From novice to competent crew in five days
Jamie, Mark, PJ and Dave joined me on a Beneteau 36.7 at the end of June 2008. PJ had done a comprehensive seamanship course and had been fishing, but the others had only done a little dinghy sailing.
We set out from Lagoon Watersports in Brighton and made our way up to Shoreham. The culture of safety was soon set in the minds of this intelligent group. With PJ and his son, Dave, being Faroe Islanders we had a new perspective on life from a society of whalehunters and fishermen. They both spoke good English (and Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish) and turned out to be quite remarkable people.
Mark and Jamie were exceptional too, both bright business people with great people skills.
The basics of setting sails, reefing (reducing sails) and adjusting for wind were quickly picked up. The sea conditions were "moderate" - one to two metre waves and the wind was force 6 so it was not a comfortable sail but they learnt to maintain careful control and got the hang of "heaving to" - stopping at sea.
In Shoreham the challenge of a big ship lock and high slippery ladders tested them but they coped.
After a debrief and supper we learnt how PJ was a violinist and much more. He kept us all amused with his anecdotes - some unsuitable for publication!
The next day we got up at 6 am to be out at sea for the tide to carry us up to Littlehampton. After some exercises at sea the crew were now tacking and gybing well. Jamie began to really get to grips with navigation and discovered how a chart (on paper or computer screen) does not reveal how a harbour entrance looks in reality. We got into Littlehampton with a couple of last minute corrections from the skipper and some swirling water at the sandbank on the west side. A motor vessel coming out had to stop for us as we pressed on up river.
After a break we began some boat handling, with the ideal conditions of both tide and wind to contend with. "Ferry gliding" back and forth across the river, Mark discovered he could control the boat without sails or motor, simply by using the elements and was rightly chuffed at how well he came alongside the pontoon. The others did well too and were soon very competent.
During the late afternoon we all took a deserved break - some of us taking advantage to walk to the beach. It was low tide and a fine sight.
On the Wednesday I had planned to return to Shoreham on the predicted westerly but with such a fine crew and a calm sea I decided we would head up the coast to Portsmouth. The tide made Chichester too dangerous but the Royal Clarence provided an interesting marina, with world class racing yachts to admire. PJ generously helped us to stock up on the short rations and we ate on board.
It was also an ideal opportunity to go out at night. Portsmouth Harbour is full of lights to learn about pilotage. There is a south cardinal, flashing 6 quick and 1 long which shines in that modern glow that makes sensing its distance off very difficult. There are fixed reds to show pier ends. There are green and red flashing buoys. Better still, there are boats of all shapes and sizes. Police boats, ferries, sailing boats and warships.
On the Thursday we set off at 0815 BST, and the crew showed how much they had learnt as they puzzled how to approach a mooring safely. After a good look and a trial approach Mark, with excellent support from Jamie and Dave, approached it like a Yachtmaster.
We dropped it and PJ took over once out of the harbour, making his usual excellent seamanship decisions.
With one reef in and a strong wind I was concerned whether the crew would cope. It was on a high force 5 and we ripped along the edge of the shipping lane with glorious views of the Isle of Wight. Speed increased to 7 knots as wind reached force 6 and we began to be able to do the Beneteau First's trick of counteracting a broach and flying off on a plane. Now we were really having fun. Mark sat on the side and then I showed Dave how to clip to the shroud and stand outside the guardrail. I would not have done this with most crew but this group were right on the button, wearing lifejackets automatically and clipping on whenever the deck was even slightly unstable or slippery.
When PJ, Dave and Mark had taken a turn at the wheel we took down the main completely, tying the boom on deck, turned onto a run and let out the genoa. I knew we were coming out of the lee of the island and would feel a stronger wind. Sure enough the force 7 came in open sea beneath the bubbling cumulus. Jamie, who had been piloting and navigating us, took the helm and surfed the waves with glee, firing our boat along at a fine speed.
