Tall Ships Youth Trust : Fastnet Challenge 2015 Part 2

While some of us are either busy in the yard, or catching up with office work at the weekend, Vernon has taken part in his second weekend preparing for the Fastnet Challenge.

Friday 19th June 2015

Our third race started at 1930 on 19^th June with a spectacular run under spinnaker down the eastern Solent and out past Bembridge ledge en-route for Guernsey. All was well until a  crew member went to the windward heads, in socks (two mistakes  later admitted), and took a flyer from the windward heads across the companionway and through the leeward heads door, making a very firm connection  of  face on sink unit...........and lay VERY stunned, and bleeding. Some attention made a temporary repair to a facial wound, but the casualty had also impacted eye and teeth : the wise move with a head injury such as this was to put  ashore for an A&E assessment, which we did, with a trip back to Portsmouth, costing us 12 hours. (A later report suggested the casualty was OK, fortunately, though pride will have suffered.) We continued racing, but did not have time to reach Guernsey, though we had some excellent sailing, and a variety of changes, notably from spinnaker to Yankee2 + staysail at night, slightly later than ideal, and very strenuous in ‘bouncy’ conditions, but better not to attempt that when crossing the main shipping lane ! We all arrived back very tired, but had some welcome rest at anchor in Sandown Bay before making our way back to Portsmouth.

Some of us have lost weight : I certainly have, despite plenty of ‘fuel’ on board.

We have now completed our training for Fastnet (which this year is reported to have over 500 entries), so the start on 16^th August certainly should be spectacular down the western Solent and through Hurst Narrows

I will report back on Vernons experience when he has completed the Fastnet Challenge, in the mean time we have our own exciting times ahead, delivering a new along boat to Falmouth next month, along with joining in with the Drascombe jolly going on and all the family going sailing, ending up with being invited to the launch of the new Longboat, which we are very excited about, as Mrs Kate Watkinson and her son James will also be in attendance, what a great photo that will be.

In the meantime, it doesn't look like I will be out sailing before Falmouth, so Dick P owes me some sailing time for cancelling.

Happy sailing everyone xx

New Longboat delivery to Greece and Beale Park Boat Show

This past week has been busy for us here in the yard, sadly no sailing for me, however we had the second boat show of the year at Beale Park, and personal delivery service of a new Longboat to Greece.

Wednesday 3rd June

Tony and Steve arrive to collect the new Longboat which they are going to deliver direct to its new owner in Koroni in Greece, the plan is for them to drive down through Europe and catch a ferry from Brindisi to Patras, and then onto Koroni.

All loaded up and ready to go

Sunday I get the phone call to say that all three have arrived safely at the final destination, and that

the owner is very happy with his boat.

One happy customer
What a great service we provide to our customers

Friday 5th June

The first of three days at Beale Park, this is the smallest of the boat shows which we attend, and as we gave it a miss last year, we were pleased to be back this year.

Our show boat all set up

The weather was good for us this year, as I can remember the time when Stewart went with a gazebo, and didn't bring it back, it was so windy the gazebo ended up in the river.

Saturday, both Simon and I were there talking to old owners, and prospective new ones, everyone complimented us on the quality of workmanship, this is something which we pride ourselves on.

Sunday, and Simon and Hannah arrive at the show early, with Hannah going to help Steve at Hobie Cat for the day, after working from home first thing, I arrive with Lauren and Kyle, this will be Kyle's second boat show, as he attended Southampton at only five weeks old.

Kyle has a steady hand on the tiller extension

Three generations

My two beautiful daughters

Soon, the three days come to an end, it was great to see old friends, as well as making new ones, as I was leaving the show,a I had the news from Tony that he had arrived in Koroni, and the new owner was extremely pleased with both the boat and the personal delivery service.

Back in the office on Monday morning, and sell a brokerage boat, what a great way to end a good few days.

Now time to count down the days until I go sailing again, this time it will be from Ashlett Creek, near Southampton as Daislebee has a new home.

Come back soon to read about my lesson on "luffing" xx

Tall Ships Youth Trust - Fastnet Challenge 2015 Race here I come ........

