RAOC Gazette - page 141
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1981 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1981 |
| Late date | 1981 |
| Transcription |
LAUGHING WATER AND EXERCISE JIBSAIL MINOR BY CONDUCTOR J. A. JOHNSTON THE day finally came round after masses of preparation, Exercise Jibsail Minor was actually underway. This Adventure Training Exercise had been planned many months before when it became clear that I was to be posted to Gibraltar. What could be more logical than to sail there? On Saturday 21st June 1980, the crew assembled at March- wood. Rations having been collected from the helpful cook- staff of the ACC, storage was the problem. This was soon accomplished and in the afternoon we slipped out of March- wood under No. 1 Genoa and main sail. We were soon beating into strong westerly winds which continued for several days making progress westwards slow. Our intention was to sail as far West as possible, to Plymouth of Falmouth, and then to take advantage of the normally prevailing North Westerlies which would take us across the Bay of Biscay in one, then to coastal hop south down the coast of Portugal in the Portuguese Trade winds to the Mediterranean. It seemed that we would never get out of the channel, but finally after a two day stop at Plymouth where we bought masses of bread and fruit and did some minor running repairs we set sail for Coruna. During the first few hours whilst celebrating with a bottle of champagne the weather forecast was heard. It indicated that a depression was moving rapidly from South East Iceland and would be at central Southern England by mid-day the next day. This meant a drop of more than six millibars and could mean gales, though none were forecast. We decided therefore to make for Falmouth in- stead and wait for ideal conditions, and by 18.30 hours that night we were snugged down off the Prince of Wales Pier eating a hearty meal of Spaghetti Boulognaise with the wind already gale force. The gales persisted the next day and so after a stroll ashore and a rustic lunch in a water side Pub the met office in Plymouth was contacted for a long range weather forecast. It was a promising forecast that they gave us and although the winds seemed strong we put to sea at about 16.00 hours on Saturday 28th June. We had a boisterous sail that night, Laughing Water danced off the wave tops on a fine starboard reach, reaching speeds of seven and on one occasion eight and a half knots. The weather was fair, sunny with a clear blue sky next morning when we sighted Ushant lights. It was tempting to put in to Brest, but we resisted and carried on until by that evening we had covered about one hundred and twenty sea miles. Whilst crossing the Bay of Biscay we saw dolphins and porpoises who visited our boat and seemed to dance round us with glee. The winds remained fair, never more than force six which was no trouble as we were able to run or reach most of the time. Large tankers and container cargo ships were continually in sight but never seemed to get uncomfort- ably near even though we were on the same course. We were in the main shipping route to the Med. Three and a half days later after a superb days run, and night sail, our land fall was made and we tied up in the Real Club Nautico at La Coruna at about 07.30 hours on 2nd July. The staff here were very friendly. Prices were low for everything but it was distressing to see so many professional beggars around. These were mostly women who looked to be in their late twenties, dressed in peasant black traditional clothes and looked remarkably well fed. They presented one with their baby as they said some- thing and held out their hand. Wine, vegetables and fruit were cheap and the bread, large, round, brown and crusty. As soon as sleep had been caught up on and a shopping expedition had been made we settled down to a delightfully refreshing meal of fish, cheese, tomatoes, onions and fruit and bread all washed down with copious quantities of the local plonk. The weather was a treat after the winter-like weather experienced the previous week in England. La Coruna was the halfway mark. Now we hoped to continue down the coast of Spain and Portugal in the Portuguese Trade winds, making frequent stops to replenish our fresh rations. Photo Bill Nisbett. Bill Nisbett and the skipper Jal Johnston take breakfast. With the most difficult part now over, it seemed to have gone very well even when closing the coast of Spain, the dead reckoning position was only out about two miles. It had of course been double checked with the Radio Direction Finder, but as the latter position was never far off the rum line, and fluctuated from one side of it to the other, no correction was made to the Estimated Position. Two days later we continued, calling at Camarinas and Bayonne before pressing on for Portugal. As Finisterre was rounded, largish whales and dolphins abounded and even the whales sprang out of the water from time to time. Camarinas was a very simple fishing village, while Bayonne was a rather expensive Spanish resort. We were shocked by the prices of drinks and decided to stick to wine which was good and cheap. White was generally preferred by those on board, it was usually dryish but much better than some of the cheap sweet wines of the Mosel and Rhine available in UK. Leixoes was our next port of call which like La Coruna is an industrial port. Here we came in contact with Portuguese officials who were beaurocratic in comparison with their EEC counterparts. After booking in with the customs, then the Maritime Police had to be visited when we were given our practique. At 15.00 hours with a good stiff twenty five knot North West breeze and seas forecast two to three metres, we set sail under No. 1 Jib and two slab reefs. We sailed this leg very fast touching eight knots from time to time, and that night had to reef down to No. 1 Jib, only. This was owing to the wind increasing. Laughing Water managed to touch eight knots when surfing down wave crests even with this reduced rig. The following morning brought mist, and land was out of sight, so we headed South East to pick up some land marks before attempting to round the Cabo Raso which had several rocky shoals and islands off it It would have been easy to mistake one of the islands for the Cabo and then end up drawn onto these dangerous shoals where the currents can be treacher- ous. We soon picked up our bearings, and rounded the Cabo and pushed on for Cabo de Roca, which guards the straits to Lisbon. As Cabo de Roca was rounded the wind rose and we came into Cascais in spanking fashion with thirty or more knots of wind. Here we anchored for a few days and made several friends with the locals. One night when we dined ashore, the offshore wind which is usually strong became dangerous, at least in our estimation. Approaching the maritime police to ask if there was a pilot boat which could take us to our yacht, our mission became confused, and the policeman interested only in — 358 — |
| Book number | R0404a |