MARCH 2003

Sunday 9th March 2003 Handforth – Portsmouth

H starts her Day Skipper course after a 6-hour trip to Portsmouth Haslar Marina. Well, someone has to be qualified for this boat adventure

She checks in on the boat. 3 other students are doing different courses at the same time: a girl called Cag with her other half, Nick doing competent crew, and Phil doing his yachtmaster, plus Andy, our instructor, 5 of us on a Bavaria 37.

Monday 10th March 2003 Portsmouth to Cowes

We set sail to Cowes after a familiarisation in the harbour. H will navigate there. We get there OK. She is very proud to be sailing into Cowes at last. We tie up on the Thetus pontoon and have a heavy night pub crawling…! We need it

H has had too much to drink…!

Tuesday 11th March 2003 Cowes to Lymington

More practice. Tying up in Lymington to the waiting pontoon not connected to shore, so it’s out with the dinghy, and Cag rows us all to the pub. More drinking and pool. Andy tells Phil not to do his Yachtmaster – he isn’t ready. Oh dear…

A drunken row in the tender back to the boat.

Wednesday 12th March 2003 Lymington – round the island – Cowes River Medina

We leave Lymington under my navigation with 2m under the keel for a sail around the Isle of Wight. It starts fine, but by the time we reach St Catherine’s Point the wind has built and by Shanklin it’s a force 7 (touching 8), and Cag is throwing up over the leeward rail every 20 mins. Round the Nab tower and dodging the ferries, we re-enter the Solent and head for Cowes River Medina. 

Having recovered, we all take long-needed showers and hit the pub again (The Folly Inn). Andy teaches me how to play darts, but we can’t keep up with him, so we turn in at 11 pm. Andy turns in many hours later.

Saw the Kingfisher yacht today motoring past Cowes. The Ellen Macather boat…

Thursday 13th March 2003, Cowes to Portsmouth

More practice and the dreaded ‘picking up a mooring buoy under sail’, or rather “Man over board“.

We anchor in the afternoon, a few miles off Portsmouth. The sun sets over the Solent – spectacular! When it’s dark, we set off – this is my night sail – I am to navigate us using lights. The only problem is that it’s like Blackpool illuminations round here. There are buoys flashing, forts flashing, loads of boats, ferries and hovercrafts, and the shoreline is bright too.

We get there ok but are pulled up by the water police – our nav lights at the front are broken.

More drinking in the ‘Lightship’ at Haslar. Amount spent on drinks this week – £50.

Friday 14th March 2003 Portsmouth to near Birmingham

Phil leaves early, and we practice man overboard again in the harbour.

A large aircraft carrier (are there any small ones?) comes in with the sailors lining the deck, followed by 2 jet fighters flying over low. We are told we have all passed; we wash the boat, swap phone numbers and depart.

I am on my way, via Basingstoke, to a mystery location near Birmingham. Many hours later, I turn up at a lovely hotel. (I am still scruffy and have a sleeping bag in tow!) Del is here, at last, after 7 weeks away in Australia and New Zealand working. We have a lovely evening.

I am now ICC qualified and ready for the Med…!