Level 3 Sailing

So what was the sailing like on Level 3?

The training started with a very long day in the classroom going over Offshore Safety - what to do and what not to do out on the 'ocean deep' - when to launch a liferaft, which ones and how to use flares, winch safety, emergency beacons... etc. etc.    Not very inspiring but something that has to be done.  All these trainers keep telling us that the training Clipper gives us is excellent and that we are some of the best prepared crew around - so it is all worth listening too.

I arrived at the boat that evening to find that I already knew a couple of others from my Level 1 training and that there were 3 of us all in 'Team Jim' together.  Both skipper and mate were called Paul so that could either be very convenient and one just shouted 'Paul', or totally inconvenient if there was a reason to distinguish them from each other.

This boat was a Clipper 70 - only a couple of feet longer than the 68 but a different shape altogether.  The sheets (ropes) all seemed much thicker and heavier and the deck was laid out in a very different way.  Preferable, I think, as there seemed to be less clutter around and the 'snake pit', where all the ropes lead into, was closer and better connected to the cockpit.  Easier to get to and easier to communicate with.  One of the difficulties for crews new to sailing is that there are so many new words to learn.  A rope can be called many different things, all dependent on their purpose, so can change names from one hour to the next.  Very confusing!!

Sheet - pulls sails in and out
Halyard - pulls sails up and down
Line - used for something else eg. mooring line to tie the boat to the pontoon
Lazy sheets and working sheets - depending on whether there is any load on them.  The lazy one is doing nothing.


A view of the 'grinders' from the
companionway

There are also different roles for all the crew eg:

Sweater - sweats (pulls) the sails up by hand
Grinder - grinds the sails up using the 'coffee grinder' connected to the primary winch -
Mother - does all the cooking and cleaning for the day -

and so it goes on.  Totally another language and when I have sailed in the past I have heard people say - 'can you pull the thingy over there', and everything becomes a 'thingy'.  Not sure if that would be accepted on a Clipper boat though.

Sailing around the Isle of Wight
just to the south of The Needles

One of the main training elements on Level 3 was learning how to fly the asymmetric spinnaker.  These sails are enormous (330 m sq or 3,556 feet sq) and enable to boats to sail up to 30 mph going downwind in the Southern Ocean.  Unfortunately our week didn't go well in this respect.  The first time we wanted to fly it was during our circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight, but, when it came to hoisting the sail the winches got jammed so we couldn't use it.  The winch was stripped down as we bumbled along but by the time it was put back together again it was too late.






Starboard watch
Thom, Ant, Tom
Me, Mel, Dhruv

So more days were spent in the Solent - tacking and gybing.  We were split into two watches, starboard and port, and we each took it in turns to do various evolutions including changing sails, MOB (man over board) drills, hoisting and reefing etc.  Dhruv was very disappointed to discover, after he'd offered to do the MOB drill, that he wasn't going to be the casualty but the swimmer who was doing the rescue.  I think he must have fancied a 'dip' in the sea.  Instead he was dangled on the end of a rope and lowered unceremoniously down to the water to rescue 'Bob' the MOB dummy.





'Bob' the MOB dummy tied onto the stern
as we sail across the sea whipped up by the wind

With the winches fixed we headed out into the Solent and English Channel again to sail under the spinnaker.  The winds were much stronger than expected but were due to drop during the day.  We headed south east but rather than quietening down we were sailing in F7/8, a near gale - so yet again no spinnaker.  The boat crashed into the waves as we rocked from side to side, it heeled over so that the guard rail went into the water - and it was great fun.



Heeled over and heading upwind

I hadn't had a chance to helm earlier in the week, and to be honest I was waiting to drive with the spinnaker up.  My chance came, not with the spinnaker but in 30-35 knot winds and heeled right over.  I was at the helm for about 2 - 2 1/2 hours and loved every minute of it.  It was hard work, and standing could be quite a challenge when the boat was leaning right over but I think I must have had a smile on my face the whole time.  Over the past few months I have wondered if I was doing the right thing by taking off for a year to sail around the world.  At the end of this day I knew I had made the right decision.  The seas weren't as big as they are going to be in the Southern Ocean or across the North Pacific, but the feel of the wind in my face as I steered through the waves was magic.  I loved it!!



