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Sal and Bill did a Day Skipper Power course on Sals own boat, a Karnic 2695. Sal had only just bought the boat and once he had taken ownership he wanted to get qualified as soon as he could on his new craft. Sal has previously completed an SRC, PBL2 and Day Skipper Theory course prior to this one and owns a couple of 1970s classic motor boats as well. Bill was initially onboard to help Sal complete his course but it soon came clear that Bill was eager to get qualified as a Day Skipper Power as well. Bill has his own Sailing boat in Gillingham which he has owned for longer then he cares to remember but one that he takes out day sailing on his own quite often now he is retired.

Sal bought the boat from a yacht brokers in Hamble and one that he could use on his own at the same marina in Gillingham that Bill keeps his boat. Sals new boat, 'Anemos', a Karnic 2695 with twin Volvo D3 duo props giving 190 hp each is only a few years old compared to his 1970s classic boats which he already owns. The first day of the course was the first time Sal had been out on his new acquisition and was one of getting to know the boat, how it moves and behaves in all kind of manoeuvres and wind configurations. Days two and three were full of different passages stretching our legs visiting various ports in and around the solent going as far west to Newton Creek and into Portsmouth Harbour in the east from our central location in the Hamble. At the end of day three we conducted a night time passage from Cowes, up Southampton water and returning to Hamble at the end of a long day of training. All slept well that night. 

The last day of the course had more theory and carrying out many of the type of boating evolutions that is required to be a successful Day Skipper. This included anchoring, MOB and the one skill we all want to get right, berthing. Both students successfully passed Day Skipper with me, their instructor ‘Brad’, but the learning didn't stop for them once the course was complete, they had to get the boat to Gillingham.

They decided to spend the next three days getting the boat to Gillingham so that they could continue in putting into practice what they learnt on the previous four days of Day Skipper and to enjoy the trip as well. They left Hamble the following day to make tracks for Eastbourne, this would be the first of the three legs and would allow them to get used to being in control on their own without the backup of an instructor. After an overnight stay in Eastbourne they left at 11:00 the next day and arrived at Ramsgate at 16:00 and managed to use many of the things taught on the course on the passage to keep them on track.

The last day from Ramsgate to Gillingham was on home ground so to speak but they encountered a little sea fog just after the entrance to the Prince’s Channel which is a deep water route into the Thames South side estuary. They kept to the south of the main channel to avoid the larger vessels in there but maintained a visual fix on the channel lateral markers but proceeded at a safe speed keeping a good visual lookout at all times. After successfully getting Sals new boat to its new home marina in Gillingham they both appreciated the new skills they learnt on the Day Skipper course and had great satisfaction in completing the coastal passage too. 

- Brad

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