All aboard Tenacious at 1pm, stowed bags and belongings in lockers and amassed in lower mess to collect wet weather gear and harnesses and for safety briefing and introductions to crew. Awaited alarm to practice what we had learnt (soon worked out who had or had not been listening!). Checks done quick tea and full harnesses on to go aloft on the rigging for those wishing to. Out on to the yards for the brave (not me, but most did, brave souls).
Then prepared for sailing at 5.30, quick but informative drills on what to do with the ropes- making up has a new meaning for me now... So once the pilot was aboard we were off into the solent. I'm on aft straboard watch so we were assigned to cast off the mooring ropes and store them. Looked highly improbable all that rope would fit in to the allotted space, but we did it smack on time for dinner. Lovely dinner, beef or vegetarian,and tiranmisu to finish.
Next bracing the yards, all clews and buntings and sweating and tailing.
Then to set the sails, aft starboard watch flaked the ropes (laying out), and over to portside to help pull on the ropes. A jolly good workout and soon we were under sail. Our watch was stood down as we are on Middlewatch
12 Midnight to 4am. Lots to keep us busy (and awake), lookout, manning the helm, hourly log, doing the rounds and looking at the charts and radar screen. It is now 3.20am and all is well, we are on course, and under sail, at 8 knots heading for Cherbourg. Cooks have left us plenty of provisions.
Aft Starboard watch. Chris, Jenny, Caroline and Janet.