National School Sailing Association
2008
SCEPTRE 2008
Each year nominations are made by the local associations and sailing clubs for
youngsters who have made a significant contribution to their club or
association. This year was no exception and after the selection process eight
youngsters were chosen to take part. Following on from the success of previous
President's Awards once again a trip on the 1958's America's Cup Yacht
Sceptre. At 52ft long she is one of the largest racing yachts still sailing in
UK waters. Sceptre is now owned by a preservation society and thanks to them
and long term NSSA supporter Eric Wright, we were able to arrange a week for
the award winners onboard the classic yacht.
Accompanied by two NSSA adults and two of the preservation societies members
the group of twelve set off from Gosport Marina. With strong winds right from
the start on the Sunday evening the youngsters were given a baptism of fire
with waves breaking over the bow and gunnels under the water! After an hour of
familiarisation on the eastern Solent we turned and headed up towards Cowes on
the Isle of Wight. Once into Cowes and alongside in Cowes Yacht Haven the
youngsters thoughts turned to food and after a magnificent spaghetti Bolognese
the order of the day as was an explore around Cowes. In the aftermath of Cowes
week the town was an interesting explore!
After a late start we motored down the Medina River and into the Solent only
to be greeted with a freshening force 5 wind. Undeterred we turned the bow
west and down the western Solent. Passing the famous Needles we fought the
wind and tide giving us some serious waves. Quickly the seasickness pills came
out and we travelled past Christchurch down to the entrance to Poole Harbour.
As soon as the turned north into Poole the wind rose and the seas became even
more turbulent. Sailing at time pushing 10 knots we howled into Poole Harbour
closely followed by the SeaCat returning from Alderney. With sails tumbling
down we carefully motored into Poole Town Quay Marina next to the largest
Sunseeker motor yacht. Clearly we blended into such a posh marina but many of
us knew the weather wasn't looking good for sailing. Long term forecasts had
the weather getting steadily worse.
Unfortunately our worse fears were confirmed as severe weather warnings were
issued across the whole of the south coast of England. Despite being
stormbound in Poole there was plenty there to keep everybody entertained from
the RNLI Lifeboat College to the huge Sunseeker shipyard. And after several
days the decision was made and the weather had beaten us. So after a short
trip to on the train to Gosport we all went our separate ways, back to school,
exam results and work!
