Ocean training passages
The idea of ocean/offshore training passages is to offer a possibility to enjoy offshore sailing, but at the same time, gain skills and experience in sailing a big boat offshore.
Our first priority is always safety, so the procedures and ways of sailing the boat in a safe way, and acting in a safe way, are the first things to be adopted. Getting to know Galiana, her sails, ropes, and systems is obviously the next step. Having fun and cooperating together with the team onboard is a priority, so we'll start with name drills so that the old skipper will remember everybody's names.
Galiana is not a luxury charter vessel; we don't sail with guests who are served, but we sail together as a team with everybody doing everything. So be prepared to have your turn doing the dishes, cleaning the heads, vacuuming the cabin, and washing the decks. As a result, we get to enjoy a classic yacht in Bristol condition.
We also do our best to follow the principle of having a place for everything and everything in its place. The place for personal belongings is in your duffel bag or in your bunk.
We do this to have fun and enjoy life. The right attitude is the key: help the next one to you, give room, smile, laugh at yourself, and tell a joke.
If you are interested in learning to use the sextant and finding your whereabouts at sea in the traditional way, I'll get you started.
The best way is to order Tom Cunliffe's book "Celestial Navigation" and/or my book "The Last Voyage of Asteria" from Amazon. Tom's book has a ca 35-page, well-illustrated, partly even amusing step-by-step simple explanation of how celestial navigation using the sun is done.
In my book, I have written a seven-page, boiled-down version of the process. Read through either one or both, and we'll get back to it once onboard Galiana. You can start practicing taking the sights from the deck of Galiana with our sextant, and I'll guide you through the calculations. Of course, subject to the weather - the sun needs to be visible:).