As the swell increased and the chop began with a turn of the tide we reefed in the genoa and kept up a good pace but with full control. I took the helm and was left with four exhausted crew all taking a snooze at one point, as I directed us past Littlehampton towards Shoreham.
With everyone awake again I talked through the tidal options and they learnt how harbours become inaccessible. The depth of tide was insufficient for Littlehampton, the wind and tide made Shoreham dangerous, so Brighton had to be our target, aiming to arrive just after low water.
We pressed on, keeping in deep water as long as possible before turning in for the pier. The genoa was reduced to a handkerchief yet still we hurtled on.
With a lee shore ahead of us, the engine was started early. The waves built up in the shallower waters and so I picked my angle of approach, with help all the while from Jamie.
Steering became more and more challenging but with subtle use of the engine revs we negotiated our way close up. In the entrance we could see a boat coming out so Jamie raised his hand like a policeman. We ploughed in and just before we got under the shelter of the harbour wall a massive wave broke right over our deck and we were soaked. The yacht skewed towards the wall and was hard to correct back to the channel but then we were in.
Gingerly we tickled up the channel with only 0.4 metres to spare at one point.
We slept well after a grand celebration in the Pagoda chinese restaurant.
Friday was kept simple. Some theory, some boat handling. And then some fun. Out we went for a final sail - a race. Faroe Islanders versus English. Mark and Jamie went first, making a mess of their start, but demonstrating they knew how to heave to. It took a while before they got to the start line after the gun had been blown (well, I hooted) but then they were off, making some great decisions about sail setting and sailing angle. At Roedean they tacked and sped back to the cardinal buoy, then across the line in 17 minutes 27 seconds. It would be a hard act to follow.
The Faroe Islanders struggled to start well and on their outward leg, sails were set without creating the slot for speed. They were well behind at the tack but then began their fight back. Now they had the yacht charging along, and using all the skills they had learnt with PJ sailing a straight course and Dave controlling the sails smoothly they recovered time. It was not enough though and they trailed - but by less than a minute.
After I had a quick go, and did no better, we headed home. What a great week we had had.
We set out from Lagoon Watersports in Brighton and made our way up to Shoreham. The culture of safety was soon set in the minds of this intelligent group. With PJ and his son, Dave, being Faroe Islanders we had a new perspective on life from a society of whalehunters and fishermen. They both spoke good English (and Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish) and turned out to be quite remarkable people.
Mark and Jamie were exceptional too, both bright business people with great people skills.
The basics of setting sails, reefing (reducing sails) and adjusting for wind were quickly picked up. The sea conditions were "moderate" - one to two metre waves and the wind was force 6 so it was not a comfortable sail but they learnt to maintain careful control and got the hang of "heaving to" - stopping at sea.
In Shoreham the challenge of a big ship lock and high slippery ladders tested them but they coped.
After a debrief and supper we learnt how PJ was a violinist and much more. He kept us all amused with his anecdotes - some unsuitable for publication!
The next day we got up at 6 am to be out at sea for the tide to carry us up to Littlehampton. After some exercises at sea the crew were now tacking and gybing well. Jamie began to really get to grips with navigation and discovered how a chart (on paper or computer screen) does not reveal how a harbour entrance looks in reality. We got into Littlehampton with a couple of last minute corrections from the skipper and some swirling water at the sandbank on the west side. A motor vessel coming out had to stop for us as we pressed on up river.
After a break we began some boat handling, with the ideal conditions of both tide and wind to contend with. "Ferry gliding" back and forth across the river, Mark discovered he could control the boat without sails or motor, simply by using the elements and was rightly chuffed at how well he came alongside the pontoon. The others did well too and were soon very competent.
During the late afternoon we all took a deserved break - some of us taking advantage to walk to the beach. It was low tide and a fine sight.
