September 2021 saw my first experience of yacht sailing with Elite Sailing, we motored out of Chatham Maritime Marina and raised the sails before headed down the River Medway towards the Isle of Sheppey.
Like any new pursuit, there’s new terminology to learn, including sea terms, parts of a boat, rigging and sails, not to mention ropework and types of knots like round turn and two half hitches, bowline and figure of eight, to name just a few.
My son Stephen and our fellow crew members all had some sailing experience. With timely guidance from our skipper, we each took the opportunity to practice helmsmanship and sailing skills, learning the principles of sailing, sail trim and sailing manoeuvres depending on the direction and strength of the wind.
We anchored for the night off the Sheppey coast close to Harty Ferry and returned to Chatham Marina safe and sound the following day.