Caribbean Wings is a Tri-Service sail training exercise based in the Caribbean over the UK winter months on a Challenge 67 yacht provided by the Joint Services Adventurous Sail Training Centre, Gosport. Leg 3, with the mixed services crew of 13, met the Skipper at the Port Louis Marina, Grenada on the late afternoon of 17 November 2013, after a long cramped flight from Gatwick, to start a sailing adventure to be remembered for a long time.

The first two days were taken up with briefings, hands-on-training, provisioning the boat, getting to know each other and taking a few hours off to see a bit of the Island, which included a trek along a forest track to a waterfall and swimming in a lagoon.

Setting sail on the afternoon of day three, the crew were divided into three watches, instructed in drills such as dealing with a crewmember going overboard (MOB), handling the boat and sail changes. Course was set for Union Island, a good 80 nm to our north. The overnight sail became challenging for the novices and experienced alike with a good wave height of a 5 feet and wind strength of 20 knots resulting in HMSTC Discoverer digging deep into waves as we beat into the wind. Baptism of Fire was heard muttered! As the sun appeared the on-watch team were rewarded with a magnificent view of the distant Island as the temperature increased to raise morale. As breakfast was served, all on board went about their allocated tasks of working the boat, keeping the communal areas clean, keeping on course and getting rest in-between. After a safe passage through the reefs, Discoverer was safely alongside by midday, just over twenty four hours after leaving Grenada. The two working Watches had a taste of 4 hours on 4 off throughout that time, and Mother watch worked hard to feed the crew and keep the boat hygienic.

The following day the Skipper navigated the boat to a small anchorage off Tabago Keys where we dropped the anchor, inflated the dinghy and set up an anchor watch. The off-duty personnel went swimming with turtles and enjoyed a BBQ lunch on the beach, provided by a local fisherman. The on-duty watch ferried people to the beach and ensured the boat was safe before the roles were swopped. The crew made light work of setting sail in the late afternoon for another night sail up to our next Island, St Vincent. On route, the wind was a good strength, constantly coming across the beam, allowing a fast and less bumpy passage past the Islands of Canouan, Mustique and Bequia before reaching Chateaubelair Bay before the daylight faded.

By now the Watches were working well. In their teams the novices were getting to know knots, names of the equipment and becoming confident at carrying out the drills required to work the boat. Trooper Ollie Hobbs was settling well into the role of Watch Leader, directing three inexperienced sailors in the various tasks keeping the vessel sailing well and the crew safe - his first management role. The sail was enjoyed much more as most of the crew had now found their sea legs!

With all hands on-deck, the anchor was hauled-up before daylight and, as the yacht motored out of the silent bay, the mainsail and No2 Yankee foresail were raised and set before the crew fell into the watch routine, heading for two nights alongside at Nelson’s Harbour in Antigua. The prolonged stop allowed for the communications system to be repaired and boat to be smartened up while the crew made the most of visiting various beaches and other sites on the Island.

With repairs completed and crew well rested, HMSTC Discoverer refuelled before heading off for a long haul south to take up an overnight mooring in a small Martinique bay. The following day St Lucia was a short hop for boat cleaning and handover but on passage the skipper allowed the more experienced crew to take the helm to attempt the MOB drill - Bob the Fender was recovered safe and well!

The clean-up lasted a day, with tasks split between Watches to ensure Discoverer was ship shape for Leg 4. After seven Islands and 640 nm, the crew used the final day to relax by a hotel pool before departing for the airport for the return flight back to a cold UK.