LEONIE'S CLIPPER CHALLENGE

17 February 2011 Weather wise we faced continuous high winds for all four days at sea ranging from a relatively benign Gale Force 8 up to a slightly more breezy Storm Force 10 with a top wind speed of 54 knots. The seas were mountainous!
 
It was pretty eventful as a training exercise. On our first night heading across the Channel towards France we tore the mainsail during a reefing mission so knew we would have to return to Gosport for a replacement to be picked up before we could continue.

Conditions at the time were SWF8 rising to SWF9 in a very lumpy cross sea which made the ride bumpy to say the least. This was probably why the 14 crew members were reduced to five still standing and not lying prone in their bunks with the dreaded mal de mer. Pleased to say that yours truly wasn't amongst the sickies.

Back at sea on day two we made for Cowes on the Isle of Wight and on Saturday (day three) the decision was made to sail into the Channel via the Needles passage at the western end of the island and head off into the Channel overnight sailing a lazy loop around the Isle of Wight anti-clockwise. This would give us a full day and night at sea. The wind settled into a pleasant SWF9 (about 40 knots or so) as we headed down the Solent and approached the Needles which as many will know are pinnacles of rock at the western tip of the Isle of Wight with a narrow channel between them and mainland England. The distance is about half a mile or so and we had to tack out against the wind.

Now, the tide was with us and giving us a four knot current to push us along but this is where the fun started. When tide meets wind coming the opposite way, as on this occasion, the two forces meet like the Persians and Spartans in an epic battle from Greek mythology. We, on Spirit of Australia were the Spartans and we had to break through the opposing army to get out into the open sea of the Channel. The "enemy" showed itself in the form of a wall of water stretching virtually the full width of the Needles channel with a breaking foaming crest along its length.

What happened next was sensational as we experienced virtually every white knuckle fairground ride imaginable (plus some more) only this fairground wasn't bolted down firmly. At one point two breaking converging waves about 20-foot high stopped us dead in our tracks which was like a train hitting the buffers. We were also completely airborne on a couple of occasions which gives one quite a jolt on landing. However, with much attendant squealing (not only from the ladies on board) and whooping we broke through the over falls of crashing water and into the open sea.

Over the next eight hours or so the wind increased in strength to a full Storm Force 10 with waves the size of houses. Spirit of Australia was flying only as much sail to cover a picnic table and still making 12 knots which is fairly exhilarating. Back in the tranquillity of Gosport we were granted a few hours to rest and feed before heading back out this time down the eastern side of the Isle of Wight for a full day and part of the night repeating many safety drills - chiefly man over board - relentlessly until our Skipper was satisfied with our performance. The wind had eased to SWF8-9 by this time. Comparatively settled conditions.

The entire crew achieved a great deal on this module and knowing little grins were quietly exchanged amongst us as we said our farewells. This is the stuff of Clipper, the reason why the race is unique and why long lasting friendships materialise. It wasn't a bad sail either...

More to come when Level 4 (the final training module before the race itself) takes place in June, prior to that is crew selection at the end of April when I’ll find out which yacht I’ll be sailing in the race and who my Skipper will be.

Another exciting moment during level three training was when we heard a noise that, I'm not going to lie, sounded like someone was letting rip....NO, it was only our MAIN SAIL! ahhhhhh! Handled by the Clipper gang with true professionalism upon our arrival back at the Royal Clarence Marina, the main sail was changed. From the previously matching Australia boat with corresponding Australia main sail, we then had a main sail taken from the Finland boat..now who said we weren't multi-international.

Level three was all about polishing up on and fine tuning the skills that we have already been taught. This, I can asure you, was no easy task. I began my level three training course after not being on a boat for about five months, so trying to remember everything I have already was quite a task at first.

Before I begin, I have to tell you that this level three seriously served to reinforce that taking part in this ultimate once in a lifetime challenge is something that I really want to do. I can't quite explain (as usual!!) the feeling of sailing on the open seas in either fair or heavy weather, together with forming a team with my fellow crew - which quickly becomes more akin to a family.

