This weekend has been busy for both Mary and I, as we travelled from our respective universities to meet up on the Lightship. We were both enrolled on the advanced powerboat course, and both passed! This makes it sound easy, but the weekend was riddled with challenges.
On arrival at the ship, after a well earned cup of tea, Mary and I revised some of the navigation techniques as well as day shapes and lights that we would need to know for the course. Dinner followed, and lectures ensued, which also included a theory paper to test what we already knew (or didn't know!). This turned out to be fairly successful, and so lectures were over by 10pm.
Saturday dawned and we were up bright and early to start some passage planning before breakfast. The day was spent on a navigation exercise out of Tollesbury and all the way to Brightlingsea. This sounds relitivly simple, but when you consider that the wind was a steady force 7, reaching a gale 8 or severe gale 9 at times, combined with a sea state of 'moderate or rough, occasionally very rough', you begin to realise that staying on the sponson of a planing RIB was not a walk in the park.
Once at Brightlingsea, and with lunch consumed, it was time to head back to the ship. The expected conditions with wind against tide did not materialise and the journey as considerably more comfortable than anticipated. Our minds however were not at ease as our greater-than-expected fuel use for the outward trip meant much prayer during the return passage. God does answer prayers, and we therefore made it back with fuel to spare!
After our epic trip during the day, there was another passage to plan and execute, this time over night, thereby increasing the challenge. The weather continued as it had been throughout the day, with the addition of pouring rain, which was actually quite painful at twenty knots! The high speed night trip up the river and past Osea Island was successful, and the crews of both Porters and Humber made it safely back for a good nights sleep.
Sunday dawned with (slightly) smaller waves and (slightly) more sunshine. The morning was taken up with expanding box searches, and after lunch (and a game of mafia) a theory paper. As I said at the beginning, both Mary and I passed, which was very pleasing. A big thank you must be said to Andrew and all the other Fellowship Afloat staff who made the weekend both successful and enjoyable.
As a result of this weekend, I think Mary and I both feel a lot more confident about night time navigation, and navigating in unknown waters. Planning for our trip continues, with more work and a sailing trip planned for the Christmas break. Please pray for us, for health and energy as we complete university work and trip preparations.
Thank you for all your support so far,
Becky (and Mary)
Back After 67D : 21H : 11M : 12S
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What We Are Doing
Well here we are, planning a trip around the UK coast, we leave on the 12th of June for the 2 and a half month trip, in a boat about the length of a modern estate car. Crazy? Foolhardy?
Well we like to think so.
The aim of this sponsored sail is to raise money for the Fellowship Afloat's bursary fund, which provides oppurtunities for people to enjoy outdoor activities who might otherwise not be able to afford it.
One of Fellowship Afloat's big goals is to allow as many people as possible the oppurtunity to enjoy the activities that the centre provides. Over the years this has meant subsidising the costs for many individuals and groups.
The fund setup to provide for these groups and individuals has been supported over the years by generous legacy's and donations, but this has over the last three years been depleted as Fellowship Afloat has sought to offer itself to more.
We plan with this trip to replenish the bursary fund, our goal £10,000 is the amount that Fellowhsip Afloat spent last year from this fund, and if we can raise it will guarantee another years worth of support.
Please keep checking this page as we update it with our location and the tales of our travels around the UK. If you would like to donate money to the bursary fund Click on the link at the top of the page.
Well we like to think so.
The aim of this sponsored sail is to raise money for the Fellowship Afloat's bursary fund, which provides oppurtunities for people to enjoy outdoor activities who might otherwise not be able to afford it.
One of Fellowship Afloat's big goals is to allow as many people as possible the oppurtunity to enjoy the activities that the centre provides. Over the years this has meant subsidising the costs for many individuals and groups.
The fund setup to provide for these groups and individuals has been supported over the years by generous legacy's and donations, but this has over the last three years been depleted as Fellowship Afloat has sought to offer itself to more.
We plan with this trip to replenish the bursary fund, our goal £10,000 is the amount that Fellowhsip Afloat spent last year from this fund, and if we can raise it will guarantee another years worth of support.
Please keep checking this page as we update it with our location and the tales of our travels around the UK. If you would like to donate money to the bursary fund Click on the link at the top of the page.
Jelly Fish Clothing
Do you want to help raise awareness of our trip, or perhaps just need a few more T-shirts to get you through the summer?
Have a look at the range of clothes you can buy with our logo here. 15% of all sales goes to Fellowship Afloat Bursury Fund.
Have a look at the range of clothes you can buy with our logo here. 15% of all sales goes to Fellowship Afloat Bursury Fund.
