Army Offshore Regatta

REME Sport

Army Offshore Regatta

REME competed in the Army Offshore Regatta. We entered two boats in the VICTORIA 34 class and were drawn yachts PLACUNA and VOLUTA. Of the 11 serving soldiers and officers on board, 6 were complete novices that had never been on a yacht before. Their learning curve was steep and after a morning of safety briefs and familiarisation alongside we set out for the first race of the regatta – a Solent Race from Gosport to Cowes. The weather was very changeable and the crews were subjected to squalls and light winds from the start. A highly competitive first race saw the two REME teams going well with a second and fifth place at the end of day 1.

Day 2 was the offshore race from Cowes to Poole via Bembridge which gave the Skippers a headache of going around the Isle of Wight or back through the Solent. The race East saw both REME boats in first and second through the Forts and deciding to go around the island. A wind hole near Ventnor caused us to park up while the boat in 7th went back through the Solent. As we passed the Needles they were spat out of the fairway in first place proving that we had all (bar two boats) made the wrong tactical call. After much hard work and building breeze we finished mid fleet in the offshore passage race.

Day 3 was an inshore race in very light breeze from Poole to Yarmouth. PLACUNA was first to the windward mark and ended up too far inshore to receive the best tide whilst VOLUTA, skippered by Maj Adrian Allen, had a storming race and finished first by a huge margin. That was the end of racing for Wednesday as the wind was not coming back until the thunderstorms in the evening. Day 4 was promising better breeze and the last days racing. We had three inshore races including the compass race which consisted of sailing a course in any order similar to orienteering. PLACUNA, skipped by Lt Col Will Naylor, won the compass race in a steady breeze and a sound knowledge of tricky Solent tides. The final race was a race back to Gosport via Southampton water. VOLUTA were miles ahead and trying everything to keep the fleet at bay while PLACUNA climbed through the fleet with the spinnaker up and the novices learning fast that sails need constant trimming and marginal gains win races to finish second.

Perspective from a Reservist - Sgt Nicholson, 103Bn REME:

Our crew, one of two all REME crews, had an exciting week - winning the race back from Poole to Yarmouth by a literal country mile. We

VOLUTA - Cfn Shram testing the trim of the mainsail

VOLUTA - Leading all too briefly

had some fantastic race starts as well, taking the lead in two other races on the upwind legs, and while in these leading positions, it truly was glory. Alas some fairly beat us on the downwind legs. We had a few close calls with various hazards as you invariably do at sea...

I would like to highlight two instances that were of training value for the crew of VOLUTA. The first was when heading upwind and against the flow in a ferocious tideway, when our engine overheated. While not being used for propulsion during the race, at the time we were heading back to port, and there was little to no wind. Without an engine for backup, the situation could have resulted in us being run aground. The correct course of action was ultimately taken to cool the engine in a timely manner and a contingency plan formulated in the event of complete engine failure. Another hairy moment came when we were under spinnaker, rounding St Catherine’s point on the southern tip of the Isle of Wight. Several gusts massively overpowered VOLUTA’s sails, causing a lee roll that broached us side on to the wind. With VOLUTA careering straight at the rocks, no more than a cable or two off, we managed to safely derig the offending sail. Under such pressure, this is not a simple thing to do correctly and safely, but happily we achieved it.

guaranteed suntan. The travel element is huge –ranging from the joys of a different port every night, to seeing the far side of the world. If you get a bit seasick, you’ll either get over it with help and advice from the Skipper, or if it’s really bad, you’ll be sent to sit under an oak tree – the only certain cure. Then I’d encourage you to try the next AT activity that you find. Embrace these opportunities for adventure when they present themselves. That’s why you joined up!

Thank you to Lt Col Dave Reith who did all the hard work behind the scenes to ensure we were able to enter two crews and compete so well. A huge thank you to all within our CoC for releasing us to compete in Corps sport. The future of REME sailing looks bright.

VOLUTA - Crew running through spinnaker drills

Being in these situations can be frightening and serves as an example of how adventure training in general, and sailing in particular, has some advantages over simulated military exercises, where you are generally not actually in real danger. Such experiences lived in real time forces your mind to make quick decisions under pressure that must be the correct ones, and to actually take real physical action and perform as a team when it really does matter if you do not. I can see how regular experience of these sorts of situations can in a real way, prepare us for an operational situation. By training people to steel their minds and quickly force any fear aside to act in the right way to achieve the desired outcome and help to alleviate or overcome any ‘rabbit in the headlights’ type reactions they may or may not be prone to.

For me, these training opportunities benefit the Reserves in ways that I have experienced on a personal level. They are levers not only to retain our Reserve family but also to recruit. These activities are open to Reservists and offer opportunities in training to experience activities that we would be unlikely to ever have a go at in civilian life. In part because of the cost but more so I think because of the justification. We, as an inclusive part of the Army, have a reason to pursue these things as they are part of our duty.

For those of you interested in sailing; I would recommend to anyone serving to give it a go. You will learn lots of new skills, you get sport, physical exertion, as well as moments of relaxation and a

The race is on

Overall results:

REME 1, PLACUNA: 3rd missing 2nd by 1 point. REME 2, VOLUTA 6th.

REME Team-

PLACUNA: Lt Col Will Naylor, REME AS, Skipper Maj Moray Watson, 160X, Mate Sgt Rai, REME AS Cfn Goodall, 8 Trg Bn REME Cfn Morrison, 8 Trg Bn REME Cfn Wright, 8 Trg Bn REME

VOLUTA: Maj Adrian Allen, 6XX, Skipper Sgt Tom Nicholson, 103 REME, Mate Maj Alex Thompson, CTG Cpl Phil Cartlidge, new REME Bosun Cfn Chris Shram, 8 Trg Bn REME

VOLUTA - The fleet in our wake