Overview:

Shropshire Borders scouts travelled from Portsmouth, we sailed out into the Solent where we practiced hoisting (putting the sail up). We worked together to hoist the Mainsail. We learned how to “grind” on the winches, this was a two-person job where we had to wind the handle to tighten the sails. We sailed around the Solent in the morning, getting to know the boat and how it worked. In the afternoon we set a mini course with two buoys and performed our first tack. For some people like Arlo, it was their first time experience tacking. He said he felt “a bit nervous when we tipped, but we soon got used to it.” We did four runs back and forth, after the final downwind leg we packed the sails away and headed into Cowes for an hour and a half on shore. The day finished with a stunning sunset.

Q&A with the Scouts – Port Watch

What made you the most nervous on today’s trip?

Arlo: “The tacking and when the boat was leaning to one side”

Amaya: “I didn’t really feel nervous, I really enjoyed everything!”

What was your favourite moment of today’s trip?

Arlo: “Eating biscuits on deck!”

Amaya: “when we went upwind and I had the chance to helm, it was really exciting.”

Sum up today’s trip in three words

Arlo: “Fun, new, tough”

Amaya: “Amazing, incredible, enjoyable.”

Would you like to go sailing again?

Arlo: “Yes, because I liked watching the sails go up and travelling from one place to another.”

Amaya: “Absolutely yes!”

Starboard Watch

We woke up around 7:30AM- to the Moana soundtrack blasting from the speakers as an alarm! Had bagels and scrambled eggs for breakfast, made by our group. We got ready for 8:30 to be on deck for 9, at which point we untied the Challenger and set off into the Solent. George took over the helm after a while and we followed the channel to the southwest, in the direction of (and eventually parallel) to the Isle of Wight. However, we spent some time gybing and eventually tacking. After having jacket potatoes for lunch at sea, Amaya managed the helm and we tacked multiple times around a series of buoys, using the wind to increase our speed, causing the boat to tilt to the side significantly which was thrilling! We then all worked together to put the sails away- Floyd used a harness to climb up the mast to get one of them down- and we docked in the town of Cowes on the Isle. We soon headed ashore for a walk, then returned to the boat where we prepared dinner- a sausage and leek stew. A great day!

What made you the most nervous on today’s trip?

Marcy: slipping off the boat. I kept almost tripping over.

Floyd: the waves freaked me out a little- my kit box fell off its shelf!

Elsa: The way the boat tilted.

What was your favourite moment of today’s trip?

Marcy: removing the sails, Elsa kept getting covered in material

Floyd: climbing up the mast, I used to do a lot of climbing so I felt at home in the harness

Elsa: going to the beach in Cowes

Sum up today’s trip in three words:

Marcy: new, scenic, exciting

Floyd: Adventurous, Explorative, Thrilling

Elsa: Fun, challenging, rewarding

Would you like to go sailing again?

Marcy: yes, but maybe with different sleeping quarters

Floyd: Definitely! Although doing it with my friends would be nice- I didn’t know anyone here before the trip!

Elsa: Yes, but with more of a warning that the ship would go sideways!