Sara Lupe

Comments from the forum - 1

As you will recall Graham (Mapplebeck) we sailed on the renamed Cardiff city under TMM colours, hence Sara Lupe.
That trip you were 2nd mate & I was the fiver, we had joined her in Mazatlan.
On the flight out Air India had to upgrade us all to 1st class as they had overbooked the flight to New York, then onto Mexico City overnight stay - next day to Mazatlan -August 6th 1973.
Uncle Willie (Capt. W Cross) was the old man and he had Alice with him, this was my 2nd trip with him and I thought he was brilliant.
In number 4 lower hatch we had a bulk copper concentrate for Kawasaki. We tied up with the huge bulk carriers all around and a huge ganty crane with a 50 ton grab failed to get through the hatch opening, so that got changed for maybe a 30 ton grab which had its problem so another change to a much smaller grab.
When they dropped this grab into the cargo they found it had settled and was rock hard, you can imagine the noise and vibration that went through the ship when this grab bounced on the cargo.
Just like your previous trip on this great old lady it took them ages with drills to dig out the cargo.
That stay in Kawasaki was the most uncomfortable I had ever been at sea from heat , what with the juniors cabins over the drying room, our shower room next to the boiler, our port holes at the top of the gangway, I recall the temperature at 104degrees f in the middle of the night.
By way of compensation we all got paid off in Acapulco on the 13th January 1973 & had to stay in a hotel for a week until we could get a flight, no wonder I paid off with 68 pence after 5 months away.
Willie Davis. Posted on Forum 11th December 2009.

I am not an Engineer but one bit of Doxford reversing gear still gives me sleepless nights! I refer to the BRODIE VALVE? (I may not have spelt that right!)
During my tenure of the "Sara Lupe" in 1976, we had considerable problems getting the engine to go astern. Poor od George Cuthbertson had hellish difficulty with it. This component of the air starting system was situated up in the middles, port side fore end and it became necessary to station an Engineer alongside it with a heavy hammer. This as a precaution when manoeuvering.As soon as an astern movement was given,it seems this valve would jam but could be freed with a hefty clout with the hammer.
On the bridge,we would all hold our breath and make a dive for the tachometer to check what was going on down below!!
I really aged prematurely on that voyage and I still have visions of us hurtling around the world with an engine that only liked to go one way!! John Cann. Posted on Forum 18th November 2010.

Yes John, the Brodie Valve (this was the main air inlet valve) was a cause for concern for Doxford engineers. There were different ideas of guarateeing it would work when required, hitting it with a hammer was one. Trevor Graham-Russell. Posted on Forum 18th November 2010.

Filming on a ship. This is a question for the old salts (Cann/Lightfoot). Can anyone remember the details of the film that was made on one of the company's ships, I think it was back in the 50's. The ship I think was the Welsh/New Westminster/Leeds class and I think Danny Lloyd or Mark Higgins was the Master. The film cast included Vincent Price and a a lady film star who kept on saying "It wouldn't happen on an American ship!" Susan or Shirley something. Come on old salts you must remember it there was a big article about in I think the South Wales Echo. Charlie Boyer. Posted on Forum 31st January 2011.

Bryan, far be it for me to question your gray cells! However, your mention of Vincent Price and Danny Lloyd, leeds me to think you are referring to an occasion on the Sara Lupe, at Guaymas, in August 1974.
The film was called Journey into Fear, and starred Vincent Price and Stanley Holloway. Danny was old man, and Tim Lawson was mate, and he wrote an article about it in the September Newsletter of that year, followed by a couple of photos of Officers and Stars in the November edition. This page is now re-produced here. Mike Jones. Posted on Forum 31st January 2011.

When Tim Lawson sailed with us on the Atlantic City in 1972 he used to regale Rona and I with stories of the filming that took place on the Sara Lupe, and the lady-star was one Shelley Winters. Seemingly she was a trifle difficult at times, but Vincent Price more than made up for her. Tony Lightfoot. Posted on Forum 31st January 2011.

I sailed with Tim Lawson and he told me that it was the Sara Loop and the action took place in Vancouver Bay. The actors were Shelly Winters, a most awkward lady, Vincent Price a real gentleman, Donald Pleasence another real gentleman. Vincent Price was well known in Berwick-upon-Tweed, when he used to come up to visit the actor Alexander Knox, who owned a large house situated on the town's famous Elizabethan Walls looking over the Berwick Bay towards Holy Island and Bamburgh Castle, he was accompanied on his visits by the actor Alex Guiness. Robbie Bell. Posted on Forum 4th February 2011.

Disclaimer: The statements on this page are the views of the person who posted them on the forum. The events took place many years ago and in most cases rely on those people's memories, and so we cannot guarantee the accuracy although every effort is made to check it.

Sara Lupe. Page [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Memories from RSL staff. Page No. [1] [2]