Page 69 - The Wish Stream Year of 2022

HMS Prince of Wales, we raised the mainsail and set off for Cowes. We soon came to appreciate the sheer size and speed of the cargo ships that crossed our paths and all realised that a nov- ice skipper could soon find trouble if not careful. Mooring in sunny Cowes we went through some more basic crewmanship then set off into Cowes in search of a watering hole.
ised shore leave until we were able to collect our wayward cargo!
Lunch saw us picking up a buoy on the River Newton. Never ones to turn down a chance for extracurricular activities, the OCdts broke out their ‘optional extras’ from Mr Websters kit list. OCdts Webster and Hopkisson broke out their fishing rods whilst OCdts Badger and Wood did their best to scare the fish away by going for a very brief swim.
Once arriving in Yarmouth, a pub was located and an intense lesson of revision on navigational lights was given by Captain Kemp-Gee.
Wednesday 20th April
Day three of the sailing, and after a peaceful night in Yarmouth we set sail for Hamble. By this point in the trip, we had become more com- fortable with the ins and outs of the boat and therefore we set about with ease, everyone play-
Tuesday 19th April
We had to employ both Mr Badger’s horse-riding ability along with Mr Woods low centre of gravity to ensure some stability
ing their roles smoothly and getting across to Hamble with ease. The docking at Hamble was a little less easy; with the pontoon being rather shaky, we had to employ both Mr Badger’s horse-riding ability along with Mr Woods low centre of gravity to ensure some stability. This, how- ever, was to be a short stop prior to the main event of the day, the night sail. As the sunset on Hamble, we
Tuesday dawned bright and clear
with a steady breeze promising
excellent conditions for beginning
the meat of the course for the day
skippers and expanding the expe-
rience for the competent crew.
Over morning coffee, the plan of
the day was made; first a period
of skills revision up the River Medina, before beating down the north coast of the Isle of Wight to the west, stopping off at Newton River for lunch and then finishing in Yarmouth.
set off on journey sans sunlight to Southamp- ton harbour. Although we had covered some revision on the different lights to expect during our night sail, to aid in navigation and prevent us from blindsiding a container ship, nothing could have quite prepared us for the reality of night sailing. An amass of green and red lights illumi- nating the channel did little to quash the nerves as we set off, and therefore it called for the bril-
With OCdt Vincent providing the soundtrack for the morning routine (Edith Piaf’s ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’), the boat was readied for the day’s sailing. This saw OCdts Wood and Web- ster busy revising the various lights and signals of the Solent whilst OCdts Vincent, Badger and Hopkisson stowed the living accoutrement and took their positions for our first full day.
The skill for the morning was practising turning a 36ft yacht in a busy channel under power. This presented little challenge for the men of Mari- time Cadet, who quickly established a smooth rota, ensuring that everyone become proficient at each role aboard ship. The only hiccup of this period was OCdt Hopkisson deftly throwing his warp up onto ship, before failing to follow it him- self, resulting in an extended period of unauthor-
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