On the Wednesday I had planned to return to Shoreham on the predicted westerly but with such a fine crew and a calm sea I decided we would head up the coast to Portsmouth. The tide made Chichester too dangerous but the Royal Clarence provided an interesting marina, with world class racing yachts to admire. PJ generously helped us to stock up on the short rations and we ate on board.
It was also an ideal opportunity to go out at night. Portsmouth Harbour is full of lights to learn about pilotage. There is a south cardinal, flashing 6 quick and 1 long which shines in that modern glow that makes sensing its distance off very difficult. There are fixed reds to show pier ends. There are green and red flashing buoys. Better still, there are boats of all shapes and sizes. Police boats, ferries, sailing boats and warships.
On the Thursday we set off at 0815 BST, and the crew showed how much they had learnt as they puzzled how to approach a mooring safely. After a good look and a trial approach Mark, with excellent support from Jamie and Dave, approached it like a Yachtmaster.
We dropped it and PJ took over once out of the harbour, making his usual excellent seamanship decisions.
With one reef in and a strong wind I was concerned whether the crew would cope. It was on a high force 5 and we ripped along the edge of the shipping lane with glorious views of the Isle of Wight. Speed increased to 7 knots as wind reached force 6 and we began to be able to do the Beneteau First's trick of counteracting a broach and flying off on a plane. Now we were really having fun. Mark sat on the side and then I showed Dave how to clip to the shroud and stand outside the guardrail. I would not have done this with most crew but this group were right on the button, wearing lifejackets automatically and clipping on whenever the deck was even slightly unstable or slippery.
When PJ, Dave and Mark had taken a turn at the wheel we took down the main completely, tying the boom on deck, turned onto a run and let out the genoa. I knew we were coming out of the lee of the island and would feel a stronger wind. Sure enough the force 7 came in open sea beneath the bubbling cumulus. Jamie, who had been piloting and navigating us, took the helm and surfed the waves with glee, firing our boat along at a fine speed.
As the swell increased and the chop began with a turn of the tide we reefed in the genoa and kept up a good pace but with full control. I took the helm and was left with four exhausted crew all taking a snooze at one point, as I directed us past Littlehampton towards Shoreham.
With everyone awake again I talked through the tidal options and they learnt how harbours become inaccessible. The depth of tide was insufficient for Littlehampton, the wind and tide made Shoreham dangerous, so Brighton had to be our target, aiming to arrive just after low water.
We pressed on, keeping in deep water as long as possible before turning in for the pier. The genoa was reduced to a handkerchief yet still we hurtled on.
With a lee shore ahead of us, the engine was started early. The waves built up in the shallower waters and so I picked my angle of approach, with help all the while from Jamie.
Steering became more and more challenging but with subtle use of the engine revs we negotiated our way close up. In the entrance we could see a boat coming out so Jamie raised his hand like a policeman. We ploughed in and just before we got under the shelter of the harbour wall a massive wave broke right over our deck and we were soaked. The yacht skewed towards the wall and was hard to correct back to the channel but then we were in.
Gingerly we tickled up the channel with only 0.4 metres to spare at one point.
We slept well after a grand celebration in the Pagoda chinese restaurant.
Friday was kept simple. Some theory, some boat handling. And then some fun. Out we went for a final sail - a race. Faroe Islanders versus English. Mark and Jamie went first, making a mess of their start, but demonstrating they knew how to heave to. It took a while before they got to the start line after the gun had been blown (well, I hooted) but then they were off, making some great decisions about sail setting and sailing angle. At Roedean they tacked and sped back to the cardinal buoy, then across the line in 17 minutes 27 seconds. It would be a hard act to follow.
The Faroe Islanders struggled to start well and on their outward leg, sails were set without creating the slot for speed. They were well behind at the tack but then began their fight back. Now they had the yacht charging along, and using all the skills they had learnt with PJ sailing a straight course and Dave controlling the sails smoothly they recovered time. It was not enough though and they trailed - but by less than a minute.
After I had a quick go, and did no better, we headed home. What a great week we had had.