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ASTO Small Ships Race

A few spoonfuls of a raspberry yogurt, and of course a cup of tea, which I managed to finish, followed by the rush to get into school on time. However, I wasn't off for just another day of school, no, I was off sailing on the school's sailing boat 'Moosk'. After an early start, leaving school at 7am, we were well on our way, travelling in the outside lane of the motorway, listening to the 'Chris Moyles show' on Radio One, which considering we had by that time been listening to it for 2 hours was starting to send me to sleep. By 9.30 we were approaching Hamble, a small town near Southampton; by this time our stomachs were all rumbling and the thought of a cooked breakfast was all we could think about. Would we be going to a gourmet coastal hotel, or maybe a seaside café? No, Hamble Tesco, and I have to say it was the biggest Tesco I have ever seen, never mind, the quicker we got to eat the better. With a budget of £4 each, and just about everything apart from tea priced at 37p we really could eat a plateful! After a leisurely breakfast we were back in the mini bus and on our way to the boat, via the train station though, we couldn't survive without Peter, our skipper. Minutes later we drew up at the harbour; there she was, Moosk in all her pride and glory!

Moosk, a 101 year old gaff rigged yawl, one of the oldest boats that would be competing in the race. The race was all we were thinking about and the talk of the day, whilst, at the same time, we were playing on the beach waiting for the 3rd Form to finish cleaning the boat. After a quick 99 ice cream, which cost nearly £1.50, a bit of a contradiction from the name, we were aboard, and ready to meet the crew (for those that didn't already know them) and having Peter's, scripted safety talk. Finally after Katie and Olivia had finished their mass production of sandwiches we were ready to go sailing! After a slow motor out of Hamble the sails were up and we were off, however, the fact that there was little to no wind meant sailing was rather challenging. To be honest we motored for about the first hour and a half. A few tacks and a couple of jibes, Cowes was becoming our main focal point, considering we had had such an early start.

At around 5.30 in the evening we were just arriving in the Port of Cowes, and were soon moored up against Jolie Brise, who would once again be our main rival in the race. Katie and Olivia once again volunteered to do the cooking, but within minutes the task had turned into a team effort, everyone doing something or other. The evening meal was to be ragout, however, for some this concept was just too much, and we ended up renaming the dish reggae-in-a-pot. It was my turn to do the washing up, joined by George and Len, even this was done to music, and even though I say it myself we did it pretty quickly. Finally, the end of the day was in sight, and Moosk's tired crew would soon be tucked up in bed; but not quite; Peter, Rob and Mr Noad were off to the Skippers' meeting in the 'Royal London Yacht Club', while we were off to explore Cowes. Sadly, not much was really going on, Somerfields was open, along with the few pubs and the Fish and Chip shop. All but two of us ended up buying some chips, clearly there wasn't enough evening meal!

It was bed time, and time it was for bed, knowing that we were going to be woken at 6.30, every minute of sleep would not only be treasured but also vital.

6.30 came in what seemed like just minutes; the sun was beaming into the boat, and to be quite frank getting up was the last thing on my mind. Rob was the first to surface, and defiantly wasn't trying to keep quiet. In fact he seemed quite content on making as much noise as possible, be it filling the kettle or opening the door hatch. Slowly, and steadily everyone began to spring to life and soon the boat was buzzing with the pre-race adrenaline. Breakfast, was as standard as ever, cereal, doused in the semi-gone off milk – lovely! By 7.30 the engines were on, the shore power cable removed and the mooring lines were being chucked aboard; we were off, about to start the many chores preparing for the race start. Quickly and rather efficiently everyone was at work, for those strong boys, George and Mike, it was raising the 'main' sail, while those with less might, Simon and me, it was raising the 'mizzen' sail. Olivia, Katie and Len all got on with the many other jobs, rising the stay sails, the top sail, packing the fenders just to name some. By 8.45 everyone was beginning to assemble around the start, the VHF radio was alive, with some rather posh man doing many time checks, before finally announcing the 5 minutes to the start of the race.

Now tactics and brains would be the only way to gain a positive start to the race; working out at what angle we would want to face the wind to be able to cross the start line at exactly 09.00. We were off and racing, and quite the start it was; we were just behind the line at the start but never mind...Within the first few minutes we got to see what could only be a bit of a boat fight as Rona II managed to veer onto Jolie Brise, nearly clipping her with the Bow spit. Slowly the pack were getting away, leaving poor old Moosk near the back of the fleet, but having heard the success stories of last year, we were still fighting our own battles. By the third buoy and our first section of up-wind sailing the pack were really starting to lose the leaders. To make matters worse we were having no luck managing to sail around Champagne Mumm, the 5th buoy, and the hardest.

The tide was taking us in the wrong direction, meaning that every time we started to tack the boat missed the buoy. On our 5th attempt we cracked it! Skipper, Peter did say that if we were to miss it again that we would have given up and retire. But all was not lost, there was no way we were going to give up; we were off again, down-wind and flying. The minutes turned to hours, and continuous tacking and jibing was starting to burn our hands, making every move more difficult. Finally we were at the bottom end of Cowes, to the East of the island, and facing a long series of tacks to make it back to Cowes by 17.30 for the finish deadline. At last we made it around the final buoy and then all that was left to do was move, up tide and sail home.

Once again the mass sandwich production line was up and running; lunch was on its way. By this time most of the hardened crew were beginning to become tired, and increasingly more lethargic, so everyone bar Peter and Mr Noad settled down to a bit of shut-eye. Somehow, most of the Kit-Kats disappeared, and all that was left of them was the wrappers (something to do with me?). Luckily Katie had been out and bought some more in Cowes! So, we settled down, in the beautiful autumn sun, but we were still racing and we had a race to win...Tack after tack, zigzagging up; slowly the tide was turning, and we were nearly home, all that was left to do was hug along the coastline, and get ready to lower the sails. We were home, the finish line was becoming closer and within minutes we crossed the line –; a small hoot from the balcony of the Yacht Club, we had finished! After a quick photo, everyone took their positions on standby for the call to drop the sails. Just like clockwork everything was done and after what could only be described as a tiring day.

After a quick change of clothes, and a lovely warm shower in the yacht club, Simon and I headed off into Cowes to firstly get some well-deserved food, which was once again a trip to the 'chippy'. But, would Moosk be picking up an award? The evening entertainments were fast approaching, and all were assembling on their boats to get ready for the party. Mr Noad took some shut-eye, while Katie and Olivia headed off to the shower, which would turn out to take them just under an hour. The prize giving was to be held by the Isle of Weight Council in Northwood House, which turned out to be on the other side of town; a trek over a park. We had done it! 'In third place, Moosk'! But, that wouldn't turn out to be the only prize; we also managed to scoop the prize for the oldest vessel competing. After some great, well okay music from the crew of Rona II we headed off, back to the boat, ready to settle down to a well deserved sleep. But as usual we didn't get straight to bed, and ended up staying up to gone one talking to the (nearly drunk) crew of Jolie Brise, who were rightly celebrating after their victory. Off to bed...

Morning came as fast as last night went; we were up, a quick snack and then straight into action, cleaning the boat, and getting ready for the next crew of 3rd Form students to arrive. A trip to the local Co-op gave us the chance to buy lunch, and a chance for Peter to do the weekly shop for the next trip. After just two bites of the sausage roll, Mr Lee-Browne arrived at break-neck speed in the mini-bus. A quick chat, we switched seats...we were off back to Clifton. A great trip, a good result... Monday morning lessons might not be so great though!

Ben Clatworthy

3 January 2008

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