On Saturday 14th July, five members of the Queen’s Own Yeomanry (QOY) and one Officer Cadet from Liverpool University Officer Training Corps (LUOTC) deployed to Cyprus to conduct a five-day Offshore Sailing Expedition. The team consisted of one Day Skipper, one Competent Crew member and four complete beginners with no prior sailing experience.
Arriving at Episkopi Camp late Saturday night, the six spent Sunday on an RSOI and acclimatisation package before taking over the boat “Harmattan” on Monday 16th July in Akrotiri.
Over the next four days, the team sailed a distance of 113 nautical miles, stopping only at night at St Raphael, Larnaca, and Zygi, before returning to Akrotiri. Each evening the team explored the local area, alternating between sampling the local cuisine and cooking meals on the boat.
Temperatures consistently above 30 degrees and gusts of 20 knots made for some challenging conditions for all, but did not deter the team from achieving their aims each day. The boat was handed back on Friday 20th July in time for some much needed R&R before recovery back to the UK.
It has been a challenging but very enjoyable expedition and the team are very grateful for the generous support of the QOY, LUOTC and ATG. The four novices now have a basic understanding of how to sail, and the Competent Crew member is looking to attend his Day Skipper’s course in the coming months!