Sailing through the Solent
It's very difficult to know what's vertical/horizontal on
a boat that is always tipping from side to side.

We eventually did get the spinnaker hoisted and dropped, in the dark, on the last day but it was disappointing not to have had a chance to sail with it up for a decent amount of time.  It just means that when I go onto Level 4 in early July that there will be a gap in my knowledge, but I'm sure I will have many chances to fly it over the next year or so.  We didn't get a chance to pack the spinnaker away that evening but spent about 1 - 1 1/2 hours the following morning trying to sort it, tie it in bits of wool and re-pack it.  Not a job that I fancy doing downstairs as the boat rocks from side to side.


Just one more week of sailing training left now and then I am supposed to be able to sail off around the world.  Luckily there will be 20 other people on board so we can share the responsibility.

As I write this I still haven't exchanged contracts on the house.  Time is getting short as this time in three months I will have left the UK and will be on my way to Rio.  We will hopefully be moving in early July and I suppose that if not all boxes are unpacked before I leave then does it really matter.  It will give Tom and Rebecca something to do while I'm away and the worst that can happen is that I will have to empty boxes when I get back.

I am putting up all my photos in a flickr account and do follow this link if you would like to see them.  A bit repetitive at the moment but one day I hope to sort them out.

https://flic.kr/s/aHskcd9dWv




'Chilling out' in the snake pit, safely tied on!

Life on board a Clipper 70

I have just returned from my L3 training, the first time on the 70 ft Clipper yacht, one of the boats I will be going around the world on.  Slightly different to the Clipper 68 in that below decks is set out differently and on deck is less cluttered, mainly because the 70 doesn't have the spinnaker pole as we will be using an asymmetric.  I thought I'd give people an idea of what it is like on the boat, so here goes:                                                               

Accommodation

Accommodation is just as basic as on the 68 though my bunk was a bit like a cave - very dark and not very high.  The only way I could get into bed was to wriggle into my sleeping bag while standing on the floor, then sit on the side of the bunk all scrunched up before lying down and lifting my feet onto the bunk.  Someone said it was the funniest thing they'd seen for a long time.  Once in it was cosy and I felt safe, and I imagine that in an ocean swell with huge waves there is not much space to be thrown around.  I didn't have any lockers so had to leave my stuff on the other side of the gangway under the bunks there.  Not sure it will be my favourite spot while we are racing but I believe that bunks are going to be allocated by drawing lots out of a hat so I might not have much choice.  I think we'll be 'hot bunking' anyway so I may well sleep somewhere different each time I put my head down.

The 'Heads'

The 'heads' (toilet) are even more basic with a hand held shower and bowl with no lid.  I can imagine having a shower will be something that is not done very often as water will be salty and it will take ages to clean up afterwards.  Everyone has to sit, including the boys, and they have to be left as found.  It is quite an achievement to be able to balance as the boat heels over at 30 degrees, and if those on deck suddenly decide to tack it can be quite a challenge to stay sitting as the boat is 'flung' the other way.  There are two of these delightful 'rooms', divided off from the rest of the boat by a flimsy zipped canvas door.

The Galley

The galley is positioned in the centre of the boat at the bottom of the companionway up onto deck.  A reasonably equipped and compact space with everything tidied away in cupboards with no doors.  A decent hob with five gas rings and a small oven and grill so, as long as the seas aren't too rough, some decent meals can be served up.  We will each take it in turns to be on 'mother watch' for a day during which time we are responsible for all meals and cleaning.  Mother watch lasts for 24 hours so also gives crew a chance to have a longer sleep, do washing, have a shower and generally chill out.  I can't say I am particularly looking forward to having to spend my time below decks but hopefully seasickness will become a thing of the past as my brain gets used to seeing and feeling contradictory experiences.

Inside the sail locker looking down through the hatch from the deck



Unlike on the Clipper 68 where we slept in the sail locker the 70 has a separate sail locker in the bows.  It means that we won't be soaked every time the hatch is opened to either take up or bring down a sail.  There are bunks in this very basic space and I expect that if the boat has a full complement of 22 crew on board then people may have to sleep there.  Not sure.  This picture is of Mel (another Team Jim crew member) and I after we had repacked the locker after the final day deep clean.  It doesn't always look this tidy!

