LN905C
Capt. Darren Knaggs
An identical start to the day changed, when instead of making for the sea, Capt Darren gave us a cruise round the Portsmouth Dockyard with commentary. On reaching a position to sail, we turned, again heading to the north of the IOW but with less wind we were able to set all the square sails except the main course. Though not making the same speed as the previous day, Nelly looked great under so much canvas.
The following day, after breakfast and again picking up ‘the hook’ it was time for ‘hands aloft. It was a fine day for climbing and almost all the voyage crew got aloft. Those A.Bs on the fore-mast who wanted, were able to climb to the mast top. Those on the main mast went out on the tops’le yard.
Immediately after this, assisted climbs took place on the fore-mast and the two men in wheelchairs were hauled gently up to the main-mast platform.
An enthusiastic, ‘happy hour’ took place on the passage back to Southampton and all the comments were that this trip had been a fantastic experience and many would return for a ‘full on’ voyage. Another winner.
Fred ‘the fish’ Normandale
