Week two of training with the Artemis Academy has been very useful. The Mini went back in the water last Monday, allowing Nikki and I to finally get out for a shakedown sail. We were pleased that everything on the boat is in working order, and after having patched up a few leaks, it is also dry!Our on water training has mainly just been getting used to the boat, looking at tacking and gybing to begin with. We've been out in gusts of 20 knots right down to just 4 knots, giving us a chance to get a feel for how the boat reacts in different conditions and sea states. Sailing upwind makes for a bumpy ride in the Mini, particularly when the water is quite choppy. It is going to be quite important to get used to the motions; going down below is not always the most pleasant experience, and can sometimes leaving you feeling a bit seasick!
Around getting out on the water, we also spent a day in Chichester with Paul Wallis, a sports physiologist. The session focused on correct weight lifting techniques, as building up shoulder and leg muscle is very important to help with the stability and power needed to pull off quick manoeveres. Aerobic fitness is also key, so that you can recover effectively from physical exertion, particularly when sleep deprived. We must have worked through at least 15 different weight lifting exercises, some easier than others- I was certainly feeling a bit stiff the next day. Soon we will all have an individualised fitness programme, enabling us to be in peak physical performance for key events.With Nick Cherry gracing us with his presence mid-week, I learnt a little about the correct charging of the Figaro batteries and the different modes of the autopilot, a clever attachment attached to the rudders which steers the boat for you. A famous quote within the squad, said in a French accent, is 'you only have two friends in the Figaro...the autopilot and the backstay'. After my few solo stints back and fourth from Weymouth, I can see why!
In a race you may spend up to 30 minutes setting up your pilot correctly, as the nke system has many different factors you can play about with. For example, you can set the pilot to steer to compass, apparent wind, true wind or GPS mode, and then within that play around with gain, wind damping, counter rudder and various other settings. So as you can imagine, if one of these factors is not quite set up properly the auto pilot may steer your boat very slowly. On the other hand, if it is set up correctly, you can overtake people who are staying up all night trying to steer better than you- when without knowing you are quite happily asleep down below, with the auto pilot doing all the work for you!
Unfortuntaley I didn't get a chance to have a play with the autopilots on the Figaros, but this is an area I really would like to get to grips with, particularly as we are hoping to fit out the Artemis Mini with an nke autopilot system.
There was further learning to be had on the Figaros over the weekend, as Aaron Cooper came over
to teach us about rig tuning. This too was a very useful session, which had me yet again going up to the top of a rig, to fiddle about with the tension of the shrouds in an attempt to get the mast straight and set-up properly. After that I had to hang off the side of the boat by the main halyard, which was particularly exciting on the starboard side as I was only inches above the water!
Over lunch we all watched the start of the Vendee Globe on a big TV screen, which was fantastic to see. Dee Caffari was doing the commentary, and having met her a few times I felt I had a better idea of what the 20 skippers have to face over the coming 3 months.
In the afternoon we went out for a bob around on the Solent, asking Aaron to use his expert sail making eye to assess the mainsail that was made for the Mini last season. After fiddling with the tension of the battens it was soon looking better.
Sunday, as usual, was not a rest day. This time Becky Scott came over, and by 8.30 in the morning we were chatting everything Mini. With her two years' solo experience in the boat, Becky has learnt a lot about rig set-up, sail selection, electronics...you name it, she usually knows the answer! I learnt a lot that morning about choosing the correct sails for different wind strengths and angles, and felt a little more confident about electronics and wiring; although I still need to have a good fiddle around on the boat to fully understand what plugs in where, and why!Over the weekend the evenings have been filled with catching up on notes, and setting the course for my boat competing in the Virtual Vendee globe- I'm currently second out of our little Artemis group, just one mile behind the leader...can I take the lead, and stay ahead for three months? Time will soon tell!
On top of all of this, I have also had my first evening of care work; it was quite full on, visiting seven people within one evening, all who needed varying amounts of care. Although the work is quite full on and you are on your feet for a long time, it is very rewarding!