Alleyn’s Cadets Set Sail from The Solent

A group of CCF cadets set off on a sailing and Gold DofE trip last week, the first of its kind at Alleyn’s.   

The adventure began in Port Hamble, where cadets met their awesome Skipper, Simon, and boarded their home for the next week; ‘Oarsome Dream’ a 46ft Dufour sail yacht chartered by Fairview Sailing. Cadets organised their weeks' worth of groceries, and after a safety briefing, the action was underway.  

Cadets began with learning how to depth check using traditional and modern mediums, and the importance of having enough water under the keel. Simon taught the cadets how to consider the influence of the tide and currents when piloting in and out of a marina, and after some careful maneuvering out of the berth, Oarsome Dream and the CCF Sail Team were on their voyage.  

They took off into The Solent; a picturesque strait between the Isle of Wight and the English South Coast. The Solent is a popular location for sailing; and also a major shipping lane, recreational area for water sports, and site of ecological importance. Plenty for the cadets to focus on and learn about while sailing the waters!  

In the first day, the cadets navigated around 8.5 miles of water, covering the basics of sailing under Simon’s dutiful guidance; learning to steer, tack and use the sails. The group landed in Cowes Harbour for the night; a sheltered option to hunker down for the evening. On day 2, cadets woke up to some blue skies, and with the forecasted tidal patterns and wind, geared up for a day of fun but challenging sailing around ferocious waters in The Solent.  

The crew spent the best part of the day learning how to gybe, while navigating the rolling waves in the East Solent. They successfully entered Portsmouth Harbour where they had a quick dinner break and started their passage planning for a night sailing task later in the evening. Parking up in the significant Royal Navy dockyard was a thrill for the cadets; who sighted several naval vessels, significant buildings and the iconic aircraft carrier; Prince of Wales. As the sun set, they tuned into the England v Netherlands semifinal Euros match, with the roar of supporters that could be heard coming from the naval bases across the water adding to the experience.  

At around 10pm, the crew got up for night sailing. They had to navigate from Portsmouth to the mouth of the Beaulieu River, using just the lights along the Solent to guide their way. This was certainly one of the more challenging passages for the cadets; but they rose to the task and safely got Oarsome Dream to their next location in the early hours of the morning. 

After a well-deserved rest, the cadets had a huge day on the water. It was a rough day of sailing, with Southwest winds blowing 15-20 knots. As they sailed West out of The Solent and into the open waters, they experienced rolling waves, a racing tide and a rather lumpy, bumpy ride across Poole Bay. Half of the crew were subject to sea sickness, and the whole boat was very happy to finally make it to the stunning Studland Bay around 7:30pm. 

The next morning, Mr. Richmond got in the water so the cadets could practice man overboard drills. He made for a very cooperative casualty, and showcased how difficult dealing with a real man overboard situation would be. A good reminder of the importance of safe and responsible sailing! Around midday, the crew set off with Weymouth in their sights. Sailing along the Jurassic Coast provided for some epic scenery and geography to absorb. This was the final day of learning before the expedition and assessment began. 

With 4 days of learning complete, the DofE expedition officially started. It was at this point completely on the cadets to lead the voyage back to Hamble. The first day of the expedition was a right challenge for the cadets. As they began navigating their way East, the Lulworth Range Firing Safety Team pulled up alongside the yacht, advising the crew to change their heading as the firing range was active! After long deliberation and many circles in the water, the crew changed course to give the range a wide berth. Continuing East and passing the notorious St. Albans head provided a demanding passage with choppy seas and relentless rain for the cadets. They landed in Swanage for the night, drenched and slightly deflated after a testing day on the water. 

The demands of the day were not in vain, as the cadets woke up on day two of their expedition to some stunning weather! It set the tone for a great day out on the blue as they made their way from Swanage, and around the Isle of Wight. They nestled into Chichester after a rocky bar crossing and enjoyed a BBQ dinner.  

The third day of expedition sailing was the longest, with the crew rising before sunrise to start their day of sailing. Due to an unfortunate tidal pattern, they had to be on the water ultra early to not get stranded in shallow waters. All the way from sunrise to sunset the cadets showcased their smooth skills and solid decision making. It was a great day of sailing, and the crew ended up in Yarmouth for the evening – with a brilliant sunset to reward them for their hard work.  

The voyage, despite its success, placed strain on the cadets; with the following logbook entry captured by the crew;  

‘In all honesty, the long days, uneven eating patterns, and (difficult) anchoring have caused a lot of stress to the crew, which has resulted in a strain in relationships. However, these tensions have been eased by a hearty meal, a good suntan and a few naps. We hope to maintain these high morales!’. 

Despite the challenges, the days on the water were character building, and it was becoming clear the cadets had really clicked. Their skills were refining and confidence was building, and they were certainly becoming one with Oarsome Dream.  

The final day of the expedition included a straightforward passage from Yarmouth back to Port Hamble. Navigating around other vessels, from humongous ships right down to tiny kayaks, the crew successfully sailed their way home with minimal errors.  

What a fantastic week on the water. The cadets stretched themselves; overcoming the challenges of serious weather, interpersonal dynamics, late nights, early starts and all the intricacies of coexisting in a small space for days in a row. They showcased great courage and resilience and successfully passed their DofE assessment.  

A huge thanks to Simon and the Fairview Sailing team for such a great experience; and well done to Gabriel, Moji, Natalia, Kalina, Sasha, Chloé and Matilda for conquering The Solent and Alleyn’s first ever sailing trip. Plenty of learning was gained that will help shape future CCF sailing voyages.