During the summer of 2023 twelve cadets and staff sailed on the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland’s Alba Explorer to complete their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expedition. Their voyage started in Oban and finished in Hartlepool ten days later. The cadets and staff were from RAF Air Cadets Scotland and Northern Ireland Region with the exception of one cadet who was from North Region. While on the voyage the staff and cadets had the opportunity to complete their Royal Yachting Association Competent Crew certificate as well as learning about the boat and what it takes to run it efficiently. The expedition was only possible for all attending because of funding we received from the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland and The Ulysses Trust, without it some may have struggled to attend.
The cadets and staff were split into two watches which had important roles to play throughout the day and night. The roles included a radio officer, navigator, sailing master, bosuns mate and organiser. All meals were cooked by the cadets and staff. They had to plan the menu for each day and everyone had the chance to cook at least one meal.
When on deck duty the staff and cadets were learning all aspects of running the boat including raising & lowering the sail, taking the helm, sailing manoeuvres like tacking and how to use the fenders and lines when docking. Below deck, the watches were responsible for passage planning, communications, maintenance, cooking, cleaning and ensure the log book was completed correctly.
The first night on the boat the staff and cadets spent some time getting to know each other and picking their roles and responsibilities, then it was off to Tobermory Marina for an overnight stay. The boat then left Stornoway the following afternoon and travelled overnight across the Minch to Loch Eriboll where they anchored and tried to get some sleep and wait for the tide to be just right for their passage through the Pentland Firth to Wick for another overnight stay. From there, the following morning they headed across the Moray Forth to Fraserburgh for another overnight stay. The next stage of the journey saw them heading out of Fraserburgh into a Force 8 wind for the passage to Stonehaven. A Force 8 is gale force wind of Moderately high (18-25 ft) waves. There were a number of people struggling with sea sickness due to the boat’s motion in the waves. The boat had to anchor offshore as the harbour could not accommodate the boat’s draft. The following morning all were able to get off the Alba Explorer and have a walk around Stonehaven harbour. The next destination was Dunbar so they set sail on the Firth of Forth but, due to the weather, they had to anchor just off Dunbar. The weather was so bad that the crew had to assign an anchor watch to ensure the boat stayed stationary and that anchor movement was minimal. The next morning they headed for Tynemouth and the Royal Quays Marine where they got to experience a lock to get into the Marina. Everyone made good use of the showers at this stop! The final passage was down to Hartlepool where the Tall Ships were gathering before their race to Norway. It was another lock gate to get into to the Marina where the voyage ended.
The expedition was a fantastic opportunity for the cadets and staff to work together. The ages ranged from 16 to 50+ with many of them having no sailing experience. Not only did the cadets achieve their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expedition but some of the cadet have decided to go back to Ocean Youth Trust to complete the course to become a Bosun. The cadets and staff had an amazing voyage and have recommended it to their peers in their squadrons. They even managed to celebrate a birthday with cake while on board and had a visit from one of the cadets Commanding Officer who came to see them in his Coastguard Helicopter.
Euan Mearns – 2311 (Glenrothes) Squadron, Central Scotland Wing
“I managed to develop my sailing skills during the voyage and I felt that I was a more competent helmsman. I acted as watchleader and took charge of sail hoists, instructing and encouraging the other members of the watch. I enjoyed building my leadership skills and I hope to continue to develop more skills in the future”
Eve McLeod – 1019 (City of Stirling) Squadron, Central Scotland Wing
“I was able to provide emotional support to other members of the team especially when spirits were low as a result of the bad weather and resultant sea sickness. I had a great time shadowing the Bosun, learning new skills, I learned to have patience with others and I realised I can achieve more than I think I can”
Martin Skidmore – Commanding Officer 2405 (Dingwall)Squadron, North Scotland Wing
“Epic Voyage and something mesmerising about watching dolphins playing in the bow wave. Almost close enough to touch, we covered nearly 600 nautical miles on the 72-foot yacht from Oban to Hartlepool. Definitely a tick off my bucket list!”
