30/01/13 - Tenacious

Awoke to a beautiful sunny day – with a call for breakfast over the tannoy at approximately 07.30 hours! Rise and shine! Breakfast at 8.00 hours sharp!Approximately twenty-four of us eventually arrived in the Lower Mess. What a feast! Choice of four cereals, four fruits juices, tea or coffee, plus cooked breakfast with toast and jams .Two of our fellow ship mates were 'on duty’ catering for every one, and then clearing the plates.All voyage crew get a turn of 'Mess Duty’ during the 10 day voyage – It’s all about team-work and pulling together regardless of age, gender, religion or disability: everyone can do something.
After breakfast, Alan, the Chief Engineer,Carol the medical purser and Alison,the mate briefed us on all aspects of their jobs to make the voyage a happy and safe one.
The 'Safety Talk’ continued: "Always use the handrails; take care on the gangway – sometimes its very steep. Carry your Boarding Pass at all times: you may be requested to produce it when entering the Marina at the Dock Office.Always move your Berth Card from the 'In’ side to the’Out’ side if you leave the ship: that way we will know whether you are on-board or not.
Always wear your waist-belt harness and clip – which allows you to 'clip-on’ to wires running along the ship’s superstructure.
Finally – we were briefed on the Ship’s Daily Routine; Meal Times; Watches and Watch Cards, Mess Duty, working in mixed ability teams, the use of mobile phones (and where NOT to use them e.g. near the Bridge, as they could interfere with incoming or outgoing communications), Quiet Time between 15.00 -17.00 hours, 'SMOKO’ tea/coffee breaks and completing RYA Log Books for those who had brought them on board.

Our next major event of the morning was learning how to put on our 'harnesses’ and climbing the 'yard-arms’. We were ably instructed by Richard (the Second Mate) and Chris (the Bosun’s Mate). Fortunately, it was a beautiful sunny day, with light winds and in next to no time all four Watch Teams were climbing the 'ratlings’ to the first stage. What an experience! Initially I thought that I would only watch the process but decided to take the challenge.The views from the first platform were magnificent.
After Lunch 'Tenacious’ left Grand Harbour Marina at approx.. 14.06 hours – bound for open water and Scicily. As we were leaving we had to stand-to as a large commercial vessel was entering the port.
So we were off! Later that evening, we were out of sight of land and the weather deteriorated. Oilies and sailing boots were the order of the day – with the swell and the wind gusting between 6-7
The next morning, all was bright and calm again.