Yes, you have read the headline correctly, but sadly it is not me entering into this the worlds largest, most diverse fleet of offshore racing yachts which will set sail from the Solent on 16th August. Maybe one day, but at the moment I am happy to let the more experienced have some fun!

Vernon who works for us is entering this year, read below for his story on what he has been up to so far.

Tall Ships Youth Trust : Fastnet Challenge 2015

I was attracted, around my 60^th birthday last year, by the idea of still being eligible for anything with ‘youth’ in the title, and having had some very specific adventures on the turns of the decades, decided to sign up!

TSYT (in addition to TS Stavros Niarchos, a catamaran and other vessels) has 4 steel, 75’, Challenge yachts, originally designed for round the world racing. These boats are heavy (57 tons), but inspire considerable confidence : the crew will break before they do ! The programme consists of a week-end shore training including safety and sea survival, a training week-end afloat, and three offshore races before the Royal Ocean Yacht Club Fastnet Race starting on Sunday 16^th August from Cowes around the Fastnet Rock (and light), off the south of Ireland, and back to Plymouth : approximately 600 miles. Each Challenger has skipper, mate, 2  watch leaders and crew, with a full complement of 16. The cutter rig carries main, genoa, Yankees 1,2,and 3, staysail, spinnaker and storm sails. The main and boom together weigh over a ton; the spinnaker poles are a heavy 2 man lift, and it normally takes 5 crew to change a headsail quickly. All sails are hanked on, so there are no short cuts !

Sea survival training included detailed life-jacket training : what it will, and what it WON’T do for you, and finished with  a team effort to swim, linked, from one end of the pool to an upturned life raft, right it and get in, including the unconscious colleague, all while clapperboards were going full blast , and well aimed buckets of water were being discharged from the poolside into faces ! Fresh, warm water in daylight was quite enough for this exercise : the alternatives are less attractive.

Challenger1 has Steve Durkin as skipper and Mike Perham as mate. Steve is a very experienced offshore sailor with several Fastnets and a Round Britain win on his CV : Mike was the youngest solo circumnavigator at 18 years old and probably pumps bottles of competitive adrenaline in the gym! Both inspire confidence in their slightly different ways and Steve’s quiet observation and assessment of the variety of crew skills makes best use of very varied talents and experience.

The first week-end afloat saw a mixed bag of tasks and tricks with everyone getting a chance to do most roles and tasks, from the inevitable heads cleaning (!), cooking, sail sets and changes to helming. Our first race (Cervantes) from Cowes to Le Havre was in more bouncy and blusterous weather than expected, and after a spinnaker run down the western Solent several yachts broached in open water in Christchurch Bay. We felt rather smug, not being under spinnaker, but learnt watching the others in their discomfort. Having left Cowes at 1030 am, we got to the finish at 8 am (second in class) before turning back for Portsmouth arriving back late in the evening. We had spent a large chunk of the week-end healed at 30 degrees, and bouncing well : any movement around the boat means effectively climbing, and basic living becomes a challenge. Sleep came easily in narrow well lee-clothed bunks, taking advantage of downtime around the 3 hour night and 4 hour day watches.

Our second race started well, leading class to Hurst Narrows, but then we lost all steerage having picked up a pot and lines which were well wrapped around our rudder : not an ideal venue for this event with a strong tide running and the area very busy. (150 yachts had started.) It took a few moments to get a ‘diagnosis’, but Steve dealt with the issue in the calm manner that has become his trademark. We took a tow from Challenger2, who kindly withdrew from the race to assist us, back to Cowes where an early morning diver removed the offending items, and had time to get back for communion. Although the disappointment was considerable, things worked in our favour : the light airs meant many boats withdrew from the race in order to get crews back home in time for work after the Bank Holiday, while we drilled, drilled, drilled and drilled, completing 30 sail sets and changes including 2 spinnaker hoists and not including standard tacks or gibes. In short we have become quite an effective crew, and enjoyed a ‘round the island’ cruise in the process.

Some of us have lost weight : I certainly have, despite plenty of ‘fuel’ on board. Our next race is to Guernsey before reconvening for the Race proper in August.