Floor boards removed and bilges cleaned
and wiped down

 At the end of the training week, and every time we finish a race, we have to do a 'deep clean'.  This involves taking everything out of the boat, including all our personal belongings, and wiping everything down with anti-bac (anti-bacterial spray) including cushions, mattresses, all lockers and bilges.  Floor boards are taken up and washed down on the pontoon, foul weather gear and all the lines and sheets (ropes) are hosed down with fresh water.  Once everything has been put back the decks are washed down and tidied up.

Washing under the 'cuddy'

This is also a time for maintenance including servicing the winches and repairing lines.  Time in port at the end of each race will include all this maintenance and it is not until that has been completed that we will be able to have some time off.




Will I remember which bit goes where?

Sophie has become a good pal since we met on Level 1 just after Easter.  She is also RTW (round the worlder) but on Qingdao, the boat sponsored by the city that held the sailing events in the Beijing Olympics.  The plan at the moment is to get together on our stopovers - it will be good to see a different face and to be able to download after an intense few weeks at sea.



Sophie splicing a sheet that had become frayed and
in danger of falling apart.

Living is going to be interesting.  It's OK for a
few days when it's possible to go ashore for a shower but for 5 weeks without a break - a totally different 'kettle of fish'.  I can imagine resentments growing if someone is perceived not to be pulling their weight, or, for example, if they have taken one too many biscuits.  I am hoping that this is where my skills as a listener will come in, and that I am able to give people the space to be heard in a non-judgemental and empathic way.

The next time on a boat will be in early July when I will be training with my Skipper, Jim, and with others from my boat.  I am looking forward to it.

Looking west as we sailed down the Solent and back to Gosport

 

Crew Allocation and start port

A good day yesterday when we found out that we will be leaving from St Katherine's Docks on the 30th August. Also I

am on 'Team Jim' and will be finding out our boat sponsor when that has been sorted.

Seems like a good crew and I am really pleased to have Jim as skipper.  Two others from my Level 1 Training and one person from Frensham Sailing Club so not all unknown.  The race has really started!!

Now on L2 training which began with Sea Survival today and will continue with offshore life when we set sail tomorrow.  A real mix of crew including 3 from China, 4 from South Africa, 2 from France and me. Skipper from Canada and his mate from Liverpool - so an international feel.

Will let you know how the week went, but I'm hoping for good winds to take us west along the south coast and back.

 

'Team Jim' on the steps of Portsmouth Guildhall just after Crew Allocation

Living on Board with Level 2

The idea of Level 2 training is to get an understanding of what it is like living on board 24/7 in a watch system - cooking, cleaning, sailing, sleeping, engine checking, sleeping, being seasick, helming, sleeping, nausea ......... etc. 

The day after Crew Allocation I reported to a school swimming pool in Gosport where 20 of us were doing our sea survival training.  We spent the morning going through the theory of surviving if tossed overboard, abandoning into a life raft or staying with the boat.  A charismatic guy brought life to what could have been a very boring session but turned out to be quite interesting, before we all headed for the swimming pool to put into practice some of the things we had talked about in the morning.  We jumped into the pool, clambered into a life raft, formed a 'snake' to get from one end of the pool to the other, raced, shouted, swam, had buckets of water thrown at us - simulation of the Pacific Ocean I think,  and generally had a laugh.  A good way to start to get to know the crew we would be spending the next few days with.




'The Crew'

It was then onto the boat, CV9, with nine others plus skipper and mate, for the sailing part of the training.  The crew was an eclectic mix of Chinese, French, South Africans, Dutch and a smattering of Brits, which made for some interesting discussions and cultural exchanges.  Most of us succumbed to a bout of seasickness with some of the younger South Africans taking to their bunks for a significant part of the time.  Considering some of them couldn't swim and had probably never seen the sea before they generally made a stirling effort to take part.

