First week

So we started with the Artemis Offshore Academy last year and have been thrown straight in to it all.

The last few days have involved a couple of single and double-handed sailing sessions, which was a bit of a shock to the system trying to learn the processes involved in short handed sailing. The Figaro has quite a lot on, whether you are steering or crewing!I need to spend some SERIOUS time in the boat! We did some short course racing that went surprisingly well with some good starts, getting our timings and distance pretty close. We were taught a lesson in tight reaching by the more experienced guys.. learning so much every time we are out sailing or down working on the boats.

Every days a school day with the Academy! This week we have had eight hour class room sessions practicing for the YachtMaster offshore exams that we’ll sit next Monday/Tuesday! This means a busy weekend of studying ahead, but looking to get a few hours yachting in on Thursday (5th) and a good five hours or so on Saturday.

Artemis have put us up in a team house over on the island, just a 10 minute cycle from Cowes in Gurnard. The place has great facilities; gym, pool ect. I have been getting in quite a bit of fitness, which has been good to get back in to!

It all seems to be working pretty well at the house. We have had table meals every night and also getting in a film most evenings to wind down!