Day Two Channel Island

Deaf Voyage 1

Day One - Hamble

The three of us went down the M3 to the south coast in the morning after stopping off for a greasy spoon for a cooked breakfast. Its becoming a tradition to have a hearty cooked brunch/breakfast as sailing can be hard work! The weather was good as it was sunny and a fair breeze, a good day to go sailing! When we got there it we discovered to our dismay that that we won’t be sailing until the afternoon tide! It turns out that we were short of a Mate, (the second in charge after the skipper) whom has to be a LSP man, as he couldn’t make it until after lunch. In all there were approx 20 of us in total, including the no-show mate! The boat we are voyaging on is the Rona II; she is a lovely looking 68 foot long Oyster class yacht which was build from statch from shell into a training ship. So after the standard route of everybody helping each other to pack the food away into the holds, cool box and showing the “airline hostess” routine drill of using the heads (toilets) and life jackets. We just chilled out and eventually put into watches. Each watch was responsible for the sailing and meals in turn. It was discovered that I has sailed with LSP for about 6 deaf voyages, which made me one of the experience LSP voyages crew and was made a watch leader which was a very proud moment. I was not on the watch with two of my mates who I came down with that morning, as one of them also became a watch leader for the port watch as while I as in starboard. Around lunch time after having an early lunch of pasties, this is a favourite with everyone! We all went for a cruise up the Hamble to pass the time and had a look around; it was interesting seeing different boats and saw a few strange ones like a converted lifeboat into a sail boat and an old World War Two RAF rescue boat. We stopped off nearby the village marina for refreshment and a quick look around the chandlers (a sailing shop with all the gear you need). Most of the crew were first timers so they bought themselves a RYA logbook to record their first voyage. After a few drinks we head back to Rona II and soon the mate arrived and we had a meeting to decided where we would like to go, having taken into consideration of the weather there were three choices, sail to France, Channel Islands or along the west coast to Devon. The majority voted to sail to France! Surprise, surprise! I think almost everybody wanted to go to France, I guess we were dreaming of those French harbour café culture, all those gastrometry cooking and wine! However there was a catch! We had to sail though the night in turn of our respective watches! Which was interesting since most of the crew have never sailed before? Eventually, we cast off, motored down the river to Southampton waters, got the sails up in the Solent and sailed around the Isle of Wight toward the needles and when we passed the lighthouse, I at the helm turned the 40 ton boat into 180 degree south to France! The sun was going down and it was beautiful to see the surroundings turning into reddish orange colour with the sails up, it was pure sailing!

Day Two – Channel Island

After 4 hours sleep, our watch got up around 5am to take over from the port watch and watched the sun rise. It was the day partial eclipse and won’t be another one for many years so it was a privilege to watch it rise. There was little wind so we had the motor on and the Mizzen up (middle sail) to make headway. Eventually we had to double the lookout as a sea fog came out of no where! I was told that it’s quite common at those conditions to come up quickly in that time of day. It was so think that you could cut it with a knife and no visibly for up to 20 metres! It was decided taking into account of the weather conditions including the wind and tide that it would be better to head for the Channel Island! There were no great disappointments for not going to France for the crews as it was all part of one big sailing adventure. It was decided that we will go to Alderney, which was great as I had never been there. The port watch crew at lunch time sailed and motored into the harbour of Alderney. After having lunch we called for a water taxi and went ashore. The Skipper and the Mate, plus one of the watch officers have been to Alderney before so they advice us the various choices such as where to go and what to do. Most of us went for a shower, which was near the harbour steps, they were clean and free. Afterwards most of us went to the pub called the Moorings which had a fantastic view of the beach which was connected to the harbour. A few of the crews went around the island for a bit of sightseeing. I heard a story later that some people got a lift from a local and went sightseeing, apparently some part of the island had breathtaking views including stunning little beach coves. Then they got another lift from a different local back to the harbour! Later in the afternoon we came back aboard for dinner, which was cooked by the skipper and first mate. Some people helped to prepare the cooking and everybody enjoyed their meal and most of us went back ashore for a few more beers at the Moorings. After last orders we merrily staggered back to the water taxi which was basically an inflatable boat that we bounced around the harbour in the night taking pictures of each other, we were happy sailors!

Day Three – Cowes, Isle of Wight

We left Alderney harbour very early in the morning as to go with the tide and head back to England. It took all day to sail back to Isle of Wight as the wind was light so we had to motor to stay on track with the tide. We mostly chilled out and practice learning ropes knots like the bowline, which is an important knot to secure the boat to the moorings or sails to the mast and also half hitch grove which is useful for the tying the fenders on that protects the side of the boat. We eventually arrived at Cowes by late afternoon. Cowes is the Mecca of the UK sailing world, it a quaint small town with pubs, sailing clubs and chandlers. The brother ship of LSP, the Donald Searle was already berthed there at the Haven Marina so we moored aside her. The Donald Searle is mainly used for VI, visual impaired sailors. After dinner we went ashore to the Anchor pub, which is a regular hang out for the LSP sailors. The Mate had to leave us to catch the Red Funnel ferry back to the mainland as he had to work the next day! Later on we met up with the crew from the Donald Searle at the stables which is part of the same pub. They were having a sing-a-long of which we watched and enjoyed ourselves. After being throw out after last orders the Donald Searle crew invited us back to their boat for a party! It was a good party; we stayed aboard until all the booze was finish at about 1am!

Day Four – Hamble.

In the morning it was agreed with the crews that we will have breakfast ashore and we had to be back by 10.30am as some of the crew wanted to do some shopping for sailing clothes and other bits and pieces. I had a hearty breakfast in a little café in the high street and afterward went shopping. It was nice to walk around Cowes in the morning as it was nice and sunny. Eventually we left when the temporary mate turned up from the LSP office. We sailed across the Solent into Southampton waters and went around the port; it was full of big ships like tankers and cargo carriers. It was a good time to make sure that everyone had sufficient goes on the helming (steering) which was popular choice of sailing. We all had curry for lunch and sailed back into the Solent before turning into the Hamble River. After we moored Rona II to the Donald Searle the watch secured her between the two posts. All the crews had to clean the boat down, put the sails away, tidy the berths and empty the food holders and cooler. Then while we chilled out on the deck we filled our log book and had it signed by the Skipper. Until all the boat chores was done and we had a group portrait taken at the bow. Then went ashore with all our kit by the LSP ferry boat and went home tired but happy. It was a good voyage trip and despite the fact most of the crew were beginners they did really well and I’m proud to say that we made sailors of them!