Sunset over the Isle of Wight from the English Channel

The idea was to head west down towards Portland but the exceptionally cold wind for the time of year, from the north and west, meant that we headed south across the Channel to France instead.  We witnessed a couple of stunning sunsets, one across to the Isle of Wight and the other as we headed towards the French coast, which made the crossing bearable. 



Evening sky as we head towards the French coast east of the
Cherbourg Peninsular

It was lovely watching the sky get darker and for the moon to rise into a star studded sky, while the lights on fishing boats, tankers and cruise liners blinked and sparkled across the black sea.  To say that I am excited about crossing some of the most inhospitable oceans in the world is an understatement.  I can't wait to experience the night skies and sunsets, to watch the changing colour of the sea as day turns to night and back again, to see the sun set and moon rise, though not necessarily in that order, and to experience the sounds of the water as we slice our way from one continent to another.



         What was it like living on board?  For the first two and a half days I was feeling nauseous and was sea sick.  I did wonder what on earth I had signed up for and was I making an enormous mistake.  Kees (pronounced Case), our skipper, took part in the 13-14 race and tried to convince us that the nauseous feeling goes after 2-3 days as the body starts to ignore the sensations created by the fluids in the inner ear. Unfortunately we didn't stay offshore for more than 2 1/2 days so his theory was never fully tested.  I did manage to get out of my bunk and onto deck for my watches, but because I didn't eat properly for 48 hours I started to feel very weak, tired and dizzy.  Kees made the decision to go back to Gosport as, at times, there weren't enough crew on deck to practice sail changes, reefing etc.  A good decision though I would have like to have stayed out for a further 24 hours.  We had fulfilled the brief - got a good idea of what it was like to live offshore and to function within a watch system.




Is anything vertical?  The cooker certainly doesn't
seem to think so.

We all took it in turns to be on Mother Watch - to cook and clean - and it was an interesting experience heating up baked beans and pasties while the boat tacked from side to side.  The cooker was on gimbals but never seemed to sit in an horizontal position - or perhaps I was never in a vertical position to judge.  I would be leaning one way only to find that my world tipped and I was then leaning the other. 
 
Getting in and out of my bunk was challenging, as was going to the loo.  If there was a clatter up above it probably meant we were about to tack so 'brace..brace..brace' as the boat rocked through 90 degrees.  Sleeping wasn't too bad and I managed to get to sleep quite quickly.  There was the 'snoring orchestra' in concert most nights but the sound of the water on the hull as the boat travelled through the water was loud, but comforting at the same time.  The boat slamming into the waves wasn't too much of a problem for me but then I have had many years of training as I slept in large dormitories in various boarding schools as I grew up.

The view behind

Our last day of training was spent sailing up and down the Solent practicing the evolutions we hadn't been able to do during the preceding days due to low watch numbers. Tacking, gybing, putting in reefs, shaking out reefs, man over board drills, lowering and raising headsails, driving, knot tying practice, were all gone through in fine detail until we had it sussed.  I have to say, training is hard work, especially when it is cold.






Sunset over the Solent

I was sad to be returning to Gosport at the end of our last day of sailing.  I know I hadn't been well for part of the time but I had met some wonderful people from all over the world.  I have now met someone who will book me a hotel room and show me round Quindao when I get there in March 2016.  I have cooked and cleaned with young South Africans who are about to embark on their journeys of a lifetime as they are each sponsored for one leg of the race.  I have heard and taken onboard advice given by the skipper who took part in the race a couple of years ago and I have learned a little more about living and sailing on an ocean racing yacht.



The deep clean of floor boards

The last morning was spent deep cleaning the boat.  This involves cleaning everything from the bilges to the galley and heads, from the mattresses and cushions to the floor boards.  I was on floor boards which entailed taking all the boards off the boat, washing both tops and underneaths with Milton, drying them and trying to put them back in the same order and place they came out from.  Luckily some of the younger guys had technical backgrounds so could solve the puzzle as they were presented with various unlabelled floor boards through various hatches in what seemed like a random order.

On reflection it was a good week, though at times I did wonder if I had done the right thing in signing up as I leant over the guard rail on the leeward side at the back of the boat.  Now that I am back home I know it is the right thing to be doing. 