During level three training we began down at the Royal Clarence Marina in Gosport on the Tuesday, whilst moored up the weather was fine and there was a huge gleeming smile across everyone's faces....not for long!!!!!

Each day on the open water we experienced a force ten to borderline eleven each day (that's approximately 60mph winds to you and me). This, was pretty exciting to say the least. We even had one point were the Coast Guard was screaming at us down the VHF radio for us to come back in to a safe port, which of course we did.

On Friday, following trecherous conditions on boat and at sea, we made a break for it and poked the boat's nose out at the well known Needles channel. Nothing can quite explain the size of these waves rolling towards us. At one point two HUGE waves came powering towards us whilst we were steaming along at 12 knots, these two waves came together in a 'V' shape and hit the boat and stopped it dead in its tracks. This was something that even our Skipper, Matt, had never experienced. This was unreal and amazing!!!

Whilst on the boat during this training we had formed watch systems named 'port' and 'starboard', I was a starboard member (the best!). Whilst I was on the starboard night watch with three other fellow crew members and with the giant sized waves crashing around us, we experienced an injury on the boat. Now this injury, whilst very unfortunate, stood us in good stead should this (and I am not wishing for this to EVER happen again) happen again. The other members of the crew were still overcoming the on board nightmare that is sea sickness and we were up top, taking watch.  In the darkness of the night, another magnificently huge wave hit the boat, making us heel over sideways onto the starboard side. The boat was on its side at about ninety degrees, my legs were literally just dangling down. When this happened, my wonderful fellow Starboard crew member and Clipper friend, Martyn, fell forward (whilst clipped on), and hit his head which lead to a hospital trip and nine or ten rather nasty stitches – which I am now glad to say have been removed. I had to use all of my might to help Martyn across the stern of the boat and assist him down the companionway ladder. I put Martyn on the seat of the navigation station and switched on the light. Martyn slowed slid off his hat to reveal a rather nasty and bloody 10cm cut on his head. I had no option at this point to wake the Skipper, Matt. Matt handled this injury with sensitivity and all the skills that you would expect of a professional skipper. Once the wound was cleaned with sterile wipes Martyn received a dressing that made him look rather similar to Pudsey Bear!!

Whilst I am not saying that suffering an injury whilst on board is a good thing, it was a great opportunity to experience, first hand, the way that injuries are dealt with. Matt cleaned the injury and notified the Coast Guard of the situation on board. The Coast Guard asked all of the questions that you expect and requested hourly updates on Martyn’s condition until we had safely arrived at the Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth. Upon arrival at Gunwharf, Martyn was whisked off to hospital with our fellow crew member Sara, and unfortunately was advised that he could no longer continue with level three as he could not wear a hat or get his wound wet. Martyn was more than sorely missed on board.

 

The fastest true wind, that we managed to record, was 54.3 knots – almost 60mph!! Quite unreal. As you can imagine there was plenty of screaming to HOLLLDDD ONNNNNNN!

On the last day the wind eased for us and for a few minutes we all sat with our legs dangling over the side, whilst clipped on, feeling the lighter breeze graze our cheeks. This was quite a special few minutes. Nobody said a word, we all sat there grinning and all thinking – WHAT A WEEK...WHAT A CREW...WHAT A SKIPPER. When the evening fell on this fine day we practised some man overboard training. I was nominated to be hoisted over the side to save the pretend man which was either a fender with rope for hair or a flag (Danbuoy) which resembles a pool cue with a red flag on the top. This was quite scary and the men kept joking with me saying ‘it’s behind you’ (pretending like it was a sea monster!). However, we accomplishing the man overboard drills efficiently, professionally and with confidence. This stood us in good stead should anything such as a man overboard happen in the future.

Overall, we accomplished around 250 nautical miles and it was well worth the fight against the raging seas and hurricane style winds. Right now, I cannot wait to get the race started. My level three crew and I achieved a great deal on this training. We all said our farewells with great big grins across our faces. As one of my fellow Clipperites has confirmed...‘this is the stuff of Clipper, the reason why the race is unique and why long lasting friendships materialise. It wasn’t a bad sail either’.

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