Tuesday morning came and a hearty breakfast was had by all. Then it was clean ship, get the dinghy out, and all ashore for a shower – mens showers shut for redecoration, but as we are the only boat in the harbour we use the ladies! A quick walk up the hill to town, and then a quick walk back down as a lot of the shops were shut till Easter 2008. The young lads hired bikes for a ride around and the oldies had a relaxed lunch in the pub.
The wind had turned round to the north east and was now blowing straight into the harbour, which made the dinghy ride back to the boat wet and bumpy. Port watch laboured hard to cook a roast lamb dinner while Starboard watch prepared the deck for the overnight sail back. Biffos comment of “make sure you chew the lamb well lads - makes it easier coming back!” proved quite prophetic. At about 7pm we slipped the mooring and were off into a still choppy sea, with the wind rising to force 6 gusting 7 – once again on the nose so a bumpy night lay ahead.
At 8pm Port watch took the deck and set lookouts as we were going to be crossing the shipping lanes in the dark. The wind kept up and we were storming along with a very bright moon out to light the way for us. The motion once again started to have an effect and every now and again we would see Joe jump out of the top bunk, across the table and grab a bucket. Even the mate was having a rough time and occasionally disappeared to the stern to discreetly part company with his roast lamb. Stephen was struggling again and spent a lot of time head down in the scuppers. All of us were clipped on in harnesses and spray was blowing back across the cockpit at regular intervals.
It was about this point when the off watch started to worry when they caught the Skipper snatching a sneaky peak at the liferaft operating manual!
At midnight it was watch change and down we went to the warmth of our bunks for a few hours of kip. It was a bit disconcerting to have the sound of water rushing past your ear as you lay in your bunk, but you soon got used to it. Then it was 4am and back on deck for another four hours on watch, one man down as Stephen didn’t make it. An hour or so later we tacked and Mark W and I found ourselves up to our knees in water getting the running backstay made up – eventually – so that we were on more of a broad reach and the boat speed increased to over 11 knots. We had the privilege of seeing the dawn and celebrated with a cup of tea and jam sandwich. By the next watch change we had the needles in sight and let Starboard watch take us in, while Mark and I went down below to get our wet boots and trousers off.
About 10am we were in the Solent – we had made it and, as Shane said “thank the Lord we are still alive!”.
By about noon we were back on the mooring in the Hamble for yet another huge meal and a beer to celebrate our achievement of crossing the Channel twice, in conditions that the skipper and mate said would have kept most seasoned sailors tucked up in harbour!
A very big thank you to the afterguard of Skipper Paul, Mate Nick, and watch officers Biffo and Tom (both 201 old boys) for making it possible and getting us safely there and back. Paul even gave up his birthday to take us on the voyage.
Well done to the old boys and networks for successfully completing the challenge:
Port Watch (the best !): Mark “wet legs” Whitton, Shane “praise the Lord, me alive!” Best, Stephen “one watch” Stretton, Geordie “Bucket!” Robertson, and me.
Starboard Watch (they were rubbish!): Phill “what did he say?” Thompson, Peter “last man on deck” Norton, Martin “student union” Bugg, Joseph “not such an iron man” Gross, and Alan “old man of the seas” Thompson.
Well done to all, and the way everyone pulled together and got on with things when the going got rough was a good display of what scouting can instil in people and a very appropriate adventure for a sea scout group. Those involved can now truly call themselves sea scouts!
Mark Thompson
Starboard Watch (did I say we were the best watch?)
Rona II |
