Passed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Saturday february 12 we had our final exam.
13.00 hours we had top pick up the examinator in La Linea marina , and we made sure Stellar, our yacht for the event was spick and span. We both were very nervous and Tim and Rob, our faithfull crewmembers had to endure the snarling and bossing from us , trying to get everything as perfect as possible before the exam started.
We picked up Dave exactly at 13.00 hrs and he told us to anchor in the bay outside La Linea, Spain where our paperwork was checked and we received instructions .
Elaine went off to make a passage plan to take us to Tarifa, in the Straits of Gibraltar while Paul went on deck and showed Tim and Rob how to rig a spinnaker pole for holding the headsail opposite the main when the wind comes from behind.
After that we set off in very light winds. During the day we both were tested continuously on navigation, weather, rules of the road  etc.
Finally we were tought how to use a sextant sideways to fix a position ;-)
It was not before 22.30 that night when we finally were told we both passed our exam and could call ourselves Yachtmasters.
We were very happy and fellt great relieve now the 14 week drilling had finally paid off.

This paper is going to be our passport to a future of sailing , starting for the winter months, but hopefully permanently.

We want to thank Peter and Carrie from Pasa, the sailing school we attended, and we can recommend them to anyone who wants to obtain any RYA qualification. http://www.pasa.gi/

Spinnaker pole rigged

Paul and crew enjoying the day while Elaine was down below navigating

No comment !

Tim gave a live performance on his flute to celebrate .

Final week - Exam 13th February

So we are now nearing the end of our course. The exam is booked in for Sunday 13th February. This last week is lots of practice of what we have learnt and alot of studying. Sascha (Musto man) passed his exam yesterday and has now gone back to UK. We have new people on the boat who will be crewing for Paul and I  we expect on exam day. The weather has been kind to us this last week, although very cold during the night - just hope it keeps like this.

Its a dirty job, but someone has to sail this boat!

Dinner on the go!

Paul and Sascha

So next post on this blog will have the results of our exam.

2 week count down to the exam

Back in Gibraltar after 2 week milebuilding. Learnt alot about boat handling in rough weather and night sailing. Spent our time practicing knots, identifying tankers by their light formation. We are tired mentally and physically right now but still having a good time. The tuition has been great from the instructors and each week our confidence builds. We move tomorrow onto the exam boat and will spend the next 2 weeks training to pass the exam - 11th February.
We have had some interesting and exciting experiences these last 2 weeks - long passages to Portugal on Josander, 4 attempts to get back to Gibraltar but the weather was so bad we had to use our bolt holes. Eventually we got the winds from the west and planned the passed to take advantage of the tides and we are now back - doing some serious damage to vodka and tonic. Unfortuately some damage was done to Josander main sail during a night storm, but we all handled the situation well, removed the sail and carried on............all good training. We are studying every spare minute we have - as failure isnt an option for us.

Elaine under instruction from Les

Sunset over the atlantic

Tarifa Lighthouse - entrance to the Med

Lollipop time!

Making miles!

We are now on a milebuilder enabling us to secure 2500 nautical miles which we need to sit the exam. We each have to have 2 x 60 mile passages as skipper and a number of night hours sailing. We are currently in Lagos (west Portugal) after a 34 hour passage direct from Gibraltar which Elaine skippered. Paul skippers the next passage back towards Spain.

When we get back we will update further and some photos.

xxx

Week nr 9 , 2/ 7 january 2011

On sunday afternoon January 2nd we were back in gibraltar . We were going to spend the week on Bombay Sapphire with Scott , our skipper Sean and Ita who booked for a week Day-Skipper and Competent Crew course .

Monday the weather was very nice but no wind, and we spent the day practicing our yachtmaster talks. Paul did his down below talk and Elaine took care of all above deck briefings.
After this we took bombay out in the bay some hours so Sean and Ita could get aquainted with the surroundings and the boat. Tuesday we set off early and crossed the Straits for Ceuta. The weather was beautiful again but no wind so we had to motor all the way .


Sean, Ita, Paul ane Elaine crossing the Straits for Ceuta,
Northern Africa



Captain/Chef,  Scott

                                                                                               
Wednesday we set off for Smir, a newly constructed town in Morocco with nice marina and ideal for doing mooring and berthing exercises with the boat.  Again the weather was warm and sunny and we even had enough wind to set the sails and do proper sailing. We arrived in the marina at 17.00 hours, but had one hour extra due to the time difference applied in morocco. We jumped in a Taxi ( rusty 1967 mercedes 200 )

and visited the nearby city of Tetouan. this was a fantastic experience, and I for the first time had the feeling to be in another world. We wandered around the market and the labyrinth of streets around the Kings Castle and managed to not buy anything despite the constant manipulative efforts of the voluntary guides that decided to walk with us wherever we went. 





  

Bombay Sapphire moored at quay in Smir marina

On Thursday we started the day with practicing techniques for mooring using prop wash prop walk and springing off stern and bow under various conditions. After that we set sail for another crossing of the straits. this time we headed for Estepona, a sea town located on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain. it was again a day with no wind but we made our way on the engine accompanied by hundreds of delphins and we even saw the water jet produced by a whale from a distance. We arrived on the day of 3 kings, which is the biggest holiday in Spain of the year , but we were so tired that we went to bed after a few drinks on a local terrace

Dolphins

Dolphins

 Friday was our last day and we had to make our way back into mour marina in gibraltar,

a passage of 24 NM.   The nice weather had abandoned us and the rain was pouring down so after a while all our gear was wet and our clothes were soaking. We made the best out of the day and arived in marina bay, Gibraltar at 16.00 hrs . Sean and Ita had decided to spend their last night in a hotel and Elaine and I went home for the weekend to wash and dry and recharge for the next 2 weeks of milebuilding ahead of us. 

   

  

 

Christmas week 2010

Got a cheap ticket to Tenerife and spent the week with paul´s son Peter and his girlfriend Vivi .
Sleep, eat, drink and more of the same , a welcome week of relaxing

Week 7 (we think!)

Monday morning I left for Melilla on  ´Bombay Sapphire ´  with the boys (Paul on his way back from Holland) The trip was to take us 2 days, including an night sail into the Med then down to Morocco. We left at 10.30, all provisioned up and ready for a good weeks sailing. However like all good plans-------------  I was sick as a dog big time, we found ourself against the current 65 miles in and during the night Les made an executive decision and we turned north over the Med to Duquesa, Southern Spain........ good call Les! First time the seasickness really got me........ wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out!

Approaching Gibraltar Bay from Ceuta

Paul came back to Gibraltar late Monday night and spend the week perfecting his skills and drills........ Man overboard under engine then under sail, picking upa buoy also under engine then under sail. Lots of skills which will be needed during the exam. Meanwhile back on Bombay after a few hours on Terra firma we set off for Ceuta Northern Africa and spent the night. The next day we ended up in Gib again and met up with my man!!! The bay of Gibraltar is always busy with tankers and we always have to keep our eyes open when sailing there and practicing skills/drills. We have put a few pics on to show how close we are to the enormous things......... however it doesnt bother the Spanish fisherman in their little rowing boats as you can see.

tanker in bay

tanker in bayy

Paul bringing Stellar into her berth

Elaine under instruction

Today (Sat 19th Dec) it is torrential rain here in Gibraltar, however we have been out on ´Sea Wolf ´the racing yacht. 10 crew all given specific jobs to do and off we went around the bay. Spinnaker skills and we learnt alot  of new information like how the back stay effects the sails, the curringham, traveller etc from Dave, the owner and very successful racer. All great help for us during our course and something Paul has wanted to learn for a long time.