We were off Sumburgh Head, heading for Fair Isle with a following wind and lumpy sea when we were overflown by the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter. The VHF came over “Helicopter Oscar Charlie – request permission to land a winchman aboard as a training exercise”. Of course we were delighted to help and excited at the unexpected activity. We turned close hauled on the port tack and Oscar Charlie slowly closed in – with less downdraught but much more noise than expected. The high-line was lowered and hauled in, then the winchman was lowered and pulled aboard. Too noisy for speech, but thumbs-up were exchanged. All too soon the procedure was reversed and we resumed course for Fair Isle. We appreciated familiarisation with the procedure, but hope never to require the Coastguard’s services for real.
Please can you assist the uninitiated non sailor by explaining the technical term “lumpy sea”! Is this the same as the lumpy custard of school dinners fame?? That presents an interesting picture.
Really impressed by your technical prowess…….need I say more …….. as well as the superb photos.
Maggi – this is the adventure you have been waiting for all your life …to boldly go where no ……….
PS Still on the look out for a left wing mirror
Keep Blogging to make my days more interesting.
Love Linda
What a plethora of technical terms! I understood dolphin, rabbit, Old Man and ardour although the latter two perhaps make paradoxical bed fellows!Fantastic piccies.You and Isabel should get together to write travelogues! The descriptions from Hong Kong and from the ocean waves are marvellous but like Linda, I don’t like the sound of ‘lumpy seas’. I hope all is well. best wishes. Moira