Page 84 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

82 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN)
Blue Lancer
The fierce fighting along the Buffer Zone was much quieter than the ‘petrol-bomb-fest’ of Pre-Deployment Training had promised and so six Lancers set sail along the south coast of Cyprus to face a real threat – the strong Mediterranean afternoon gusts. Captain White got his annual sailing cock-up out the way early by departing Akrotiri with the shore power still connected. Fortunately, the bosun and his team had clocked off for the week (Monday lunch) and so the mistake went unnoticed.
For the competent, but not current skippers, this was an excel- lent opportunity for them to practice their sailing skill. The remainder of the crew would no doubt be keen to learn a few new knots, the difference between lines and sheets and absorb as much sailing information to set them up for success on a RYA course in the future – that’s not to say the crew missed the oppor- tunity to top up their tans before heading off on mid-tour leave.
The calm Mediterranean mornings forced us to get used to the hum of the engine and it wasn’t until the breezy afternoons that it was replaced with the soothing sound of nature pulling us through the crystal blue sea. On the final day we battled our way through some increasingly large waves before the wind dropped and we found ourselves on a perfect tack into Akrotiri.
Only a few miles out an RAF rescue helicopter appeared over our port stern. The crew leisurely discussed if they were in a situation that required rescuing from, before it became clear the helicopter crew wished to use our textbook tack as a medium for training. The RAF landed a man on the stern of the yacht where we gave him a bag of Haribo and a coke – he gave us nothing.
The expedition proved both enjoyable and challenging for an
out of practice pair of skippers and a totally novice crew.
SRW