he had described as "unsinkable"”
Louis Rivett-Carnac, of Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
coastguard said
"A lifeboat went to offer him assistance and persuade him that it was crazy and he was costing us a fortune so he decided to knock it on the head"He was towed ashore to Cromer beach.
He again caused trouble for rescue agencies when he was "spotted drifting in circles 22 miles out in busy shipping lanes" and the Coastguard were unable to contact him. On his return to inshore waters the Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
lifeboat in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
had to put to sea to warn him he was so close to shore that he was in danger of running aground. Chris Barnes, honorary secretary of the Cromer
Cromer lifeboat station
Cromer Lifeboat Station is an RNLI station located in the town of Cromer in the English county of Norfolk. The station operates two lifeboats - one for inshore work and the other for offshore work....
lifeboat, said
"My coxswain described it like putting someone blindfold in the middle of the M1 and telling everyone else to miss them" and that Mr Hill should never have attempted his voyage but the RNLI would always go to his aid
He also “blundered” into an area of sea “intended for a practice bombing run by RAF Tornados”
He made it as far north as Shetland calling in at Baltasound
Baltasound
Baltasound is the largest settlement on the island of Unst in Shetland. Unst is the most northerly inhabited island in the United Kingdom. The village lies halfway along the island's east coast on a sheltered bay called Balta Sound....
in Unst
Unst
Unst is one of the North Isles of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It is the northernmost of the inhabited British Isles and is the third largest island in Shetland after the Mainland and Yell. It has an area of .Unst is largely grassland, with coastal cliffs...
to get supplies. He was next spotted rounding Muckle Flugga
Muckle Flugga
Muckle Flugga is a small rocky island north of Unst in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It is often described as the northernmost point of the British Isles, but the smaller islet of Out Stack is actually farther north...
lighthouse heading out into the Atlantic. Soon after, his vessel capsized in 20 ft-high seas 50 miles (80.5 km) west of the islands in August 2001. "He was asleep in his bunk" when his boat overturned but managed to contact rescuers with via a satellite phone and spent around an hour in the sea clinging to the upturned vessel. Kieran Murray, helicopter winchman on Coastguard rescue helicopter Oscar Charlie based in Shetland said Mr Hill was "extremely lucky" to survive
He spent a night in hospital suffering from hypothermia but stated that he was “undeterred” and may attempt the journey again. He later wished “he hadn't called them (the rescue services). If only he had held on until the next morning when it was calm and clear, he might have made it and shown the world that a small guy could build a world-beating boat.” Despite the multiple problems with his boat and the eventual capsize Mr Hill dismissed claims that it was unseaworthy stating "The boat was designed for extreme conditions and it's stood up really well".
Cost to emergency services
Mr Hill had originally planned to raise money for charity. However, Rab Taylor, Great Yarmouth coastguard's Operations Manager, told the BBC"Launching the lifeboat, offshore and inshore, helicopters, Nimrod aircraft and using other vessels at sea all costs money and it could be counter-productive compared to what Mr Hill is going to raise for charities through this trip."Estimates at how much Mr Hill cost rescue services range from £10,000 to £80,000
Despite being “heavily criticised for wasting the time and resources of the coastguard and lifeboat services" Mr Hill felt “no guilt about taking up so much of their time”. He said "If there's a service for those in peril on the sea, surely it should be used - I only really cost them the diesel."
Further rescues
On Sunday 14 September 2008 Mr Hill had to be rescued again from the seas of Shetland after launching a "home made" plywood boat, described as "ramshackle" and a "floating wardrobe", without a radio or lifejacket in very poor weather conditions. The boat was "swamped by a heavy sea."He alerted Shetland coastguard via mobile telephone at 10.30pm and told them that he was "drifting without engines in a boat full of water" in the Sound of Papa on the West of Shetland. A spokesman from the coastguard said the "Sound of Papa was a treacherous place to be in a small boat."
The coastguard helicopter and Aith lifeboat were launched and Mr Hill was picked up by the crew of the lifeboat and taken ashore just after midnight.
Hylton Henry, coxwain of the Aith Lifeboat said Mr Hill was very lucky to be alive.
"He didn't have a lifejacket on or a VHF radio. He had a flare but couldn't use it and by the time we got there, his mobile phone battery was flat. He was difficult to find because his boat had sunk by then and he was sitting on the surface of the water in it in the dark. The stretch of water where we found him is one of the most treacherous in Britain. If it had been a worse night, he wouldn't have survived. The description of the boat was a wardrobe on its back floating in the water - and that was pretty accurate. It's a humble thing and totally unsuitable for the conditions. Now that winter is coming, I hope he realises it is not safe to do what he is doing. He will be putting other lives at risk by going out to rescue him. If he carries on like this, he will need rescuing again, there is no doubt of that."
Mr. Hill hoped to salvage his boat and use it again.
Stuart Hill told the Shetland Times newspaper that his reputation as a calamitous mariner was one thing he would "like to put to bed" but "it seems to follow me around."
Causing purposeful hazards to shipping
On 14 April 2009 Hill wrote a letter to The Shetland NewsThe Shetland News
The Shetland News is a news website serving the islands of Shetland, Scotland.Previously, The Shetland News was a weekly newspaper published between 1885 and 1963. The website, published by an unrelated company , was launched in 1995, on the idea of IT entrepreneur Graeme Storey...
website claiming that he had installed "devices" in the waters surrounding Forewick Holm "that can hole the hull of any boat and others [devices] designed to foul propellers."
Crown Dependency of Forvik
On June 21, 2008, Hill, occasional resident of a 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) island in Shetland called Forewick HolmForewick Holm
Forewick Holm is a island in the Sound of Papa in the Shetland islands, Scotland. located between Papa Stour and the Sandness peninsula.-Location:...
(renamed Forvik Island) made a declaration of dependence which he says created the Crown Dependency of Forvik
Crown Dependency of Forvik
The Crown Dependency of Forvik is a micronation located on the island of Forewick Holm in the Shetland Islands of Scotland.Forvik was created in June 2008 by the island's disputed owner, sole occasional occupant, and Cunningsburgh resident, Stuart Hill when he unilaterally declared Forvik to be a...
, his rights to the Island of Forewick are disputed. King, the islands owner stated in March 2009 Hill had not paid for the island as agreed.
. Hill claims the island is not part of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and therefore not part of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.