My Level 3 starts next week on the 15th May with an Offshore Safety course, before we head out into the Solent again.  This time it will be on one of the 70 ft race boats so that we can practice with the asymmetric spinnaker and start thinking about race tactics.  I can't wait!!





Level 1 Training

WOW!!

 

CV7
Our boat for the week

I have just returned from a crazy week on a 68 ft ocean racing yacht with all the luxury down below of a 'ghetto'.  There were 11 of us, plus skipper and his mate, from all around the world; USA, Holland, Norway, Eire, France and the UK.  An eclectic mix of wonderful people who all brought something different to life on board.

 



My space - the bottom bunk
so I didn't have far to climb

Sleeping arrangements were 'cosy' with only the privacy of the blue lee cloth which was carefully hooked on before going to sleep.  Contrary to the information I had been given before, there was room to lie on my side in the bunk but if I sat up I hit my head on the mattress above me.  The noise from 11 people, some of whom snored quite loudly, was cacophonous, but having spent many years in various boarding schools the noise was quite familiar.  One of the crew, a singer, likened his experience to being at a choral concert where there were bass, baritone, soprano and alto singers all singing different tunes at the same time.  I'm glad I was asleep.

'Mother Watch' came into being for the first time.  Two people, one from each watch, are allocated domestic duty for one day.  This involves cooking, cleaning and keeping the boat tidy.  The food was excellent with enormous portions to keep everyone's energy levels up and I have to congratulate the two skippers for their menus though one of the crew wanted to put garlic in the scrambled egg at breakfast until it was hidden away.  Guess the nationality of this crew member - yep, you're right, French!!  All meals were eaten out of large bowls, on laps, as tables are superfluous to requirements on racing yachts.

 

Learning knots

The first three days were based at Gosport with days out into the Solent where the winds were relatively light.  Lots of drills and learning to be done, including the dreaded bowline which some of us found totally confusing as 12 other people tried to give their own instructions on the best way to tackle it.

 

 

Hanging of the bow

 



View of the Spinnaker Tower
on a very foggy morning 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Monday morning we woke to no wind and thick fog.  We continued with MOB (man overboard) drills with the casualty lying on the pontoon, a couple of mast climbs and some winch maintenance before heading back out into the Solent.  All fixing and the maintaining of equipment is down to the crew for the entire race so getting a handle of where cogs and bolts go is an important element of the whole trip. 

 

We eventually left Gosport Marina and headed out into the Solent for three days.  But where was the wind?  The day was spent motor sailing as we headed west to Portland - but we got no further than anchoring off Osborne House on the Isle of Wight  By this time it was a beautiful and warm spring day, but useless for sailing.  The fog came back in the evening and as we took it in turns to keep anchor watch during the night the noise from the foghorns of the enormous ships, cruise liners and car ferries sounded eerie as the boats slid silently past us, while we lay only a few hundred yards to the south in shallower water. 

 

After the fog and mist cleared it was a lovely April day.  For one of the Americans on board this was his first visit to Europe and we had to convince him that this balmy weather was not always the case and that when he returns in July for Levels 3 and 4 it may well be cold and stormy.

 

 

Lying at anchor with Osborne House on the IOW in the distance

Another day of drills and this time I took the opportunity to go into the water to recover an MOB.  Difficult, as I had forgotten to take the air out of the immersion suit so my feet kept rising to the surface.  It wasn't easy, and that was with no wind and no waves, so a totally unrealistic situation.  'Bob' the MOB dummy was tethered to the boat so I didn't have to struggle for too long but I was certainly shaking when I got back on board.

Sunset as we sailed back to our
mooring on Tuesday evening

 

 



 

 

Wednesday morning saw another windless day so we took the opportunity to revisit various evolutions including racing headsail changes, reefing practice and, for me, a trip up the mast.  It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be but as the sea was flat calm there wasn't any lateral movement up at the top.  I certainly had to trust the guys on the winches down below as my life was literally in their hands.  One slip of the winch .....  I was tied on with 2 halyards so a perfectly safe exercise!!

