21. Taking the time, 9 September 2023

The Water Conservators and our cutter Water Forget-me-not were invited to join other cutters to accompany the Royal shallop 'Jubilant' to carry a Strontium ion optical atomic clock from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) at Teddington to the Royal Observatory at Greenwich.  It was also the 21^st anniversary of the launch of Jubilant at Isleworth.  The Strontium ion clock “ticks” more than 400 million million times a second. NPL says  “Optical atomic clocks have many potential applications. These include quantum sensing, synchronisation of high-speed networks, space science and tests of fundamental physical theories. In future, optical clocks could even lead to the SI unit of time, the second, being redefined.” I thought that they were useful!

Following an early start the crews and passengers assembled at the London Apprentice at Isleworth for bacon or egg butties - the first time for many years that I have been drinking (tea) in a pub an hour before opening time!  While the clock was being loaded on Jubilant the Water Forget-me-not crew went for a spin round a nearby island.

The crew and I cast off at 10.45 to a peal of bells at the Wren-designed All Saints Church, burnt down 1943 and rebuilt 1969, and headed down river with the tide. As the Master’s Consort, Eileen had the luxury of travelling on the Londinium.

Soon the scale of the challenge became apparent.  There was almost no breeze and the temperature steadily rose to 33 degrees.  I never thought that I would find the underside of bridges so attractive; unfortunately, they are well spread out down the river and the buildings offered no shade either.

My role as the sole passenger was to send water bottles and chocolates to the crew to keep them happy.  The chocolates were kept hard by continual immersion of the tub they were in, in the increasing level of water in the bottom of the cutter. My other role was chief bailer.

We managed to avoid the buoys this time after hitting one in a previous race (the small red ones hide behind the other boats and cutters) and the wash from the Uber Boats and other river traffic.  However due to the currents it was exciting at times and we all caught the standing wave near London Bridge.

We travelled down the river at a very steady pace as we were moving with the tide, on occasion the crew going through the motions with little exertion.  Vigilance and rapid action was required to navigate other craft, moored barges and bridges as the current attracts the light cutter towards them.

The crews were given regular breaks to allow the other cutters to catch up and ensure we kept to time.  Jubilant even did an extra loop in front of the Palace of Westminster to show the flag and keep the tourists happy.  Like some of us on the journey there was concern that Water Forget-me-not had a screw loose so during one of the breaks a ship to ship transfer of a screwdriver was arranged and all tightened up.

It is super to see London from the river, very close to the water, and a new perspective opens up after every bridge.  After four hours on the water we sighted Greenwich and felt a sense of relief as we carefully negotiated through the tourist boats to moor by the pontoon. 

The clock was very carefully brought ashore and carried to the Royal Naval College.  There followed a formal presentation ceremony before the clock was carried up the hill to the Royal Greenwich Observatory.

Eileen and I slipped away with the crews to a nearby pub where hospitality had been arranged.  It was great to welcome a drink.

My congratulations to the cox and crew for all their hard work especially in the heat.  It was good training for the Great River Race on 16 September starting at Greenwich at 11.30.