Cockney Oceanic was a Sailing Expedition with the ULOTC on a Nicholson 55 that took place in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, France, Bay of Biscay, Spain and Portugal from 27 August to 24 September 2010.
Divided into two legs, it saw 22 participants in total; 4 Skippers and 18 crew members sail from Gosport to Porto and back again.
This was an arduous sail training that qualified 7 novice sailors as Competent Crew, as well as preparing others for their Day and Coastal Yachtmaster courses.
The passage was selected for its difficulty, offering challenging sails through the English Channel and Bay of Biscay. It was: Gosport – Cowes – Cherbourg – Alderney – Guernsey – Brest – La Corunna – Bayonna – Portosin – Porto; crew change over.
The start of the sail to the Channel Islands was very rough and very demanding, especially on the novices. Arriving in Brest the crew prepared for the long journey ahead, 3,5 days non- stop sailing. The Bay of Biscay crossing was unusually calm for the time of year and we proceeded without any difficulty. Closing in on La Coruna and reaching the safety of port was welcomed, as a major storm was closing in on us. Having acquainted ourselves with the cultural heritage of Coruna and Santiago de Compostella we made our way down to Bayonna. This was the most difficult passage yet, as veering winds and heavy swells made the journey most unpleasant. With a short stay the crew pressed on to Portosin, just outside Porto. The boat having been prepared for the next leg, the crew descended to Porto, a city renowned for its port. This was a long awaited and much appreciated end to the journey.
The leg 2 crew followed the passage back to Gosport in the same order, without any complications. Both parties encountered various sea mammals on their way, including dolphins and whales.
This expedition was aimed at training the crew to manage the boat in all weather conditions, and it certainly achieved this. As the days grew longer, the crew in exchange grew more confident and well rehearsed. As on any long passage, the crew settled in and all became good team players.
All participants learned much about sailing, and all have vowed to continue developing their sailing skills.
The group would like to thank our Sponsors for their generous grants which enabled Cockney Oceanic to go ahead.