Vernon Needham   03/06/15

My first sail in a Drascombe at the Chichester Rally 22nd to 25th May

Making sure that everything was packed, I set off to Chichester Marina for the weekend of the last bank holiday in May, this is the second Drascombe rally of the year in the South Coast, and one which I was able to attend for three days.

Delivering some goods to a customer in Emsworth en-route, I arrived mid-morning to the lovely task of putting my tent up, once set up, it was off to meet with some of the others, Dick, Tony, Norman and Trish had arrived, followed by Alex from Anglia Yacht Brokerage with his Deben Lugger, this was Alex's first time at Chichester, and we are old friends now from seeing each other at various boat shows.

Alex launching his Deben Lugger

The day was mainly sitting out of the drizzle and watching some of the Drascombers launching their boats.

In the evening we headed to Chichester Yacht Club for a meal, during the evening I presented to Dick a drawing by Bob Heasman, of me still learning my manoeuvres.

The picture which I presented to Dick

After the meal at CYC Ken, Dick and I retired to have a night cap with the wonderful Adrian on his Coaster, soon it was time to hit the sack, I for one needed some sleep, after a long and busy week.

Saturday, sleeping in a tent is not the most comfiest of places, however I managed to get enough sleep even if there was a brief rain sower during the night. Once up and showered I joined Dick to have breakfast on Daisleebee, the sun was shining and it looked like we were in for a good day.

Norman and Trish in their Dabber

After the briefing I went to find Peter and his Drifter "Siesta" we were soon ready for the off, followed by Alex in his Deben Lugger. Out through the locks we went, and down through the harbour past all of the boats which were also out, soon it was time for the sails to go up, and once again I had that feeling of knowing I was going to enjoy every minute of it. The morning sail was down to East Head, where were finally anchored up for lunch, in the end there were seven various boats moored together: a Shrimper, two Coasters, One Drifter 22, one Drifter, a Character Boat and a Drascombe Lugger.

Peter is a very knowledgeable and experienced sailor, and I knew I would be in safe hands sailing with him, at one point Peter asked if I would like to take the helm, but I was enjoying myself watching all of the other Drascombe boats sailing, and I was able to take some videos.

After lunch I swapped over to let Roger and Anita go back with Peter, while I walked my way across the boats to Daisleebee for my return journey. Once again I am allowed to sail her back to her mooring, with some careful manoeuvring she goes back with no bumps or scartches, I am getting good at this reversing.

The evening is a social BBQ where we all cook our own food, while this is going on we are entertained by the Drascombe Band (sadly missing a few players, but they still sound good, and get others joining in)

Catching up with old friends and making new ones is lovely, every Drascombe owner is so friendly and always have a story or two to tell, for me, this weekend is about joining in the Drascombe community, these rallies are great social events, where people will travel to join in, let's hope it continues for many years to come.

Soon the evening was drawing in, and a few of us headed to Douglas Hopwood's boat for a drink or two,  I would not like to give the impression that all we did was drink, as it is certainly not true, there was a lot of talking and laughing too!

What I was hoping for was one of Stewart's Gin and Tonic's, I keep getting told that he is an expert at making them, sadly Stewart was unable to make the rally, so I will have to wait for the next one. Soon it was time to say "Good Night" and head off for some sleep.

Sunday - Once awake and up, it was off to join Dick for some breakfast, it was not as sunny today as it was yesterday, but still good enough weather for us to sit out for breakfast (something I don't do at home) 

After this mornings briefing, Glenys and I decided to swap skippers for the morning, this meant that I had the chance to go with Ian Cowie in his Coaster, while Glenys was looking forward to sailing in a bigger boat than the Coaster.

I found Ian and "Moksha" and settled in the cockpit for my first sailing in a Coaster.We headed out through the lock and into the harbour, past all of the boats who again had the same idea as us, out and about enjoy the beautiful weather. A couple of times I out my hand over the side into the water and made Ian laugh by saying that the water was cold, being that close to the water made me realise that these boats are sound and sturdy, and you really have to do something silly to make them go over. 

