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Sailing at Clifton
Clifton’s sailing offer spans all three terms and covers dinghy sailing, big boat sailing and power boating. We run an inclusive ‘open-to-all’ policy and train novices as well as competing competitively with mixed boy/girl crews.
Dinghy Sailing
- The College has invested in a brand new ‘flight’ of Rondar-built team racing spec Fireflies. This complements our training and fast asymmetric spinnaker and trapeze boats.
- Clifton is part of BSDRA and compete in regional events as well as local events at our ‘home’ Chew Valley Sailing Club.
Big Boat Sailing
- There are Big Boat opportunities through the College for students to gain RYA qualifications from Competent Crew up to Day Skipper. Students can also participate in the Small Ships and Tall Ships races. In Small Ships 2010, competing aboard the 1906 wooden-built classic yacht ‘Moosk’ (one of the smallest ships competing) the Clifton team of 7 managed to come 2nd in their category and 4th in the competition overall, out of a total of 24 yachts.
Power boating
- Students can follow powerboat level I and II courses through College and take part in an ‘up river’ cruise expedition.
Sail Training Onboard Moosk
Moosk is a 55-foot gaff-rigged yawl, built in 1906 in Falmouth.
She has been completely restored and refitted to the highest standards of seaworthiness and safety. Her crew, a skipper and a mate, are both qualified and experienced professionals who have great experience of instructing young people in seamanship, navigation and generally enjoying life at sea!
The Sail Training trips onboard Moosk involve groups of six pupils, accompanied by a teacher from the College, leaving on day one in the morning after breakfast and returning to school by 1800 five days later. Although the pupils do not sail the boat unaided, it is a sail training experience that is intended to build character, self-esteem and teamwork skills, an invaluable and unrepeatable opportunity to develop self-reliance in a safe yet exciting and adventurous environment.
The intention is that all pupils who go on Moosk are then put forward for the RYA competent crew assessment. All who have been on this trip regard it as a formative experience and a highlight of their time at Clifton; Moosk has been said to represent the ultimate feeling of adventure and discovery.
Information about the next Moosk Sail Training trip will be accessible here as soon as it becomes available.
Visit the Cremyll Sailing website for more information.
Moosk Trips
Michaelmas 2010
Moosk was a once in a life time experience, one that I will always look back on. From the boarding at busy Plymouth to the picturesque sail in to Lulworth Cove and the final ending at peaceful Weymouth. We began in high spirits and although a little disheartened by the cold and nauseous crossing of Lyme Bay, we ended sad that we had finished. I would definitely recommend this trip to others and would jump at the chance of doing it again.
*****
It is very difficult to get across how great the trip was in just five sentences, but here is my best effort:
- The five days’ sailing experience was highly rewarding as well as quite difficult, but the skills we learnt and the memories we acquired will not be forgotten; the sailing and everything that went with it was a great point in my life.
- The skipper and mate – Tom and Jim – helped us in our learning of all the different skills required to sail Moosk from Plymouth, where we started our voyage, to Weymouth, where we handed the ship over to the next group.
- Some of my particularly favourite moments were jumping – for some reason unknown even to myself – into the freezing water; Charles choking, before we’d even set off, on a tomato; and Gina’s life jacket inflating when she caught the toggle on something.
- The general atmosphere and banter was funny and kept the morale up, even in the wettest and coldest conditions, and the constant singing of ‘999,999 green bottles’ kept everyone awake.
- Marvellous
Outstanding
Outrageously fun
Sickness
Krazy (so crazy it required a ‘K’)
*****
Going on Moosk was one of the greatest experiences of my life! The sailing was exciting and the skipper and mate (Tom and Jim) were excellent; they certainly made me feel at home at sea! Sailing with the others and working together was also a great experience for me; cleaning, cooking, washing the dishes. Moosk was great fun and there was a general light-hearted atmosphere. If I get another opportunity to go on Moosk again, I would definitely take it!
*****
Five Moosk Sentences
I really enjoyed my trip on the Moosk: Tom and Jim were really good fun.
My favourite part was when I got to steer the boat from Lulworth Cove to Weymouth, along the beautiful Dorset coastline.
The sailing was tough but really interesting and good fun.
We actually had really nice food on board: Tom was a really good cook!
We visited some really nice places includling Dartmouth which was stunning to sail into.
*****
This trip, for me, was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. The ship sailed beautifully and I loved the sailing. Tom and Jim were great and they were helpful and cheered us up in the worst of times. I learnt a lot about sailing and I know I will get more involved and will definitely do the Tall Ships race when I can. All in all, a great trip.
*****
Day 1: Best bit was setting off for the first time. Funniest bit was Charles choking on a tomato. Day 2: Best bit was finally throwing up (because I felt better afterwards). Funniest bit was me activating my life jacket. Day 3: Best bit was being able to shower and feeling warm again. Funniest bit was the colours of people’s puke! Day 4: Best bit was jumping into the freezing cold water. Funniest bit was James annoying me. Day 5: Best bit was getting on the mini bus knowing that I would soon be back to normality. Funniest bit was finding out that the next group going on Moosk didn’t bring sea sickness tablets!
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