The first training course for this year was the Rig Maintenance course. Seven club members duly met at the Stormforce coaching headquarters at Shamrock Key, Southampton on a bright and sunny spring morning.
After a coffee to get brains alert we were introduced to the course content by the instructor, Jamie. Jamie has worked as a rigger and Bosun for many years and came across as very knowledgeable.
We covered the different types of rig as well as the terminology used to describe the many components that go in to keeping our masts upright. This led on to setting up both mast head and fractional rig boats and the differences between this two types of rig.
After lunch, we all ventured out onto the pontoons which allowed us to get a practical, hands-on play with the rig of one of the sea school boats. We went through all of the theory that had been presented in the class room, as well as servicing one of the main-sheet winches.
To close out the day, each member of the group had a go at splicing three strand and braid-on-braid, and with the expert tuition of Jamie all were able to take home a well crafted example of each type of rope work.
All in all a very good and informative day, thank you to those who attended and those that organised the day.
12th March 2016