Level 1 training 5th – 12th March 2011

It was a very tiring week, with full days of lectures, sailing and practical work on the boats as well as time to socialise and get to know the other crew on the boat.

Day 1

There were 20 of us on the Level 1 training this week. After some introductions we were off into a full day course in the Clipper offices - First Aid at Sea. We covered everything that would be on a regular first aid course and also had sessions on some sailing specific areas such as drowning and hypothermia. We were split into groups and went out to one of the Clipper 68s to see just how difficult it is to deal with a casualty on a sailing boat, even when it is moored alongside. There are no flat areas on deck, and down below space is very limited. It was a very good course.

When the course finished at 5.30 we were divided into two groups and introduced to our Skipper and First Mate. I was on Serica with Gordon (Skipper) and Rich (Mate). The other crew were Aggie, Karen, Greg, Alex, Jim, Steve, Eoghan, Richard and Jean-Louis. There was a wide range of sailing skills between us with several having never sailed before. We had a tour of the boat (a Clipper 60), chose our bunks and then a cup of tea and a chance to talk a bit about ourselves and why we were there. After dinner we went to a local pub to meet up with the crew from the other Level 1 boat and relax a little after a long day.

Clipper 60 Serica

Day 2

Up bright and early into a strange new world. The morning was spent learning about rigging and sails. After lunch we set off into the Solent for some sailing practice, tacking, gybing, how to handle ropes (sheets and halyards) correctly, and learning respect for the environment we were working in. After a few hours sailing it was back to Gosport in time for dinner. It was mine and Eoghan’s turn to be mothers that evening – chicken curry, rice and nan bread for 12 on a tiny three ring cooker – its all a learning experience!

Skipper Gordon

First Mate Rich with Eoghan, Richard, Aggie, Jim, Steve, Jean-Louis, Karen and me

Day 3

More sailing practice in the Solent today with lots of boat handling and also some man-overboard drills. Karen was lowered over the side to rescue the ‘man’ – it all seems nice and calm when the sun is shining and its not very windy! We spent the night at Shepards Marina in West Cowes.

Day 4

The morning was spent going through some more technical things and then we put up the spinnaker pole and had a chance to be hoisted up on to it – practice for spiking the sail when it needs to come down. This was another exercise that is much easier when moored alongside in the marina!

Hanging on tight! Getting down was much easier

We set off at lunchtime for our overnight sail to Portland – a trip that is about 60 miles in a straight line, but in order for us to be sailing all night became a 120mile zigzag in the Channel. During the afternoon and evening it became gradually more windy, with gusts up to Force 7 overnight. This gave us novice sailors some challenging sailing conditions, and only three people didn’t succumb to the dreaded seasickness. I just have to remember that there is life after seasickness (and take the pills next time!)

Day 5

Still sailing as dawn broke over a windy and grey sea. We could see the other Level 1 boat Ariel in the distance and wondered if their night had been as bad as ours (it had). We were glad to get moored alongside in Portland in the new Olympic sailing marina – very smart with lovely facilities. Before we were allowed to go and recover from our bad night we had more training with a session on knots for those who were still struggling to tie a bowline, and then a practice lowering Greg over the side to rescue an ‘unconscious’ casualty off the pontoon using a harness and sling. Richard was glad to have a lie down while the procedure was explained but less happy being swung up over the rail attached to the sling and a safety line.

Mid afternoon we were let off for some free time – showers, food and a beer! All very important.

Day 6

Woke to hear wind whistling through the rigging. Already very blowy before we set off. Both boats aimed to be away from the pontoon by 9.00 and Ariel got away before us so we were determined to catch up. It soon became very windy – the sail back to Cowes was exhilarating, Force 8 downwind, wave surfing.

We overtook Ariel before we got to the Needles off the Isle of Wight, so we were pleased. Gordon kept reminding us that it is a Round the World Yacht RACE, so we might as well start racing now. We tied up in East Cowes for the night feeling that the great sailing had made up for the bad night sail the day before.

Day 7

Our last day sailing, and a bit of a disappointment as there was almost no wind (but the sun was shining!). We did more man overboard practice and had to send a rescuer over the side for the ‘man’ as Steve accidentally broke the boat hook. We arrived back at Royal Clarence Marina in Gosport in time for lunch, followed by three hours of cleaning the boat from top to bottom. In the evening we had a crew dinner out for both boats which ended with the Serica crew trying out Dark and Stormy cocktails at some ridiculously late hour.

Day 8

Up very early to get to Hamble by 8.30 for a full day of Sea Survival. Maybe the Dark and Stormy cocktails didn’t seem such a good idea! The course was very good, and I found it quite a confidence boost to realise that a life jacket really will keep you afloat. The prospect of climbing in and out of a liferaft seemed like fun until we had spent two hours in the pool and felt exhausted, but it was a useful experience.

It was sad to say goodbye to everyone at the end of the day. The crew on Serica were a great bunch. We got on really well together and worked as a team. I hope I will meet up with some of them again in later training sessions, and maybe even on the race as Karen and Richard are both going RTW. I was also very impressed with Gordon and Rich who looked after us with great patience and humour at the same time as teaching us new sailing skills.

I have a few kit things to sort out now that I have been away, and am looking forward to Level 2 training in April.

Clipper 68 Singapore - Level 2 will be on one of these boats

Also thanks to Greg for use of his photos after I broke my camera!