Trying something new – a week at sea

I recognise that I’m not good at moving outside my comfort zone, but every now and again I like to push myself, and my summer holiday last week was one of those moments.

So my husband and I spent our summer holiday on a 36 foot yacht sailing along the Dorset coast line with my parents- and sister-in-law. My husband’s family are long standing sailors and my husband is a Yacht Master and has wanted to take me sailing for at least nine years. Previous to this trip I had spent 2 nights on a yacht just a few months ago and visited the Southampton Boat Show a couple of times, so this was quite an adventure for me.

Here is what I learnt from my week sailing

• I prefer sailing with calmer winds and in the sun
• Other boats hitting you is scary
• Getting your bedding correct for the weather is important (a 5 season sleeping bag is unnecessary during summer; even a British summer)
• As a light sleeper ear plugs and eye mask are essential
• I can easily survive a week without internet access
• There are many valid reasons why a laptop is necessary; such as playing music, dvds and downloading photos
• Just because the wash facilities look good it doesn’t mean you actually get a good shower
• It is easy to get sunburn in the British sun when you have breakfast surrounded by water and you haven’t put on suncream
• Swimming in the sea when there hasn’t been much sun to warm the water is bracing
• Large items that can not be reduced in size or stowed away are very frustrating
• Sharing washing products such as toothpaste and bodywash with your husband when there are separate sex washing facilities is very frustrating
• I enjoy the navigation aspect of sailing more than the actual sailing
• Crochet is a very handy hobby as it is compact and it is possible to put it down at almost any time

As we were packing up to leave the boat the Red Arrows put on a 30 minute acrobatic display over the marina and Portsmouth Harbour. I have never seen the Red Arrows live before and it was incredible. It is apparently untrue that the Red Arrows have been banned from the 2012 Olympics, but if you are interested you can sign a petition in their support on the UK Government website.