 

 

 



The view from 25 metres above the deck





Wednesday night was spent in Cowes where we enjoyed a pub meal at The Anchor.  Lots of singing and drinking and I think a good time was had by all.  The showers were certainly appreciated though only 3 days without showering is nothing compared to the weeks that we'll remain dirty for during the race.

A chance to helm

Thursday saw us heading back into Gosport where we had to deep clean the boat before getting to leave at around 4.00 pm.  Everything moveable and immoveable has to be washed or wiped, and anything that could be put on deck to clean was put on deck.  An onerous task but with 11 of us taking part it wasn't too bad.  I landed up having to clean the galley which was an arduous task as it was hot and humid down below, but worse when the floor boards were removed to be washed down and I had to balance on the fresh water tanks.

What a wonderful week I had and I have come away even more excited about my upcoming trip.  We were lucky with the weather in that it was warm, but it would have been nice to have experienced some stronger winds and to get an idea of how the boat can move through the water.  As the sailor of a 14 ft. dinghy I could really appreciate the power of the clipper yacht.  Everything was bigger and longer, and the amount of power that is exerted on equipment is phenomenal - and we only experienced light winds.  On the positive side the light winds gave us the time to go through different drills (evolutions) without the added difficulty of trying to stay upright and tied on.  Hopefully we all have a good grounding on what is needed and can move forward to our Level 2 courses confident of a firm foundation.
  

The next thing for me is going to be 'Crew Allocation' on the 25th April - next Saturday.  This is where I find out which boat I'll be on, who the skipper is, and who the other crew members are.  This is when the race starts as we all start to prepare for departure on the 30th August.

 

My Level 2 training then starts the following day on the 26th with an 8.00 am reporting time to the 'Sea Survival' course for the first day and then five days offshore trying to get to grips with the watch system and living on a boat with everyone else while unable to get of.

 

And YES I really am going to sail around the world!!

 

 

Preparation

Going away for eleven months is quite a big thing and I am starting to 'lose the plot' under all the multi-tasking that is having to happen to prepare for it all.  There are so many different things to think about so I thought I 'd share what is going on for me at the moment.

As I see it this preparation can be divided into different categories including moving house, training, getting fit, buying kit and finishing work.  So what's it all about and how's it going.




Our potential new home
No 6, the one in the middle

I'll start with moving house - I am down-sizing, no mean feat in itself, so that I can release some capital to pay for this adventure.  But also this house is too big for us, and especially for Tom and Rebecca to look after while I am away.  We have a buyer for this one and have a town house about 1/2 mile from here that we are looking to buy.  It's all in the solicitor's hands at the moment and hopefully we will be able to move by the end of May/beginning of June.  I want to be settled and unpacked in good time before leaving the UK at the end of August.  Though I understand from talking to the solicitor today that it might not be until the end of June that we can actually move - not good news!!

The cabin is filled with
shelves of toys
 

The fun now is to sort all our belongings and try and decide what we need.  I think that after I've lived on a boat for eleven months then a room will appear enormous and possessions superfluous to requirements - or that's what I am hoping.  It's books and toys  - and they seem to be increasing in number as I write.  Because I'm not sure what I'll be doing when I get back I don't want to throw them away, but at the same time I don't want to be storing stuff unnecessarily.  What a dilemma!  Ebay, car boot sales and charity shops for the next few months should provide the solution.



Training is the next big thing that needs to be done and this consists of four compulsory weeks on one of the Clipper boats, either 68ft or 70ft depending on what's available.



For those who don't know -
this is what a bowline looks like

Level 1 is all about crewing skills and as part of the selection process I'll need to successfully complete this week before I'm guaranteed a place on the Clipper Race.  It is reportedly a 'boot camp' and that the race itself is tame in comparison.  Everyone needs to have an understanding of what it takes to sail one of these boats and considering that up to 40% of the crew have never sailed before it is an important step.  Knots - one of which, the bowline, needs to be tied with eyes closed, behind your back, under water and upside down - not literally, but they all need to become second nature.   This week is based out of Cowes and we have the luxury of mooring up each night, or so I believe.

