On the 3rd August I found myself on a sailing boat, sailing around the Isle of Wight for the Artemis Challenge at Cowes week. I was on board a 60ft top of the range boat (I was told the Ferrari of sailing boats). I was asked if I would be part of the team along with Zara Philips, to help win the race for charity, I did tell the team well in advance (as a warning) that I had never sailed a boat before and that I didn’t have a clue what to do, but they assured me it didn’t matter!
We were given the job of grinder, which means going as fast and as hard as you can almost pedalling your arms around a wheel to get the sails up and down. Zara and I did this together when shouted at by the skipper, but wow that’s hard work.
The whole team on the boat are constantly working together, pulling ropes, changing buttons, looking at the tides, the tactics of other boats, all to get ahead with the best wind. To think that one person does all these jobs at once when they sail around the world is crazy, I have a huge respect for all sailors after my one day out at sea.
It took me hours to stop feeling seasick and to find my land legs again. Thanks to all of the team at Artemis for inviting me and giving the most wonderful experience, my first ever sailing day out, and the first of many I hope (only once I have discovered seasickness tablets!).
