UKSA sail training on Whirlwind II

[Derek ide]

I think Whirlwind II has been on a continuous sail training exercise since Friday 21st February.
Because of the weather they have restricted their sailing to the Solent and Southampton Water. I have seen them under orange trysail and storm jib sailing up and down Southampton Water with wind speeds gusting to force 9.
I have tried to attach a screen shot of their AIS track but the file is too large, so go on line and see if they are still under way
I am sure that this exercise must be more demanding than sailing a passage in the open sea with frequent changes of course and constant navigation demands. I assume they are watch keeping and having to cook and sleep to prepare the crew for future work on yachts as professional crew.
I wonder how long they intend to stay at sea because I can still see them this morning?

 

[scotty123]

I think Whirlwind II has been on a continuous sail training exercise since Friday 21st February.
Because of the weather they have restricted their sailing to the Solent and Southampton Water. I have seen them under orange trysail and storm jib sailing up and down Southampton Water with wind speeds gusting to force 9.
I have tried to attach a screen shot of their AIS track but the file is too large, so go on line and see if they are still under way
I am sure that this exercise must be more demanding than sailing a passage in the open sea with frequent changes of course and constant navigation demands. I assume they are watch keeping and having to cook and sleep to prepare the crew for future work on yachts as professional crew.
I wonder how long they intend to stay at sea because I can still see them this morning?

Normal routine at UKSA, is for crews to change each week, which includes prep time onboard & clean up time before new crews get on, with sailing time taking up the rest.

 

[mainsail1]

With the right sail plan there is no great problem with sailing around the Solent in a gale. With wind against tide at springs you may wish to be in Southampton water or Portsmouth harbour for the worst few hours. Yes, I have done it many times.........

 

[scotty123]

With the right sail plan there is no great problem with sailing around the Solent in a gale. With wind against tide at springs you may wish to be in Southampton water or Portsmouth harbour for the worst few hours. Yes, I have done it many times.........

Think F9 & current wind, is a bit more than a gale.

 

[GHA]

Yes, I have done it many times.........

24/7 for days on end?

 

[Lightwave395]

From my study window right in Gurnard right now, the Western Solent looks pretty evil. You can't see East Lepe buoy from Gurnard in the gloom

 

[mainsail1]

24/7 for days on end?

Yes, I used to sub contract to UKSA so I have done the weekly bashing into anything..... just to get the students their sea miles. I remember one week where we not only had gales but snow storms.
Bear in mind that Whirlwind is a big boat.

 

[GHA]

Yes, I used to sub contract to UKSA so I have done the weekly bashing into anything..... just to get the students their sea miles. I remember one week where we not only had gales but snow storms.
Bear in mind that Whirlwind is a big boat.

You really went up and down day and night for days without stopping?
Hard core.
Or daft....

 

[capnsensible]

You really went up and down day and night for days without stopping?
Hard core.
Or daft....

Normal for fast trakkers. Thats how they get so much experience in the time that most take many years to do.

Its hard work for the Instructors, you really have to be on the ball.

 

[GHA]

Normal for fast trakkers. Thats how they get so much experience in the time that most take many years to do.

Its hard work for the Instructors, you really have to be on the ball.

So fast trackers normally just go up and down the solent?

 

[mainsail1]

So fast trackers normally just go up and down the solent?

The reason they are going up and down the Solent is because it is too rough to go to the Channel Islands or Weymouth or Cherbourg or Dartmouth or Plymouth or ST Malo......

 

[capnsensible]

So fast trackers normally just go up and down the solent?

As you know, sailing safely and gaining vital experience is still weather dependent. Its not unususal to see training yachts going backwards and forwards non stop to, say, Chebourg for a few laps.

Or Gib to Ayamonte.

Or Antigua to St Lucia.

These people are generally gonna go commercial so tough but safe training is required.

Can get a tad brisk in the Solent, mind. Ive sailed there in 60 knots off Calshot. Tough training. Tough boats. Tough skippers.

 

[Achosenman]

Fast trackers sail in pretty much anything. F7 is just a sporting day out and you still have to do the skills and drills.

 

[Seajet]

They've probably just forgotten the code for the loos, so going up and down arguing