Sunday, 13 May 2007
Part B
Wow .... back from my Part B week .... 29th April to the 6th May; it was fantastic! We were out on a 68, Liverpool Clipper from the last race. The skipper was Hannah, 1st mate Rob, my fellow crew members were .... Mike, Anne, Phil, Mandy, Quentin, Wendy, Jeremy and Tony. Hannah clearly had the week planned as unlike many other Part B courses we did not return to Gosport each evening, but out till late, one night at anchor, one night on a buoy (bring on the the angry harbour master from that popular harbour to the West of the Solent!)
The week was clearly a progression from Part A, as you would obviously expect. We initially re-capped procedure, safety etc. from part A before moving on and practicing similar evolutions but on the much bigger and more powerful 68. Below decks the 68 is more comfortable, the boat is much wider, providing good space and accommodation. It was quite inspiring to be learning on a boat that I may eventually be on or competing with. We went through many sail changes including the much heralded spinnaker hoists, drops, gybes and peel. Well done Mike - out on the end of that pole! We practised MOB everyday and experienced how easy it can be to lose sight of the marker/MOB in the water if there is a swell and strong winds and tide. These boats don't turn on a sixpence, especially if you are flying a spinnaker at the time. Once again these manoeuvres demonstrate the importance of team work.
We all had an opportunity to experience the different jobs on board and you begin to see the areas people excel in and the jobs they prefer to do.
We spent a lot of time on sail trim, which was invaluable. It taught me how a relatively small adjustment can make a significant change to the sail shape and the resultant boat speed.
One day whilst sailing in the Western Solent we were called up by the coast guard and asked to assist in a 'high line' exercise. We sailed a steady course on port tack while a coast guard helicopter hovered just off our port stern quarter and lowered a man followed by a stretcher on to the port quarter of the boat. The precision required by the helicopter crew was exceptional and was coupled with brilliant co-ordination by the boat crew as a line was hauled in to bring the winch man aboard. After a short de-brief the winch-man picked up his line from the waiting helicopter and was winched off the deck and back on to the helicopter.
There were two other 68's on the Part B course that week so we had the inevitable races, three in fact, including one as a night sail. Its not sportsmanlike to brag if you win ........ but i am pleased to report we didn't come 2nd or 3rd in any of the races ;) ........... a really great team effort.
At the end of the week we all had a debrief ... mine was with Rob the 1st mate and we developed a very positive action plan, one I intend to use to my best endeavors to take forward.
I am now very much looking forward to crew selection and am thinking about possibly requesting Durban or Qingdao. I will continue to ponder that over the next few weeks. Once you know your boat and meet your skipper and crew for the race, the final preparation can really begin .... i really can't wait!
The week was clearly a progression from Part A, as you would obviously expect. We initially re-capped procedure, safety etc. from part A before moving on and practicing similar evolutions but on the much bigger and more powerful 68. Below decks the 68 is more comfortable, the boat is much wider, providing good space and accommodation. It was quite inspiring to be learning on a boat that I may eventually be on or competing with. We went through many sail changes including the much heralded spinnaker hoists, drops, gybes and peel. Well done Mike - out on the end of that pole! We practised MOB everyday and experienced how easy it can be to lose sight of the marker/MOB in the water if there is a swell and strong winds and tide. These boats don't turn on a sixpence, especially if you are flying a spinnaker at the time. Once again these manoeuvres demonstrate the importance of team work.
We all had an opportunity to experience the different jobs on board and you begin to see the areas people excel in and the jobs they prefer to do.
We spent a lot of time on sail trim, which was invaluable. It taught me how a relatively small adjustment can make a significant change to the sail shape and the resultant boat speed.
One day whilst sailing in the Western Solent we were called up by the coast guard and asked to assist in a 'high line' exercise. We sailed a steady course on port tack while a coast guard helicopter hovered just off our port stern quarter and lowered a man followed by a stretcher on to the port quarter of the boat. The precision required by the helicopter crew was exceptional and was coupled with brilliant co-ordination by the boat crew as a line was hauled in to bring the winch man aboard. After a short de-brief the winch-man picked up his line from the waiting helicopter and was winched off the deck and back on to the helicopter.
There were two other 68's on the Part B course that week so we had the inevitable races, three in fact, including one as a night sail. Its not sportsmanlike to brag if you win ........ but i am pleased to report we didn't come 2nd or 3rd in any of the races ;) ........... a really great team effort.
At the end of the week we all had a debrief ... mine was with Rob the 1st mate and we developed a very positive action plan, one I intend to use to my best endeavors to take forward.
I am now very much looking forward to crew selection and am thinking about possibly requesting Durban or Qingdao. I will continue to ponder that over the next few weeks. Once you know your boat and meet your skipper and crew for the race, the final preparation can really begin .... i really can't wait!
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