The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry

When putting a crew together, especially for something as significant as an offshore season, it's normal (and wise) to do some training together prior to racing and this was Andy's intention from the outset, however the best laid plans often go awry.

Our first outing was hampered by Castalia not being ready for us after her rig maintenance over the winter - so we went for a shakedown on a chartered boat just so people could get to know each other and to hopefully experience conditions outside of the Solent. Most of us arrived on Friday evening and went out for a few bonding drinks and a meal (with some of the work bunch who were also in Port Solent for a different event) before heading to bed to be rested for the following day. Saturday morning saw us leaving the lock and heading out to the Solent and beyond - luckily the weather and sea conditions were in our favour, over 30 knots and bigger seas than most of us are used to once we made our way round Bembridge and out behind the island. Unfortunately this did also test some people's stomachs and not everyone managed to keep their breakfast down – I now actually understand why people are said to turn green! Although sea sickness is not something to be embarrassed about, whilst so far I'm lucky enough to have been affected I fully expect that one day, probably when I'm least expecting it, it will hit me full force and I'm not looking forward to that day. We did however still manage to do a few manoeuvres and if nothing else practised putting reefs into the mainsail before heading back into Port Solent. After packing the boat up we all headed round to Andy’s house to see Castalia and have a beer together. Very jealous of the walk out of the back door onto the pontoon and the boat arrangement that Andy has going on and it was great to see the boat which will be taking us around the Fastnet rock later in the year.

Our second outing was more successful, starting on Saturday morning we made our way out of the lock – this time on Castalia and headed out into the Solent. Our plan was to practise manoeuvres, man over board, using the emergency tiller etc. aiming for Lymington at the other end of the Solent.  Again it was quite windy, so we got the sails up complete with reefs in the main and started making our way – Andy then pretended the wheel wasn’t engaging with the rudder and we suddenly found ourselves fitting the emergency tiller – a big heavy metal L-shaped bar which fits into a fitting at the stern of the boat. Everything about it makes me hope we never have to use it for a prolonged period of time – firstly it’s fiddly to get the cap on the fitting out, using a winch handle that is hard to turn in the space available, secondly lifting the bar in is heavy and awkward work and thirdly it’s heavy to helm, often requiring two people one on each side to enable it to be moved.

As the wind got up, we put more reefs in the main and decided it was as good a time as any to practice putting the storm jib up instead of the number 4. Probably not quite as windy as it would be to use it for real, but definitely a good experience – even if I only witnessed it from the safety of the cockpit letting the idiot men go up to the front and get soaking wet! As we progressed to Lymington, we noticed a top gust of 47 knots but after that particular gust we don’t really know what the wind was doing as our anemometer (which had recently been reattached) blew straight off the top of the mast, leaving us without a wind reading for the rest of the weekend – given what happened the following day this was probably a good thing!

We eventually got to Lymington and were all very happy to discover what have to be some of the best showers on the south coast – complete with heated towel rails and underfloor heating in every shower, before heading to a nearby pub for a much deserved hot meal and some drinks. We risked looking at the weather forecast over dinner only to be presented with warnings for the whole of the UK – it was going to be an interesting ride back to Port Solent! 

We were proved right about it being an interesting ride home - forecast for Force 9 winds, but definitely hit at least an F10 at times. Bramble bank recorded an average base wind of 45 knots that day and a friend saw a gust of 62 knots further down the Solent. It was time to use our storm jib for real - and Castalia managed 10 knots with just this tiny orange handkerchief at the front to pull us along! 

Storm jib in action

This really doesn't do the size of the waves justice

If we'd hoped it would be a bit calmer on the way up Portsmouth Harbour to Port Solent we were only going to be disappointed - Castalia was heeling over with no sails up even right outside the entrance to the lock and it was just as gusty on the other side in the 'shelter' of the marina. I did not envy Andy having to moor up in those conditions! 

Whilst our plans for practicing manoeuvres went awry, we did at least get to experience what those kind of weather conditions are like - that was certainly the most wind I've ever seen from a yacht - whilst still in the relative safety of the Solent. Not many other boats were out there with us that day I can tell you! 

Next stop - our first qualifying race to Le Harve!