What I have found is that no one is ever in a hurry when it comes to sailing, everyone goes at their own pace, this is so different to my working in the office, where sometimes I am juggling several things at once ( yes, women are good at multi-tasking)

We sailed out to Thorney Isalnd and saw a seal cub with its mother, this was a first for me, and the quietness of the sails ensured they were not disturbed. We anchored up against Daisleebee to enjoy a leisurely lunch, with Alex in his Deben and Douglas in his Drfiter 22 joining us. Glenys and I both enjoyed our morning sailing in different boats, not sure if Dick was pleased to have me back though. 

After a leisurely lunch break we were soon on our way, Glenys and Ian headed off to meet a friend with their bigger boat for a cup of tea, while Alex headed back to the marina as he had to drive back home. 

Next was certainly an adventure for me, so where are the toilets at sea? OK, this is where I 

experience using a bucket for the first time, and that is all I am saying on the matter.

As we were anchored, we decided to stop for a cup of tea and a snooze, wrapped in my coat and blanket, it didn't take me long to fall asleep, this sailing makes me very relaxed and along with the sea air, very tired.

When we realised the time, I left Dick to pull up the anchor while I motored off heading back towards the marina. Sadly, this was the end of the rally for me, as I was going home.

Back at the marina, I reversed Daisleebee back into the mooring for the last time, then it was time to pack the last of my things in the car to head off home. 

What I haven't said is that all the time I have been at my first rally in Chichester, Simon (my husband) had a boys weekend at Crystal Palace with some family members watching some Motor Racing, at least we both enjoyed our separate, yet different, weekend.

This weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable time for me, I was "me", enjoying myself with no one demanding my time. The business keeps me busy every day with many hours being put in at home, but that is my choice, being with my family is also very important to me, but I also need something which I can do to relax, and this is it. Being out on the water gives me that, and I am looking forward to my next adventure.

Come back and visit soon, as I managed to sneak off for one last sail out of Chichester xx

Preparing for my first rally

With my first proper rally fast approaching, I was reminded by my husband that I should practice putting the tent up for next weekend - somehow I was talked into cancelling the b&b, and camp for two nights. That's OK for someone who likes camping, my last time camping was when my youngest daughter Hannah was two years old, and soon she will be 18.

Me putting the tent up

Luckily the tent wasn't too bad, how ever there maybe some tyga ties used when it comes to packing away. Once I managed to put the tent up, I made sure the sleeping mat and sleeping bag were suitable, much to the amusement of Hannah, who then zipped me up and told me to get out in the quickest time, yeah, right, OK.

                                                  

                

  

Nice and cosy in my tent

Then come the fun but, having to put it all away, oh well I managed most of it, if all else fails, stick it in the boot for the girls to do when I get home.

 So now I have everything I need for camping, the weather had better be good. 

What am I looking forward too, well apart from a few days to myself, the opportunity to sail in a Drascombe, don't get me wrong, I am really enjoying my time with Dick and Daisleebee, but this is what my New Years resolution is really about.

Now time for me to have a quick taste of some gin and tonic, as there is usually plenty of that being drunk.

Come back after the bank holiday to see how I enjoyed (or survived) my few days at Chichester Rally xx

First Drascombe Rally of 2015

Friday 1st May 2015 sees me heading down to Chichester for the start of the first rally of the year for the South Coast. I am begining to know the journey to Chichester Marina well now. The sun is shining when I arrive - sadly it did not stay like that for long.

I arrived at mid-day to see Tony W (Tony had arrived the previous day after sailing from Ashlet and was already moored up), David M was sorting out his Gig and getting her rigged, she looked huge but I know she would shrink in the water, Adam with his Coaster had arrived too for his first Drascombe rally. Dick P soon arrived, so we went down to put our things on Daisleebee.

While I went off for a wander and have a chat with David, Dick was starting up Daisleebee ready for a trip out, we decided to motor out into the harbour to charge the batteries up. We headed out through the lock, past the dredging machine and into the open water. What a difference it was from when I was last out in February, all the trees are lovely shades of green.

