It's all been happening...

Since I last updated, quite a lot has happened!
We never quite made it to Chichester Harbour, what with the weather and other deciding factors. The biggest one was the news that we had to bring the exam forward! Which sent a few ripples of nreves through the crew!
As a result we decided to stay well withtin the Solent, concentrating on the skills and drills we needed for the exam.
Lots of MOB drills, close quarters sailing onto buoys and pontoons, blind navigation (simulating fog) and finding waypoints withough the use of GPS.
The exam was on 14th & 15th September, and by the time we'd played around, the guys were ready. It was a hard week, with very little rest, until the day before when we had a relaxing day getting ready for the exam.
We couldn't have asked for better weather during the exam, good winds and visibility and being on a monday and Tuesday, there wasn't that much traffic around.
After 3 months of hard work and preparation, the guys got the decision on Tuesaday afternoon, much to the relief of all on board. We had the all clear nice and early, so we had tie to head down to Lymington for a celebratory drink in perhaps the nicest harbour in the Solent. Turned out to be slightly more than one drink though!
I left the Guys to it after that, travelling up to Cumbria by train while they were left witht hte task of getting Parhelion back to maryport.
So far they've been along the south coast, and have arrived in Milford Haven, via Dartmouth, Weymouth, Poole and Fowey. Unfortunately, the Channel Islands had to be put off until another time.
We're expecting them back here in Maryport on Friday or Saturday, when they complete the round Britain sail. A huge achievement by them all. Especially when you consider they'd hardly sailed before they joined us back in June.
I'm looking forward to hearing how they've got on without me, hopefully they haven't had too many problems. Maybe they have.

gales, gails & more gales

Here we are sat in Haslar Marina, portsmouth, watching a private (ish) show by the red arrows. We've come to the conclusion they're completely nuts.
We were out in our first gale yesterday, running downwind with just the jib out and really quite enjoying it. Unlike the night before, beating into it on our way to Cowes. Haven't been quite so wet for a long time. We certainly earned a beer for that trip!
Reading out to play on the mooring buoys this afternoon, then heading over to Chichester Harbor, via Langstone, to pick up a mooring for tonight.
Hopefully the wind will start to moderate in the next couple of days so we can head over to Cherbourg and the Channel Islands for a few days.
We've been pretty much everywhere on the Solent, another day or so and we will have been everywhere that's worth the visit. Tome for some more milebuilding before we get back to skills and drills.
Only 3 weeks kept begpre the exam, and I think there are a few nerves beginning to show! Time to start working them hard.

welcome to the solent…

Position: Lymington, Hampshire.
Well, we've made it to the Solent, after an horrendous trio from Eastbourne. Wind on the nose all the way, lumpy water and a fresh breeze. Just what we wanted.
So far we've been to Portsmouth (twice), Cowes, Warsash, Beaulieu and Lymington.
The aim is for the guys to get to know the area their exams going to be. Plenty of skills and drills etc.
I think the amount of shipping came as a surprise to them, especially bank holiday Monday. Yachts everywhere!
At least their collision regulations are being put to good use!
Off for more of the same thing for the next couple of days, with long days and lots of deck work. They're going to hate me.
There are more gales forecast for the next day or so, so well certainly be put through the mill. Its about time too, we were getting too used to light winds!