8th July 2011

After all of the crew had boarded we went through a safety briefing from our skipper David, ready to set off on Tenacity's first round Britain adventure.

We set out for the sea lock at about about 3.00pm after a little waiting in the bottom lock, navigated out of the Lune Channel.  Behind us we could see a fierce black storm cloud.  Then it was a straight crossing to Ramsey on the Isle of Man - well almost, as we had to carefully navigate through a few windfarms that are now springing up all around our coasts.

The Fierce Black Storm Cloud!

We all then had the experience of night sailing and in watches we took turns at sailing and navigating and sleeping!

Read more about Sail Training on board Tenacity of Bolton at http://www.tenacityofbolton.org/

Around UK Leg 1, Glasson to Ullapool

Read more about Sail Training on board Tenacity of Bolton at http://www.tenacityofbolton.org/

Oakham School Gold D of E, 6 July 2011

Wednesday started with a tough night with Tristan and Emily on the helm and Richard navigating round the top of the Isle of Man.

With a prevailing South Easterly wind it was an upwind sail with the waves pummeling the bow. Even so a top speed over ground of 8.4 was reached. Constantly taunted by the light from England and the ever present wind farms it was a long night. After a 4 hour shift Toni, Jenny and Georgia went up for their shift giving us a much needed rest. 2 hours later though the great white telephone reclaimed Jenny and the first three went back up for another shift faced with the task of navigating the dreaded windfarms. Rain and fog dominated the area making navigating a nightmare even for rad nav Richard. The group slowly began to lose their sanity, Tristan raving about a steak sandwich and a pod hammock filled with warm water that you can sit in… While steering was easy enough, figuring out what was in front of us became a challenge with Emily confusing boats for cardinal buoys and thinking the turbine stands (which looked like aliens out of War of the Worlds) were power stations or oil rigs…little wrong there. Finally at 10:30 we arrived at Piel Island on Jenny, Toni and Georgia’s watch. After a long snooze and satay beef wraps for lunch we went ot explore the island. We met the ‘King’ of Piel and his many fluffy dogs. While we were refused a ride on a visitor’s helicopter we got to take a look at the castle and spend some time in the sun. After a simple dinner Tristan and Jenny brought out the big guns and attempted to make mars bar madness ( chocolate rice crispie treats) and despite the stale rice crispies, they were a total success. Tomorrow we head home but for now,

Many Thanks,

Emily

 

Read more about Sail Training on board Tenacity of Bolton at http://www.tenacityofbolton.org/

Oakham School Gold D of E Day 3, 5th July

Day three began at midnight – nothing more, nothing less. The weather was still and pleasant, if not a little chillsome, especially in the early hours. Each group took at least one 4-hour night watch, and with each the Isle of Man (Douglas in particular) got ever closer. By 7am we had arrived after a rather long and tedious period of no wind and low average speeds. We anchored off Derby Haven and went to sleep until 10am. When we awoke for our shore trip to Peel on the other side of the IoM the weather had changed a lot: the wind had picked up greatly and there was a large swell present. One or two members (Jenny and then Toni) took tactical chunders, but only Toni was able to recover relatively quickly – Jenny’s recuperation took a lot longer! Other eventful moments included a synchronised flying lesson by Tristan, Toni and Emily across the cockpit following a particularly large wave, and Tristan receiving a high five to the face from a table in the middle of his snooze.

At around 3.30 we mopped up the remnants of our technicoloured yawns and went for an explore and for supper in Peel, and set off again at 6pm at a record speed (by Georgia) of 7.2 knots!!!! We, Jenny, Toni and Georgia, are currently on watch heading back around the top of the Isle of Man and towards home.

Jenny is preparing for her inevitable reunion with the toilet.

Richard, after plotting a series of excellent courses throughout the voyage, is catching some Z’s in preparation of being the only one with a strong enough stomach to fully take on the Irish Sea.

Georgia is on the wheel (and also the rum).

Toni is manning the radio and the charts.

Emily and Tristan are slacking/playing fruit ninja!

Many thanks,

Jenny x


Read more about Sail Training on board Tenacity of Bolton at http://www.tenacityofbolton.org/

4th July 2011 Oakham School Gold D of E

After a night spent on anchor at Piel Island, we set sail at 730 with high hopes for Ireland. This dream was quickly shattered due to a lack of any wind, often moving at around 1 knot. After a group discussion, we decided that the Isle of Man was a more realistic aim, which is currently where we are heading towards. The day’s adventures ranged from jellyfish fishing, dolphin and puffin watching, and a fitness session led by Jen bob. We were also treated to Emily’s Betty Crocker brownies. A minor altercation involved a gas rig in close range. After a large horn, we took our leave We also Tomorrow we hope to reach foreign land and catch a(nother) Portuguese Man O’War. The tanning front is improving and Toni is now 7 shades darker than she originally was.

Many thanks,

Georgia

P.S. 5 minutes after the writing of the blog, a Portuguese Man O’War was in fact caught by Toni Duffy.


Read more about Sail Training on board Tenacity of Bolton at http://www.tenacityofbolton.org/

Day 1 Glasson to Piel Island

Day One: Sunday

We arrived at “Tenacity” at approx. 8:00 Saturday night after a few mishaps (a forgotten purse ;)), a kfc trip and some krispy kremes. After planning our route: Plan A – Skerries, Ireland / Plan B – Douglas, Isle of Man; and presenting the plan to our assessors (NJN/ Ian/ Colin / Helen) we went downstairs to the bunks where the 6 kids chose the massive room at the stern

Sunday Morning: Woke up at 8:00 and had a cold breakfast. We practised leaving the pontoons and tying up again and then headed off to the lock at 11ish. With a tonne of spectators, we managed to navigate the locks successfully catching a few rays at the same time.  Starboard Watch (Trissiboii/Jenbob/Tonifer) went to the back of the boat to chill with magazines and music while Port Watch (Naggers/Richie/GCarr) took us out into the Irish Sea under motor. After a delicious lunch of wraps, pepperoni, cheese strings and Pringles Team DofE Gold raised the 4 sails and set off towards Whitehaven (Which is on the way to Scotland because, due to the light wind, we changed to Plan C). Team Starboard then took control at 4:00 with Toni topping the current speed charts with a whole 4.8MPH  Craaaaazy speeds! The wind then dropped to NOTHING so we had a dinner of Spag Bol and yummy Rum Cake which Emily and Georgia prepared. 

We are now currently heading back to Piel Island (7 miles) to anchor for tonight in order to set off bright and early tomorrow (apparently at 4 in the morning?!)

Hopefully there’ll be more wind then.

We’re all having fun and looking tanned and cheery (Probably due to the rum caaaake)

Miss you Svetbot!

Much Love

Many Thanks

Toni (Starboard) x

Read more about Sail Training on board Tenacity of Bolton at http://www.tenacityofbolton.org/

Oakham Gold D of E Assessment

Read more about Sail Training on board Tenacity of Bolton at http://www.tenacityofbolton.org/