Induction Training, 13-18 December 2001

Induction Crew, December 2001

Thursday, 13 December 2001

Not quite knowing what I was letting myself in for, I arrived at Ocean Village, Southampton, just after 6pm and made my way onto the brightly orange coloured yacht Challenge Business 48 (aka Quadstone) where skipper, Cal Tomlinson, and mate, Tim Greer, were waiting to welcome the crew volunteer trainees aboard. Within the next few hours the remaining crew arrived (Colin, Dave, Emma, Richard, Steve and Will) and we all sat down to a warming bowl of spaghetti. After being fed, watered and introduced, the question of why we wanted to take part in a Challenge Business race was asked - many of the crew had a fair experience of, and love for, sailing, and wanted to extend it to the 'ultimate experience'.

Friday, 14 December 2001

Much to our joy, the six-o'clock early morning run had been cancelled due to the icy conditions, and both Cal and Tim were also complaining of minor injuries. So after a good night's sleep, the generator was started at 7am, and I headed out to the yacht club for a quick shower before breakfast on the yacht (cereal, yoghurt and tea/coffee). The day started with lectures and a tour of the boat, then after lunch we kitted up, prepared the boat, and made our first trip out into the Solent. The weather was beautifully clear, but bitterly cold, and we were encouraged against wearing gloves, as they would hinder our work! We were taught how to safely use the winches, how to hoist and set the sails, and mostly practiced tacking and gybing. I also had the opportunity to be in control of steering the yacht by taking over the helm. After we returned back to Ocean Village and tidied up the boat, we had some much needed hot food, followed by another lecture. We were soon sent to bed, and as I tucked myself up in my cosy sleeping bag, I hardly had time to reflect on my exhilarating first day on a Challenge Business yacht before easily drifting off to sleep.

Saturday, 15 December 2001

After another morning of lectures, we were out on the water by the early afternoon practising our sailing skills. Just as Cal had instructed us to get ready for a headsail change a Coastguard helicopter approached the yacht, signalling us to make radio contact. They wanted to practice a 'highline', a rescue technique where they make a transfer from a helicopter onto a moving boat. We watched on in amazement as firstly they dropped a weighted line, and then a coastguard crewman was slowly and skilfully lowered from the helicopter onto the yacht. After thanking us for our assistance, he was winched back up to the helicopter, leaving us in awe of the experience, and relieved that the sail change was postponed!

Coastguard highline (Photo: Will Smith)

Sunday, 16 December 2001

After a quick shower at Cowes Yacht Club, and breakfast, we prepared to go straight onto the water. We were going to be put under a bit more pressure today, and for every mistake we made we would be 'fined' £5 or £10 depending on the severity of our errors! I managed to run up the largest amount of course, mostly whilst manning the running backstay (which counterbalances the force of the headsails on the mast). We practiced our first man overboard drill, which was reasonably successful - luckily no one has to jump into the water for this practice, a dan buoy is thrown overboard and then rescued. Our night sail was cancelled because the weather forecast was predicting gale force 8 conditions, so we spent another night moored at Cowes Marina, on the Isle of Wight.

Monday, 17 December 2001

Whilst the male members of the crew prepared a fantastic cooked breakfast on board the yacht, Emma and I were taught how to dismantle a winch, and put it back together again (as someone had damaged it the previous day). Back in the Solent, the pressure was on again today, as we continued sailing, mostly with the tremendous Genoa (a large headsail that overlaps the mast). After all of yesterday's mistakes on the running backstay, I figured it was someone else's turn to gain some 'runner' experience. I managed to keep clear of it altogether, and even avoided receiving any fines at all during the day! We headed back one last time to Southampton, and hit the town for the traditional last night dinner, followed by drinks at the infamous Los Marinos bar in Ocean Village.

Tuesday, 18 December 2001

After a full fry-up breakfast at Canute's Cafe, our final challenge was to tidy up the boat, which involved packing up our personal kit, cleaning the galley, sorting out the foul weather gear, tidying up the sail locker, sweeping and mopping the floors, washing the deck, etc, etc! This was followed by a final personal debrief with Cal, and photo session at the winch and helm. We said our farewells and had a final round of drinks at a pub before making our way back home.

I feel as though I have learned much about sailing in these few days, and I'm looking forward to the next training session. I realise that I still have a great deal to prepare for, physically by increasing my fitness and strength, and I also have to improve my knowledge about sailing theory. Hopefully the training books will have a clearer meaning now that I am more familiar with the yachts.

Back home, everything was swaying for several days after the training, and it was wonderful not to have to pump the toilet 50 times after each use!

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Race Finish
June 2001