What's it like as a crew member?

Janet describes her trip....

Thursday 4th September 2003

Mr and Mrs Heath and Jane picked me up from Ditcheat. We had a coffee on our way to Southampton. We got to universal boat yard at about lunch after lunch was over we put on our harness and went on deck and started sailing. We sailed across to cowes on the isle of wight. I done lots of tacking with Jane and working with ropes and sails we all helped out in the galley through the day. I helped with finders when mooring up for the evening. Once the evening meal was over Jane and me washed up. Then we got ready to go out for a drink and then went back to the boat, and have a hot drink and a chat with the helpers. Before I went and got into bunk and went to sleep.

Friday 5th September

We got up then went for a shower and back for breakfast then we went shopping Jane and me went with Maggie but we saw most of rest. I bought some sailing gloves and Jane bought some sailing boots once we had finished we went back to the boat and had a hot drink before we started sailing. I helped with the rope work and tacking and put up sails with John, Janet, Jane and Maggie. We did the main then the jib. At lunchtime we drop the anchor. Chris, Stuart, Jane S and Miranda went swimming at about 2.30 we all got ready to start sailing again. Jane and me help Andrew with the evening meal we went to Portsmouth for the evening. Once we had our evening meal we went for a drink then once we were back to the boat I had a hot drink and went to my bunk.

Saturday 6th September

Once we had breakfast Chris look at my log book with me then we ladies all went shopping and some of us went for a cup of coffee but Jane went back to the boat. Then once we all back on board we had a drink and at about 1.00 we got ready to go sailing at about 1.20. I was doing my log book while the rest started sailing at 2.00 we had lunch then I had a go on the helm. I done lots of tacking with help from John Leonard and the helpers what to do to go about and they done the rope work together doing the taking. Jane was the Navigator for the day. I was helmsman for the day. We went over to yarmouth for the evening. It was nice shopping. Once we were moored up in Yarmouth we all went out for the evening meal as this was our last day before we go back to the Hamble river tomorrow. Once back on board we had a coffee we had a sing song with Stuart and Miranda did something by get down and picking things up without using their hands. I went and got into my pit at 12.30.

Sunday 7th September

We had a cup of tea in our bunks that Stuart gave us. We started packing our bags and our sleeping bags. Some helpers helped the other crew who might need help. Then we had breakfast and got ready to go sailing at about 9.30 and started sail over I helped with tacking. Andrew and me prepared the lunch when we arrived to the Universal dock yard and moored up. Fiona took over from Andrew because he had to go early so we said our goodbyes. Then we all helped tidy up and put our bags on deck then chris took lots of photos of us. Chris handed out our maps and certificates then we got on Joyce and put our bags in the car. We were very tired and slept most of the way home.

I like to thank all the helpers for giving us a wonderful 4 days.

By

Janet Yeoman