Adventure Travel Sailing
“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
Quote Source – Christopher Columbus
Learning to Sail
I am told if you sail in the Solent you can sail anywhere, and maybe its true, double high tides, shifting sandbanks, ferries, hovercraft and pleasure craft and all on one of the doorstep of one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes - so maybe they have a point.
We sailed out of Warsash a small village on the mouth of the River Hamble, it was a busy area and following seas could often make for a hairy surf back into the river with dozens of other craft taking the crazy ride in. We usually have a pint or two in the Rising Sun and occasionally a meal before heading back home.
The river took took you out into Southampton Water where massive cruise ships set off on their next global voyage, but for us Calshot Castle on the spit, was with the sign we were off somewhere or that we were nearly home.
We would often take the trip across the solent and the infamous Bramble Bank, and yes we grounded on it, but nothing that putting the mast out the side along with the crew and a bit of reverse couldn’t solve, so red faces saved.
Stopping off in Cowes and grabbing a well earned fish and chips or a trip down the River Medina to the Folly Inn, which would often have the keel running through the mud and the depth gauge showing we’d run out of water. Occasional they’d have live music and it was a fun time, learning to sail, navigate and having fun doing it as well. I seem to remember going to the Folly in a 42 Bavaria - it was tight, but normally it would a 35ft Dufour. These were great little yachts, and very forgiving for the novice sailer, they could take a bump too!
One thing you will notice if you sail a lot is that you can tell what people do as to what they learnt to sail on. If you learnt dingys first you find that when they more to yachts they can’t stop sobbing around with sail plan. They have to tinker, moving the travellers, changing the sail shape, constantly trimming and trying to get every ounce of speed out of it. It’s beamy 36ft plastic fantastic, it ain’t going to go any faster!. If you learnt yachts first you put the sails up and trim them to the course. That’s it. We once sailed from Gosport to Cherbourg in France on one sail trim, we put the sails up in Gosport in a Sigma 33ft, with an adjustable back stay (something else for the dingy sailors to play with) and arrived in Cherbourg - wind - tide and all that on one sail set! and sailed right into port. It was an eventful overnight voyage, complete with a corkscrew sea, massive waves and vomiting crew, but as helm with ride of valkyries in your head, constant sea spray in your face, you can draw comfort that at least the waves cleared all the scuppers of the vomit.
As you can probably guess we learnt in Yachts, but it is dingy sailing that taught us to “sail” nothing wrong with messing about with the trim to get the best out the boat, often makes for a smoother ride too.
What you can find in the Museum of Travel
RYA Incontinent Crew training Warsaw and Isle of Wight - Folding the main sail - good job ladies.
Red Ensign, which most UK vessels fly, there is also the blue ensign which certain Yacht clubs can also fly in addition to the Royal Navy.
Admirals Barge sign from the Royal Navy aircraft Carrier Ark Royal. Part of the museum collection
Big Yellow direct to Satellite - originally designed for ocean yacht racing, it works equally well on land. Garmin device (orange) does the same thing.
1980's Dive Knife- They were huge! Japanese made - never had cause to use it. Shears are a lot more useful to cut line and fishing hooks. Some dive kit can be useful for clearing a fouled prop. Also helped out many a fisherman (looking for lost nets) and coast guard - inspection shaft of a vessel.
You will often hear a skipper say that they don't stop for hats! Why not? Great man overboard drill, but if they really won't get one of these a hat retainer - works equally well on land.
Dingy sailing gloves, but work on a yacht too. If you sail yacht you can quickly learn who started out on dingy's first as they can't stop messing about with the sail trim, travellers and the like.
Pack light for yachts - travel towels - quick drying, and small first aid kit. You always get "boat bites" if you sail enough, unexplained bruises and the odd dislocated knee!
Tilley Hat - ideal dingy / yacht hat, can get wet, doesn't shrink and keeps the sun off. Can't recommend them highly enough. The brass wear does go bit green with seawater, but that's about it.
Bosun's box - an essential part of any dive boat or yacht, gets you our of trouble, jubilee clips, seals, bolts, bits of bridging wire, you be surprised how often it comes in useful.
Soft squiggy bags work best for yachts where space is at a premium, water resistant helps as well. North Face duffels that sort of thing. A couple of smaller bags often works better that one big one.
Dingy / sailing shoes, essential they are non marking, these are designed to let the water out - they are mesh. last thing you want to do is "mark up" someones teak deck or white body work, particularly if you are moored along sides and have to cross decks.
A good pair of binoculars can be useful for identifying that Cardinal marker or is that an occulting, flashing or isophase light?
Old fashioned dividers, everyone should be able to navigate with a compass, chart, dividers and protractor, course- speed - distance. GPS is great but what happens if it breaks?
Sighting compass useful as a back up to your main compass and useful if you want to get an accurate bearing such as a transit into port.
Clock and high tide predictor, useful if like us you have five and a half meter tides, which means you won't get into the marina (or leave it) if you get it wrong.