Sessions and Lessons, Lessons and Sessions!

T-25 Days!!

As part of my fundrasing activities I've spent the last few weeks working with the younger students Queen's Park High and Blacon High. At Blacon, after doing an assembly to all of lower school (Years 7, 8 and 9), I have taught Year 7 Geography classes on Navigation and Charts, following on from their mapping lessons. We looked at GPS and positioning, as well as some of the symbols used. I was really impressed with how the kids got involved and with all the questions they had! I'm still not considering a careeer in teaching though.

With Queen's Park I organised two Sailing Taster Sessions for the year 7s and 8s. The first session began with a promise of rain but we were lucky it held off. There was plenty of wind on the river and with 5 boats on the water they were quickly racing each other around. All the instructors at the club who helped out were impressed with how quickly everybody picked it up! There was only one capsize and everybody came off the water smiling! The second session the following week was another great success with all 12 places filled and all the boats used! Some people came back for a second time and they sailed further up river and practised some more advanced techniques. The other group got to grips with the basics straight away and were quickly chasing each other across the river. It was really great to get the kids out on the water and see how much fun they had, but of course it wouldn't have been possible without the help and support of everyone at the Sailing Club and the Staff in School.

My bag is now mostly packed and HUGE! Not quite on the weight limmit but still got a few last minute essentials to get in! The good news is I can still lift it... just! x x x

Practice Makes Perfect

T-31 Days! One month and counting! The final count-down is on!

After spending Sunday and Monday sailing the coast of North Wales on yacht ‘My Tern’, a Bavaria 36, I have confirmed what I suspected on training. Surfing, rocking and rolling down a steep two-meter swell round Puffin Island and into the narrow channel to Conwy was an exciting experience! The occasional bit of erratic steering coming from the helmsman forcing the boat to imitate a corkscrew over particularly tricky waves only made things more interesting! Rough weather does not appear to be the problem. The following day there was still a bit of swell left over from the strong winds the day before but the wind had dropped to almost nothing. Some people find a gentle swell peaceful and relaxing. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. I fear I could be allergic to calm weather as it gives me a funny feeling similar to light-headedness, and if sustained for a long period of time it can cause sudden physical illness. The phrase ‘sea-sickness’ is often used to describe this reaction, but I prefer to call it an allergy - it sounds less ridiculous coming from a ‘hard-core’ sailor! Luckily, this time it was only a short outing!

A similar story can be told of training. We spent several days bashing round the Solent in averagely windy/wavy weather with no problems from my allergy, but as soon as we headed out into the channel and became becalmed I started to feel allergic. This time there was no engines on and home before the sill shut on the marina! Fingers crossed we steer clear of any Doldrums between Cape Town and San Fran!

‘My Tern’ is my Dad’s new toy. He has bought a quarter share of the boat and so gets a quarter of the use while it’s in the water. This week was our last proper chance to use it before it’s put into hibernation for the winter, so we spent the weekend exploring the Menai Straights and round the Great Orme, getting to know the boat. It’s a great boat to sail and seems to be quite fast, but not as fast as Jamaica!! Its best feature for me, though, which Jamaica doesn’t have, is a little wooden seat across the pulpit (the guardrails at the very front), the perfect size for a Lily-sized bum! A fab place to watch the waves go by from, and it weirdly makes my allergy feel better … honest!

WOOO!!

Just a very quick one to say a massive WOOOHOOOO!!!!

Jamaica has climbed up into 2nd place and seem to be gaining on Eero all the time! Looks like we could be pulling are bow strings for real!

FAB! x x x

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

www.clipperroundtheworld.com/jamaica

p.s. T-36 days!!!

Dubarries and Sponsors! It's a busy time!

T-39 days! What a hectic couple of weeks it’s been! I’ve spent more time in school than when I actually attended! Everything’s set for the 1^st taster session to run on Friday with the year 7s but still waiting to fill up the places on 2^nd session. The support from staff has been incredible and I can’t wait to get on the water!

I had to do one of the scariest things I have ever done last week. I stood on the stage of the main hall at Blacon High School and spoke to the whole of Key Stage 3. That’s 300 people aged 11-14 and all the staff to go with them - including the Head Teacher! Somehow I managed to stay up-right for all my presentation and some of the feedback I’ve had has been really super. Students and staff alike seem to be behind me and they are all showing their support.

Support and sponsorship comes from all directions, from friends and family to people we hardly know, all are unique and have different messages of support but all are wishing me the time of my life! It is quite a humbling experience to be on the receiving end of such kindness and I would like to thank everybody for their help, I really couldn’t do this without them.

I’ve been on a bit of a spree this week and have finally bought (with help from sponsors!) the last big bits of kit needed; waterproof camera to capture all those magical moments, warm mid-layer salopettes for when it snows in China, and, the most exciting bit of kit, my new Dubarry Boots to wear around Cowes with my mini-skirt! Oh, and to keep my feet warm and dry round the world, of course. So with only the bits and bobs left to sort out I finally feel like we’re making progress.

This feeling is made better by the fact that Jamaica has climbed from last place back into fourth place, a position that shows good tactics, perseverance and most of all team work pays off! Well done to the guys and keep up the good work! The on-going battle with Cape Breton is keeping the team on their toes but the challenging tactics are what we need to keep focussed, though at the moment the temperatures they are experiencing are more than distracting!

Don’t forget that you can follow the race at www.clipperroundtheworld.com and www.clipperroundtheworld.com/jamaica

Please, please, please feel free to leave comments to show your support for the whole team, and as always, keep reading! x x x