Page 35 - QARANC Vol 14 No 11 2015

Channel at night in a thunder storm is perhaps not the best place to be. However we carried on racing through the night. As first light came we were well on our way to the Lulworth mark and in the distance the same yachts were still off to our starboard side; the wind has turned and it provided opportunity for us to get the spinnaker up again. Once past the mark the Skipper had to make the decision of which way to enter the Solent, via the Needles or North Channel. Due to our position at the time and the position of the other yachts around us out best option was to take the North Channel option, which paid off. As we got into the Solent waters we were alongside three other yachts at the front of the fleet. With the familiar surroundings of the Solent coastline we knew we were only a few hours
from the finish. It was a close battle to the finish line, and unfortunately we crossed the line 4th after almost 26 hours of racing.
All that was left now was to get the yacht back to JSASTC and clean it for handover. Once this was done there was a short time to get showered and changed ready for the prize giving and BBQ, which was being held at Hornet Sailing Club. There were various prizes that had been closely fought for over the week including the inshore and offshore series; however the one that everybody wants to win is the Overall SOR 2015. This year the winners were the British Army.
WO1 (RSM) C A Olive DMG South
THE GAZETTE QARANC
AMS Ski Championships – Serre Chevalier 2015
On the 31st January 2015, 13 members from British Forces Germany Health Services (BFG HS) travelled for 12 hours from Bielefeld, Germany to Serre Chevalier, France to take part in the 2015 AMS Ski Championships (AMSSC).
The team had a range of very experienced skiers who had competed before, intermediate skiers and 3 novices.
Our mornings were spent Alpine skiing and Race training however the afternoons took on a new challenge - Nordic Skiing!!! So, with the Lycra donned some of our team had our first lesson. I didn’t know how I would cope without the warm ski clothing but once the training got underway but I soon realised why only light clothing is needed! With thin skis, long ski poles and few downward slopes I soon realised how good a work out Nordic Skiing was.. and dare I say, I actually enjoyed it by the end of the two weeks.
With the training week complete, helped along with ‘crepes and chocolat chaud’ the races commenced.
Race week presented a variety of challenges for all of the Team and everyone performed well in their categories against some tough competition. Once the Alpine
Races were finished the Nordic Races began. Our Team Captain was determined that everyone in the Team from the Brigadier to the JNCO’s would don the Nordic Ski’s and complete the 5KM Rely loop – which they did and I think it is fair to say we all felt a sense of achievement at the end and did well as in-experienced team amongst those teams who had been training all season.
The Patrol Race is the penultimate event of the AMSSC. Myself, Maj Taylor, Maj Kemp, and Capt Watson wearing large white coveralls which were tailored to fit with zinc oxide tape and 40 KG between us we set off and completed the course. This was a physically and mentally demanding race which involved command tasks along the way and the Nordic equivalent of ‘Off Piste’ which consisted of walking over fields in very deep snow and for the vertically challenged this is not an easy task!
There are many opportunities throughout the year to develop your Nordic and Alpine Skiing. The success of this event has got the team members already wanting to return next year. It is with great thanks to the QA Association for the contribution of funding to this event Sgt K Price
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SPORTS