Level 1 Training
Level one training - that's me on the helm!
5th to 12th June 2010 - learning to sail with style and honour
The first week of training confirmed for me that entering the Clipper race was definitely the best idea I have ever had!
We started with a day of first aid aboard a yacht, while this was a great way to meet the crew I would be training with for the next week - this also reminded us all about the remote and difficult conditions we would be facing during the race... Sticky plasters and triangular bandages this was not!
We then spent the next week learning to sail an ocean going racing yacht from scratch, and all importantly tying bowline after bowline after bowline!
Highlights of the week included:
Most importantly I realised how much I enjoy the vitality of sailing all hours of the day and building bonds with my fellow crew members - big thanks to Dirk and Al for putting up with us all week and being very patient and supportive teachers!
The first week of training confirmed for me that entering the Clipper race was definitely the best idea I have ever had!
We started with a day of first aid aboard a yacht, while this was a great way to meet the crew I would be training with for the next week - this also reminded us all about the remote and difficult conditions we would be facing during the race... Sticky plasters and triangular bandages this was not!
We then spent the next week learning to sail an ocean going racing yacht from scratch, and all importantly tying bowline after bowline after bowline!
Highlights of the week included:
- Tacking up through the Needles in gale force winds
- Being winched up the stays to re- tie a rope to the corner of a sail in over 20 knots of wind
- Learning the joys of a wet wipe shower
- Endless chocolate
- Meeting the fantastic crew... the 'Serica Sea Dogs'
Most importantly I realised how much I enjoy the vitality of sailing all hours of the day and building bonds with my fellow crew members - big thanks to Dirk and Al for putting up with us all week and being very patient and supportive teachers!
Level 2 training - I think this was the coldest I have ever been in my life...
me up the mast!
This was the first time I had been on the yachts we will be racing in August and it turns out they are pretty great!
The main focus of the week was sail trim, first mate Dave taught us all to gain even an extra 0.1 of a knot of speed by trimming the sails obssessively! Later in the week we got the kite up, I have to say it was a pretty impressive sight :-)
The temperature though... Remember that really cold week before Christmas with all the snow? That's when we were out training, and it was FREEZING! Stupidly, I assumed my 2 season camping sleeping bag would be sufficient and ended up sleeping in 7 layers of clothing including my outer layer jacket.... However, this experience inspired me to buy a proper sailing sleeping bag and I am now the proud owner of an Ocean Sleepwear sleeping bag - looking forward to trying it out on the next training course!
The main focus of the week was sail trim, first mate Dave taught us all to gain even an extra 0.1 of a knot of speed by trimming the sails obssessively! Later in the week we got the kite up, I have to say it was a pretty impressive sight :-)
The temperature though... Remember that really cold week before Christmas with all the snow? That's when we were out training, and it was FREEZING! Stupidly, I assumed my 2 season camping sleeping bag would be sufficient and ended up sleeping in 7 layers of clothing including my outer layer jacket.... However, this experience inspired me to buy a proper sailing sleeping bag and I am now the proud owner of an Ocean Sleepwear sleeping bag - looking forward to trying it out on the next training course!
Level 3 - all at sea
Level 3 training is the first time you stay offshore and experience a watch system for the full training course. I had psyched myself up for seasickness, not sleeping well etc. only to eb confronted by a flat calm for the majority of the week!
Initially I was quite disappointed - where was the gale force wind and exhaustion descibed to me by my crewmates who had already completed their level 3 traning? However, I soon realised that there is plenty to do around the boat when there is less wind - for example checking the rigging (see the picture - I seem to like it up the mast!), fire drills with the massive fire hose and last but not least our own mini olympics - walking the spinakker pole! I am sure this was excellent practice for the doldrums!
On the last couple of days however, the wind picked up (slightly) and we were able to put the spinakker up and practise our gybing. I think we completed 14 gybes in a row to give everyone the chance to get involved and see how it worked.
Initially I was quite disappointed - where was the gale force wind and exhaustion descibed to me by my crewmates who had already completed their level 3 traning? However, I soon realised that there is plenty to do around the boat when there is less wind - for example checking the rigging (see the picture - I seem to like it up the mast!), fire drills with the massive fire hose and last but not least our own mini olympics - walking the spinakker pole! I am sure this was excellent practice for the doldrums!
On the last couple of days however, the wind picked up (slightly) and we were able to put the spinakker up and practise our gybing. I think we completed 14 gybes in a row to give everyone the chance to get involved and see how it worked.
Level 4 - let's get racing!
Level 4 was the first time I sailed with my crew for the race - the fantastic team red socks! I was also aboard CV3 so it was fantastic to sail on the boat that I will be sailing round the world on!
After a couple of day's drills - endless man overboards, fire, emergency steering, the fleet compete in 2 offshore races. The first race (the Eddystone light off Plymouth via the French coast) was fairly uneventful and we came in the top half of the fleet. The second race however, saw the gale force winds I had been hoping for in Level 3 and my first experience of the seasickness I had been dreading... (all I can say is those ridiculous glasses - see left - the french navy use did not work on me at all!)
I think there were 2 highlights of this training for me - one was surfing downwind (I think Wendy got us over 15 knots) and the second was the final beat to the finish line in first place! Bring on the race itself!
After a couple of day's drills - endless man overboards, fire, emergency steering, the fleet compete in 2 offshore races. The first race (the Eddystone light off Plymouth via the French coast) was fairly uneventful and we came in the top half of the fleet. The second race however, saw the gale force winds I had been hoping for in Level 3 and my first experience of the seasickness I had been dreading... (all I can say is those ridiculous glasses - see left - the french navy use did not work on me at all!)
I think there were 2 highlights of this training for me - one was surfing downwind (I think Wendy got us over 15 knots) and the second was the final beat to the finish line in first place! Bring on the race itself!
