Page 64 - Wish Stream Year of 2019

Exercise MOONRAKER CADET
OCdt Newton
Exercise MOONRAKER CADET, was one of the Intermediate Term’s sailing adventurous training (AT) expeditions to the Solent, con-
ducted from 11th August to 16th August 2019. The aim was to give all five Officer Cadets some testing AT and come away with a qualification as well.
During the six-day exped, three Day Skipper and two Competent Crew qualifications were attained, as well as a well-timed exposure to Cowes Week, and the rough waters between Hurst Castle and Fort Victoria, where, for two of the crew, violent seasickness occurred. The ports visited took us over the length and berth of the Solent and included: Gosport, Yarmouth, Bucklers Hard and Poole.
Day 0 and 1
All crew members assembled at
JSASTC for kit issue, safety and
boat briefs before cooking din-
ner and catching an early night.
The next day was an early start,
practicing basic skills and engine
manoeuvres, then escaping Gos-
port to make the most of the tide
heading west towards Yarmouth Hard. A fair westerly wind allowed us to make good time amongst the Cowes week racing yachts before it shifted in the late afternoon, allowing us a gen- tle reach up the more secluded Beaulieu River to Bucklers Hard.
Day 2
We left Bucklers Hard under the piloting of OCdt Thomas to put our newly learnt basics into prac- tise. We plotted a course from Beaulieu River to Poole, avoiding the crowds of Cowes Week. Once out in the Solent the weather deteriorated, with certain members of the crew affected more than others! This, however, did allow novice members of the crew to gain invaluable expe- rience piloting during such adverse conditions. Upon arrival at Poole Yacht Club, we were all ready for some much-needed and well-earnt time ashore.
Day 3
We awoke to similar weather as the previous day, forcing us to rethink our day ahead through the Solent to Yarmouth. Unfortu- nately, after setting off the weather was too poor, and we moored onto a buoy to wait for the conditions to improve. After a few hours we were able to get underway and continue to
practice our piloting.
Day 4
The weather saw vast improvements overnight, and now all crew members were famil- iar with the roles they had to play; we were able to select a sail type and prepare the yacht for the crossing from Yarmouth to Lymington, with little tuition from our instructor. The conditions were ideal and we were able to take off our water- proofs and sail just in shorts and t-shirts. With a strong tide, we made Lymington in good time, docked in the Town Quay and went ashore for a couple of hours to look around Lymington. Later that evening we conducted our night sailing.
Day 5
Having successfully navigated the Solent at night we safely found harbour back at Gosport for our final evening living aboard the boat. The following morning, and with HMS Queen Eliza- beth as a backdrop, we began the final aspect of our course: man overboard drills. Due to the weather we had yet to really have the opportu- nity to actually practise the drills. Naturally, the now hardened and slick crew were more than quick to master the skill of collecting a buoy (act-
After a few hours we were able to
get underway and continue to practice our piloting.
62 SANDHURST