dralex
New member
I'm now back from a week aboard a BT Challenge 67ft Yacht sailing from Southampton, to the Fastnet, on to Kinsale and back, and what a week it was. I'd never done sailing like that before, my usual being short handed up to a maximum of 24 hours at sea.
I boarded BG Spirit and immediately felt like a novice again, with everything I was used to using reproduced on a huge scale and done slightly differently. Add in running backstays which could take your head off, along with winches the size of dustbins and sheets and halyards thick enough to restring the Tamar Bridge and you begin to get an idea of the hugeness. Almost nothing could be done alone, needing teamwork and coordination even to hoist a sail.
We had a crew of 8 of us plus the skipper and mate, which made watches of 5 people. AFter a lengthy safety briefing and introduction to pipe cots, we started our voyage, heading west out of the Solent, down the south weat coast to the Lizard, then inshore of the Isles of Scilly and up to the Fastnet. Working on a prolonged watch system was a real eye opener after conventional life ashore, but once you got into the groove of eat, sail, sleep etc, it was refreshingly different and not difficult. THere was something very indulgent about just going back to bed whenever you were off watch.
We had very little wind initially, but it gradually built as we made our way up the Celtic Sea until we were doing a steady 8-10 knots on a very beam reach with poled out Yankee. The sea was starting to build on the quarter and made for great competition between crew members trying to get the fastest logged speed. The wind and sea continued to build and my evening in my bunk was spent listening to sail changes and increasing weather, while trying to fall asleep on a rollercoaster.
2300 came and even getting dressed was a " Challenge" as the boat hurtled over and through waves, heading West of the Fastnet. Stepping up on deck was a true defining experience as the wind, sea and rain lashed you in darkness. The thing that is burnt in my mind from that night was being on the foredeck with 3 other people trying to change a headsail. I was overawed at the brutality and power of the boat as it surged down waves at over 10 knots, then took off over the top of the next one, while these tiny humans were on the foredeck fighting to change a sail in up to 38 knots of wind. THe cockpit seemed like a real haven afterwards.
It was a long cold night- I didn't see the Fastnet Light as we passed it in the dead of night- my warm bunk seemed like a far nicer option. I'm convinced I touched on the first stages of hypothermia after that watch. My kit worked very well, but I stupidly did not do up the velcro on my ankles tight enough, resulting in a salt water douche up my leg. I got colder and colder, and then rather strangely felt warmer and more relaxed without any activity or warming. It took me a whole 4 hours off watch to warm up and dry off.
We arrived in Kinsale after 490miles of sailing. I'd not had a touch of sea sickness in the whole trip, but dry land was difficult. My land sickness usually responds to a touch of medicinal alcohol, but the only thing that would settle it this times was bed.
The sail back was gentle and relaxing, with a well established watch system and calm seas. We had dolphins, fog and lots of tea.
On reflection, it was an eye opening trip and a whole new sailing experience for me. I'd love to repeat it. It made me really appreciate how powerful these boats are and how much strength and resolve it takes to tame them. It has done a lot for my confidence and also pushed my respect for round the world sailors through the stratosphere.
I boarded BG Spirit and immediately felt like a novice again, with everything I was used to using reproduced on a huge scale and done slightly differently. Add in running backstays which could take your head off, along with winches the size of dustbins and sheets and halyards thick enough to restring the Tamar Bridge and you begin to get an idea of the hugeness. Almost nothing could be done alone, needing teamwork and coordination even to hoist a sail.
We had a crew of 8 of us plus the skipper and mate, which made watches of 5 people. AFter a lengthy safety briefing and introduction to pipe cots, we started our voyage, heading west out of the Solent, down the south weat coast to the Lizard, then inshore of the Isles of Scilly and up to the Fastnet. Working on a prolonged watch system was a real eye opener after conventional life ashore, but once you got into the groove of eat, sail, sleep etc, it was refreshingly different and not difficult. THere was something very indulgent about just going back to bed whenever you were off watch.
We had very little wind initially, but it gradually built as we made our way up the Celtic Sea until we were doing a steady 8-10 knots on a very beam reach with poled out Yankee. The sea was starting to build on the quarter and made for great competition between crew members trying to get the fastest logged speed. The wind and sea continued to build and my evening in my bunk was spent listening to sail changes and increasing weather, while trying to fall asleep on a rollercoaster.
2300 came and even getting dressed was a " Challenge" as the boat hurtled over and through waves, heading West of the Fastnet. Stepping up on deck was a true defining experience as the wind, sea and rain lashed you in darkness. The thing that is burnt in my mind from that night was being on the foredeck with 3 other people trying to change a headsail. I was overawed at the brutality and power of the boat as it surged down waves at over 10 knots, then took off over the top of the next one, while these tiny humans were on the foredeck fighting to change a sail in up to 38 knots of wind. THe cockpit seemed like a real haven afterwards.
It was a long cold night- I didn't see the Fastnet Light as we passed it in the dead of night- my warm bunk seemed like a far nicer option. I'm convinced I touched on the first stages of hypothermia after that watch. My kit worked very well, but I stupidly did not do up the velcro on my ankles tight enough, resulting in a salt water douche up my leg. I got colder and colder, and then rather strangely felt warmer and more relaxed without any activity or warming. It took me a whole 4 hours off watch to warm up and dry off.
We arrived in Kinsale after 490miles of sailing. I'd not had a touch of sea sickness in the whole trip, but dry land was difficult. My land sickness usually responds to a touch of medicinal alcohol, but the only thing that would settle it this times was bed.
The sail back was gentle and relaxing, with a well established watch system and calm seas. We had dolphins, fog and lots of tea.
On reflection, it was an eye opening trip and a whole new sailing experience for me. I'd love to repeat it. It made me really appreciate how powerful these boats are and how much strength and resolve it takes to tame them. It has done a lot for my confidence and also pushed my respect for round the world sailors through the stratosphere.
