East Sussex keeps busy during winter

Although East Sussex 1, the national training vessel operated by Eastbourne-based East Sussex Sovereign Harbour Unit is away from base at Gosport awaiting a major refit in Portsmouth area, the Unit has been very busy on home territory.

Tuesday evening training starts early with the RYA Essential Seamanship and Navigation course delivered by senior Unit member Les Quilty and assisted by Deputy Head of Unit Robin Russell. This is being taken by about half a dozen Unit members.

The main training sessions start at 1915 and follow the MVS Training Pathway. Typically the evening is split into a number of parts, theoretical and practical. Recently there has been an emphasis on ropework including a demonstration by Unit member David Baird on how the twisting process to make traditional ropes increases their strength.

Meanwhile a small group of members have been busy in the boatyard refurbishing the Unit’s Harbour Training craft  MyLadB. She should be back in the water in a couple of weeks, just as the Unit’s attention switches back to East Sussex 1 as she enters refit.