I'm starting L1 next week, on the 10th April, and I think that this will give me a reality check.  How am I feeling about it?  Excited to be starting the training and meeting other people who are on the race, but also wondering how I am going to cope with sea sickness and living cooped up with strangers 24/7.  Once completed I'll let you know how it went - watch this space.

Learning to live at 45 degrees

Level 2 looks at offshore racing and life on board.  It teaches us to live at a 45 degree angle for prolonged periods while racing and how to work in a watch system, race with broken sleep and to sail through the night.  I think we are offshore for most of the time so will need to think about 'mother watch' - cooking and cleaning - as well as maintenance, safety, you name it, etc.  I will be doing this week at the end of April, starting on the 26th, the day after Crew Allocation.






Level 3 involves asymmetric spinnaker training and racing techniques.  Very technical, demanding and physical but a chance to hone our sailing skills.  Everything is about sail trim, making the boat go faster and understanding the weather systems that we will be racing in.  I will be taking part in L3 from the 15th to 20th May - hopefully when the weather is a bit warmer.







Level 4 will be on the boat I will be going round the world on, with my skipper and crew, so it will be a chance to discuss team tactics and to start building those relationships that will make such a difference while racing.  It's a chance to race against the rest of the Clipper fleet while practicing starts and building that psychological edge over our rivals.


I can't wait to start training later this week, to start meeting other crew and to get to sail these awesome boats.

Getting fit is going to start in earnest now that I have finished in the schools.  I'll have time to do some sort of exercise most days and once I have been out on a boat I will have a better understanding of what I need to focus on.  I understand it's mostly upper body strength and core work that needs working on so 'gym here I come'.

Buying kit is one of those activities that could easily get out of control.  The list is endless but with a luggage allowance of 20 - 30kgs for the year I am going to have to be quite selective.  We get given our outer gear plus a number of jackets so it is the base and mid layers that need to be acquired.  There is great debate about whether or not a dry suit is advisable with pros and cons for each.  It takes ages to get them on and off, but once on it will keep me dry.  I am not planning on falling overboard but having to work on the foredeck in rough weather will mean getting quite wet and cold without one. 



The other big outlay are boots, and again there is great debate as to which are the best ones to buy.  I have gone for these nice red ones which have had good reviews and are extremely comfortable, and hopefully hard wearing.

Then there are all the extras like head torch, gloves, socks, dry bags, sleeping bag, music, camera etc. etc.

Finishing work has nearly happened with schools ending just before Easter and my private work continuing until just before I leave.  I am ending with clients here at home by the end of April in the hope that we will move soon after but will continue with work away from home for a while.

So - it is all coming together and the excitement is building.  The support I am getting from friends and family is outstanding and everyone seems 100% behind what I am doing - so thank you.  As I said earlier my first level of training starts tomorrow on the 10th and I am looking forward to getting out onto the water.  There is a high pressure system over us at the moment so the skies are clear and the winds light - not ideal and it doesn't look any better for next week.  Still, I'll be able to top up my tan.

The End of an Era

On Wednesday 1st April I packed up my box of toys for the last time as I finished working with children in four Hampshire Primary Schools, three in Farnborough and one in Basingstoke. 
It was a poignant moment as I said goodbye to the school office for the last time - sad but exciting as I can now look forward to training and preparation for my journey around the world.



I have been given some wonderful gifts, bouquets of flowers and cards signed by parents, children and teachers and have taken away some precious moments of times spent with some very special children and adults. 

A big THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to my enjoyment of the work I have been doing and who have touched my life in their own individual way.





I have been working in schools since 2004, one of them for ten years, so it has been a big wrench to finally say goodbye to everyone.  I am hoping that we can still keep in touch via my blog and I look forward to returning next year when I am planning on talking to the children about my trip in a school assembly.  The idea is to give a talk before I go and then follow it up a year later when I will have photos and video clips to share.  Hopefully the children will have the opportunity to follow me and to plot the boat's position as I travel across the oceans and around the world.

I am still working here at home but with more 'free' time during the week I can now start concentrating on selling the house, getting fit and sorting out all the paperwork that needs to be dealt with before I go away.  The last thing I need to be thinking about is filling in my tax form as I head across the Southern Ocean to Australia.