Time for a selfie - not sure why Dick is looking worried though

With me at the helm, we head down towards Itchenor, on the way we see Peter T in his Drifter and manage to say a passing "Hello", motoring on we go down and around to moor up at the visitors pontoon at Itchenor, one day I might be jumping off the boat to tie up, but for now I will leave it to the expert. 

Putting the sprayhood up to keep the wind off us, it is actually quite warm, a polo shirt and fleece keep me snug. Lunch is courtesy of Dick, and we eat Al Fresco, I am starting to appreciate the peace and quiet (when I stop talking).

On our way back, those buoys still kept coming towards me, but luckily I missed them all, much to the relief of someone.

Taking the helm we head back down through the lock to the marina to see who else has arrived. This time, no reversing, it is straight in we go. Tony is on hand to help tie her up, and we head off to find some Drascombes and their owners.

John B, Ian C, Adam and Aidan with their Coasters, David with his Gig, and Peter T with his Drifter are moored up at the pontoon, we walk along to Peters Driter for pre-dinner drinks - now this is really the start of the rally. 

This is the first time that I have been on an original Drifter, and I have to say that I am liking it, a roomy cabin for sleeping in, along with a quaint little galley (sorry Peter), in the cockpit there were eight of us at one time. The wine, beer and gin were soon flowing, and many laughs were had, in between the rain showers.

Happy Sailors!

Soon another Drascombe arrived, this time it was Douglas with his Drifter 22, I have seen Stewarts D22 many times on a trailer, but this was the first time I had seen one on the water - a lot of firsts for me today!

Douglas arriving

Douglas soon come aboard and joined us, more drink, more laughs and even a hat show from Tony and Douglas.

Discussing hats!

Adrian arrived after some confusion as too where we were, so we had a few more drinks. I am beginning to wonder if the rallies are just one big social, with a little bit of sailing in between.

Soon, we said our goodbyes to the others and Tony, Dick and I headed back to Daisleebee, where super was cooked by Dick. 

As the evening light was starting to go, it was soon time for me to head back home, after a fun nine hours in great company, and lots of laughs, I was starting to look forward to my comfy bed. I may not have attended the full rally, but if those few hours are just a taster, roll on the next bank holiday, when I will join in for two days, and have my first sail in a Drascombe. Now, which will be the first Dracombe I sail in?

Thank you all for making me welcome, and here is to some good weather at the next one.

Come back soon for the next update xx

Sunshine at last in the yard

Sadly, my planned sailing trip was cancelled last week, probably a good thing for me as Chichester would have been busy with Easter holiday makers.

This meant an extra day in the office for me, catching up on my accounts. Sadly it is that time of year when prices have to go up, and with Stewarts help, we have now adjusted all the prices.

One task which we have been talking about, is weighing the boats, as over the years the gear stored within the boats have increased, and so have the weight of the trailers themselves,  so this week, we have set the task of obtaining the correct information, this will be in time for us to launch our new brochure, only a year after the launch of the new website, which is what I was hoping for.

In the yard the workers have been busy, I have decided to hold off asking Simon to do any painting at home, due to the amount of antifouling he has completed over the winter months. Martin has been busy making many Dabber drop plate rudders, with matching curved laminated tiller, and often matching tiller extension. It is rewarding to see the skilled craftsmanship when these are being wrapped up, and the comments we have from the owners when they unwrap them their end, is very pleasing, it shows how we like to satisfy our customers.

Tuesday as you know is the day I look after my Grandson Kyle, this week he was having a lesson with Vernon about booms and sheets, well, if he is going to join the Solent Cruising Group on their cruising jolly in July, he is going to have to learn fast.

Kyle is holding on very tightly, as he was told too!

Kyle is watching Vernon to ensure he does the job correctly

                                                

What next, well we have some more refurbs to complete before the start of the sailing season, then the next new boat will be coming in for them to fit out and complete, ready for its journey to Greece.

And I am hoping to get that date in the diary for some sailing, I am starting to miss the peacefulness of being on the water, along with some "me time" away from every day life, come back soon and I should have something to report xx