London Calling

The delivery run is done, with all the boats now on show in St Katharine Dock by Tower Bridge.  It was a great sight, seeing us all depart from the Solent and we soon got into our watch systems, the Clipper Race Office set out a race route for all 12 yachts involving across Channel trip to the coast on France. Unfortunately, we made fairly slow progress from Gosport to London due to light winds, and sometimes due to the direction of tide we were going backwards! But this gave me plenty of time to have a bit of fun getting to know my other crew members; sharing interesting facts about ourselves and doing pub quizzes, on one watch we set up circuit training stations, one doing squats, another press ups, then on the coffee grinders etc. From an outside perspective it would have probably been a very strange sight! But we all had fun.

On Friday we made our way up the Thames, which was an exciting experience, passing famous sites such as The Thames Barrier, Millennium Dome, Greenwich and Tower Bridge, as well as seeing the London skyline, and arriving to a great welcoming party of people at the dock. After the deep clean of the boat a few of us went out for drinks in London before I caught an early train on the Saturday morning back to Yorkshire for 4 days, seeing family and friends who are not able to make it to London next week and having a final check of any kit that I will need to take on the boat.

A Level results

This week I am living on board our boat in Gosport; CV23 (she has no name yet until our sponsor is announced), carrying out various tasks with some of my team mates.

My job is going to be in charge of any sail repairs that need doing during the race, so Tuesday was spent with 2 people from Hyde Sails, learning how to use a sewing machine and fix damaged sails quickly at sea, I think I shall be quite an expert  at this in 11 months time.  We have also been adding various pieces of equipment round the boat to make life on board a little easier (although we are not allowed to add anything that makes her go faster); padding out areas inside to lessen the chance of injuries; putting on glow in the dark tape for night watches; and pockets round the helm to hold equipment etc.

On Wednesday night I didn't sleep too well as my A Level results were due out the next day!  So I was up early to find out if I had been offered a place to read History of Art at the University of Warwick. At 8am the UCAS website said I had been accepted, it was a great relief to know that.... and to get an A in Geography, I must give credit to my teachers at the Mount School; Mrs Hayward and  Mrs Cook, for it was at their insistence that I did this subject at A level (perhaps they knew something and that Geography could be very useful for sailing round the world)! Having heard that all of my friends at school had got the results they needed, in the evening I went out for a meal with the crew and the first drink was on me! I slept a lot better on Thursday night!

Now back to more preparations on the boat, stowing sails and whipping lines before we depart for London on Monday.

My charity

On Thursday, I went from Yorkshire to Burford in Oxfordshire, where the   Contented Dementia Trust (the charity I hope to raise funds for) have their main office.

I attended a course with seven others, which was designed  to educate people who care for others with the signs of Dementia to have a greater understanding of this condition. It was a fascinating day and anybody who wants to know more about this and what they do, please visit The Contented Dementia Trust website, if you are able to donate any money through my website www.justgiving.com/seapupsophie that would be even better.

Perhaps if you enjoy reading my website and following the Clipper Race over the next year this charity could benefit from your help!

Bonding weekend

Still feeling the bruises and aches from Level 3 training, I set off last Friday afternoon to spend a weekend bonding with the other 'Team Matt' crew members at a campsite in Milford on Sea.

Even though we weren't supposed to be meeting until the next day at Go Ape, I helped set up the campsite with six of my fellow team mates. One of my roles for the weekend was to organise tents for people who needed somewhere to sleep the following night, bringing four two man tents- this worked out to be just enough! It also gave us a great opportunity to test run fellow round the world crew member, Chris' 'homemade' BBQ, which quickly cooked up a great meal.

Next morning we set off to Go Ape in Itchen Valley Park. Arriving at 9am, I met up with the rest of my crew, who many, I had not seen since May on Crew Allocation Day. Once strapped into our harnesses and debating over how easy people say Go Ape is, we took to the trees. The best bit was the leap of faith jump into a net, even though everyone heard me screech as I leapt off the edge!!! We also challenged ourselves to get across sections with no hands... not an easy task!

After Lunch, we headed back to the campsite and pitched more tents; thankfully everyone found somewhere to sleep! We then wandered to the nearest pub and got to know each other, returning later to set up the BBQ. This was to be the Victuallers first test; catering food for around 30 people and the result was a brilliant meal leaving people feeling sure we were in safe hands when it came to food on the Clipper Race.

With plenty of drinks, we played team games and sat round a large camp fire till the early hours of the next morning. Now we could look forward to a swim in the sea, after a 15 minute walk into Milford on Sea, we arrived to big waves and a windy beach; at first it didn't look very inviting, but we stripped down to our swimming gear and jumped straight in! Freezing, but after a few strokes it was fine and I spent the next 15 minutes swimming. A BBQ breakfast and then discussions of what extras we were going to buy for the boat on the Clipper Race. After cleaning up the campsite we went back to Portsmouth and then met up for fish and chips at the Portsmouth Sailing Club, all organised by Sigi, before saying our goodbyes.

The next day, some of us had signed up to take part in the Cowes Race Week on board one of the 68 foot Clipper Racing Yachts, so we made our way by Hovercraft (a first time experience for me) to Ryde. A 10am start, myself and 15 others, including a skipper, slipped the lines and raced in a very busy Solent. We had a great day sailing and it gave me my first real taste of sailing in racing conditions; exciting and tiring, with lots of tacks and head sail changes, a fun days racing.

Now back in Yorkshire I have a few days to catch up on sleep, with my next trip to Gosport on 12^th August to do a sail making and repair course. 

Lean Mean Racing Machine!

The hectic learning curve continues, having just returned from Level 3 training.

Skippers Damian and Matt (my skipper) took some of their teams out on Qingdao for three days sailing round the Solent, reefing sails, practicing racing starts and changing head sails. I really enjoy sailing the Clipper 68s, however we then came back to port and transferred onto one of the new Clipper 70s.

The Clipper 70 is a LEAN MEAN RACING MACHINE! Working two watches; Damian's crew and Matt's crew; more pieces of the jigsaw fitting together with six of my fellow team on board that I am going to get to know very well over the next year; Derek (round the world crew member) and plus Neil, Hannah, Maud and Mark ( they are doing legs of the race). We practiced racing against four other 70s and two other 68s going from the Solent to Alderney and back. The Clipper 68s are great but the 70s are very impressive; flatter, open decks, so a lot easier to get around, twin helms, well positioned winches and below decks a well set out Galley and the sail and rope locker is well away from the main sleeping area ( which is good when one watch is trying to sleep! )

I did quite a bit of helming and managed to get our boat up to 14 knots in speed, which I thought was good. Then Matt took to the helm and he really got the machine to move, with a very big grin on his face, I think I saw 22 knots on the panel achieved, if so is this a new record for the 70's? And only in the English Channel, what are these boats going to do when they get into the Southern Ocean! Anyway practice race won, but perhaps I shouldn't mention these things yet as we don't want to demoralise the other teams too much yet!

Now  back in Portsmouth for the day, I have just been to the Marine Superstore to buy a dry suit and more items of kit for the race. Tomorrow we have team bonding for the weekend which I shall tell you about on my return.