Last week, 3 RBYC members (Professor B, The “Hof” and myself) took on the challenge of Yachtmaster, aided by another taking on Day Skipper (Dad!) . The good news is we all passed – but as the event was not without its highs and lows I thought I’d share them with you all.
We started with a 5 Day YM prep course organised via Southern Sailing. Highly recommended for those of you planning for YM. Purple Mist was ready to go , she’d had a bit of an incident 2 weeks earlier on the way back from Eddystone when she’d lost her prop – silly girl! Luckily my clever boat had managed to keep her prop tightly attached whilst we motored 20hrs in a F6 back from Eddystone and only managed to shed it on the Port Hamble Fuel pontoon with no tide running, the wind blowing her on and our very own diesel course instructor ready to investigate the engine – so no damage done. A quick tow from Sea Start (also highly recommended), a diver recovered the prop and it was fitted on again ready for the course.
Our Instructor joined us Sunday and we set of for the delights of Southampton water. First task was picking up the mooring buoy under sail at the end of Ashlett creek with about 3kts of tide and a fair amount of wind – lots of practise on that! Next highlight was the retrieval of an undamaged Fisher Price plastic garage - very handy as the “return from my trip” present for the 2 kids of Professor B. Then it was onto man overboards, Maybe Purple Mist was a bit on edge like the rest of us, maybe some underwater gremlin who had been hiding in the Hamble river 2 weeks prior had swum down to grab the prop again but – oh dear – no propulsion – Prop was lost again….. and this time no chance of a diver picking it up.
Interesting with a YM instructor onboard I expected we’d at least sail back to the Hamble – but oh no – his first thoughts “you said you were in Sea Start – better give them a call! “ So Monday night we were back where we’d started.
Monday I spent the morning with the marina with them justifying how carefully they had fixed on the original prop. Then its was the pros and cons of feathering versus folding and decided to switch to a feathering prop – mostly because the Danish flex-o-fold was on a 10day lead time and the British feathering prop could be finished up that afternoon. Professor B did a sharp bit of negotiating with Hamble Point and mid afternoon we switched boats to Dumbledore – she’s like the older sister (maybe Mother???) of Purple Mist. Then it was off to Cowes for dinner. Outside Cowes was a very nice looking boat that I recognised from one of my quizzes as the Danish Royal Yacht. We just called it Lurpak for the rest of the week. ……. I bet that has a Danish Flex-o-fold prop on it!
Finally we could do a bit of night sailing, prop intact - Professor B found the Bramble post in the dark and “The Hof” took us into Newtown Creek.
Next morning more of the same – Dad took us to Beaulieu, I blind Nav’d round to Calshot, Someone to Cowes – past Lurpak again, then it was off to Haslar in the dark (via a few spots we needed to find) – key learning the channel bends to Port on the way in – turn with it or you end up in the middle of the channel.
Wednesday was mooring buoys under sail again then a blind Nav into Wooton Creek. (via a few more spots to find) then it was back up the Hamble to rejoice in the relaunch of Purple Mist. Key criteria was that the fridge had been kept on so the home made and frozen Fish Pie that I was
hoping to charm the examiner with Friday was still intact. Quick boat swop and then up to Marchwood in the dark – short tacking up the narrow bit.
Last training day was over in a flash, an explore of the River Itchen, quick wave to Javelin, final practise of MOB the RYA way (under power, pick up on the windward side) as this was a definite in the exam. Dad got his Day skipper so it was off to the Jolly Sailor to celebrate.
As the week went on the nerves built and certainly that evening all three of us were nervous. However we agreed a few tactics – no war stories – only tales of competency to be mentioned with the instructor and to try and help each other when we can.
John Goode rocked up at 3pm and did his best to put us at ease. I was first on with a trip to Cowes – It was a less than slick leave of the pontoon, then wind got up to 25kts on the way over and 2 goes on sailing onto the buoy but overall not bad. At least I was in charge of the vessel – which earned me a new nickname. I won’t repeat the nickname John gave me but apparently although completely unacceptable to most ears from him was a compliment.
Then Professor B took us to Wooton Creek again, this time at low water and other than trying to go over the shallow bit at 6kts where it was suggested he better slow down, and a few touches on the bottom avoiding the ferry all was well. “The Hof” took us into Portsmouth and Camber dock. Funnily enough the Helm ensured we never went out of the small boat channel and other than the “Hof” turning the boat in Camber dock like it was a car (plenty of side slip!!!) it was another good performance. Professor B took us into Royal Clarence ( I can get it cheap and its very easy!).
Next morning it turned from examination to tuition. Although we were supposed to be doing Mooring buoys in Portsmouth harbour, it turned into John showing us a very cool manoeuvre involving tying the opposite bow to the pontoon and reversing hard – apparently he’d once had to do this on some knackered ship with a dodgy engine when the captain had been arrested. Once we’d all done that it was time for morning tea and no time for mooring buoys. Professor B then took us out of Portsmouth and after a close shave with a green buoy went through the gap in the submarine barrier - that’s the gap just off Southsea Pier – not the one in the middle. Sun was shining, wind was blowing and we could have been in the Med. We moored under sail - quite honestly I don’t think the anchor was dug in but I didn’t like to say… after all it was John Goode !
We went down to Lymington and en route did a few MOB’s and despite what the instructor said John wanted to show us how to do under sail – so we all got a go at that even Dad. By this time we had also worked out another distraction tactic – Dad kept John busy with tales of Fergusson tractors, bantum chickens and dog breeding whilst we got on with sailing the boat. On the way back I decided to squeeze every bit of tuition we could and given John is the expert on chutes with his boat show masterclass out came Purple Mists news stripy number and that kept him busy with tuition for another couple of hrs.
By this time the weather was chasing us down the Solent, so we just got back to Universal before the big blow.
Sunday morning was finished up with some theory, few calculations and then the big reveal that we had all passed. By this stage I think we were all so dog tired that we were beyond caring if we passed or failed but we were all successful.
Net a great week, not one I’d want to repeat in a hurry but we all ended up better sailors.
Kate Cope
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