Twas a dark and stormy night ..... actually,
it wasn't really. It was light south-westerlies with clear skies and
the moon on the sea as we left our anchorage on the south coast of
Ireland bound for Wales
John, the skipper, quickly organised the watches (2 groups called
1st and 2nd watch, three hours on, three hours off each) with only
small mutterings of mutiny amongst the crew! Having got another of
Sue's fab hot dinners inside us washed down with plenty of tea, we
got the anchor up. I was in 1st watch and John had us successfully
hoisting sail in the dark. Although we were all a little worried about
coiling the halyards properly, Sue let it pass muster!
By change of watch at midnight, we were ready for sleep. It seemed
only moments before Mavis was upon us with the 3am call. Second watch
were ready for heads down and we were all layered up for our turn
- it's cold on deck at 3 in the morning!
Trinovante sailed onwards over the moonlit sea, shooting stars above
us, and dolphins playing around the bows. We were all spellbound by
the spectacle - my, were the second watch jealous and my, how first
watch rubbed it in!
Dawn broke, winds became lighter and John started the engine to make
up time. Approaching Milford Haven, we heard a mayday over the radio
and the lifeboat left harbour. All hoped it would be a successful
rescue.
Safe in port ourselves we went alongside with the crew performing
skilfully and putting clove hitches on fenders with ease. Mostly novices
on at the start of the week we had improved a great deal by the time
it came to leave - we will be even better next year!
So a big thank you to John & Sue for letting us use their boat
for the week, to the rest of the crew, Paul, Ruth, Sarah, Mavis and
Marge and to you Trinovante. You were simply the best.
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