Soaked

We exercised last night on both boats. On the ALB we had a mixture of old hands, experienced and COBT competent crew, and then some probationers/new crew. So despite the less than perfect weather, we used the fully competent crew (Dan and James Mack) to train the probationers in their still to be completed tasks (anchoring and using the drogue). Although the sea conditions were moderate, it was cold, very wet, there was also hail and lightning.Photography is never easy on a rapidly moving boat at night but I liked this photo. Somehow it shows the blur of activity that was going on. This is in fact Dan, James, Ant and Nick preparing the anchor for deployment.Ant and Nick both rigged the anchor, deployed it, then used the capstan to heave it in.........this looks easier than it actually is on a pitching deck.During this evolution a squall passed through bringing with it a flurry of hail. Look closely and you can just see this on the deck.And then of course we retired to the anchor. As usual they provided large bowls of chips, a surfeit of Ringwood and in the corner John Deas held court as usual in his own quiet and unassuming way.