After raising the funds which was required for the cadets to go offshore in the month of April it was eventually time. The cadets worked hard to raise money as well as receiving bursaries from the Ulysses trust which has helped massively towards the cost of their offshore voyage. Just before we were about to set off on Friday 12th May we were informed of the train strikes which would be happening on the Friday and Saturday. Our adult supervisors got inContact with the offshore team to ask if this would affect our voyage and unfortunately it did. We were all disappointed about this as we knew this meant 2 days less at sea but we were still excited to be able to join TS Jack Petchey when we eventually get to France. (TS – Training Ship)
We all were doing last minute packing making sure we had everything for the voyage going over our kit list several times in the morning until we met our Petty Officers (PO’s) at Carlisle train station for our train to Portsmouth. We boarded our train at 13:50 to our first change in London Euston. This was a long journey as the train was full and it was very warm. On our way down we played many card games and filled our tummy’s with sweets. When we arrived at London Euston we then had to make the journey on the tube to London Victoria. This was the first time some of us had travelled via the London Underground. When we arrived at London Waterloo we went straight to the platform were our next train was to continue our journey to Portsmouth. When trying to get through the gate to our train the train terminal lady said that it was not our train and that we should go and check the board. Which we already had done before approaching the gates but never mind we went to check. Once checking we knew for definite that this was our train and went back to the gate. When trying to get through she started arguing with us saying that this was not our train our PO’s told her to check because the train was about to leave, and she was holding us up. So, she checked her timetable and then realised we were correct and let us through the gate to get on our next train to Havant. Once arriving in Havant, we found 3 more cadets who we would be with on the offshore voyage and started introducing ourselves to them. These cadets where from Hartlepool Sea Cadets. As we continue our journey and get on our final train to Portsmouth, we were all starting to get excited for our ferry to Ouistreham. When we arrived in Portsmouth a member of the offshore team met us there and took us to the terminal in a minibus. Once arriving at the terminal, we met all of the cadets we would be on the voyage with. 1 from Hove and Adure Unit 1 from Gosport Unit and 1 from Walsall Unit as well as our Engineer who was from Workington unit.
PO Longstaff double checked that we all had our passports and T1 Cards – (which is a card with parent details on) and then went and checked us in. She was given our cabin and boarding passes and also the information about breakfast. At 21:50 we headed to the gate to go through onto the ferry. We had our bags checked and passports checked and away onto the ferry we went. When we got on the ferry we were given some down time to have a look around explore the shop and then where informed what time we had to be at the information point for breakfast. Breakfast was at 04:15!! Yes so early as we arriving in Ouistreham for 05:30BST. All cadets mustered at the stern (back) of the ship for a photo opportunity as we were leaving Portsmouth and away to our cabins, we went to get some sleep as we had such an early start to the day.
Day 1 Ouistreham – Fecamp – 04:00 hours came around we woke up and got ready to meet at the information point. We then went upstairs to the food hall to get our breakfast. We didn’t really enjoy the breakfast “the eggs were too runny and slimey and the beans were too watery” – CFC Abel. After breakfast we made our way back to our cabins to make sure we packed everything and put our bags in the luggage room until we departed. We where then told to get our passports ready for arrival and OC Dillon had left his in his cabin. PO Lobb returned to his cabin to retrieve the passport and luckily it was still there before we departed. When we arrived in Ouistreham we went through passport control got our passports stamped and went through to meet the 1st Lieutenant Commander Phenna. He took us from the ferry Terminal to TS Jack Petchey where we would be spending the next 5 days on. Upon arrival we were told to leave our bags on the pontoon and make our way onto the ship for briefings, tour, and cabin information. The group split in half so we could get everything done quickly as the lock to the marina was opening at 07:30 and we had to be ready to leave. Half of us went down the ladders to our cabins females were on the port (left) side of the ship and males where on the starboard (right) side of the ship. Our supervisors PO Longstaff and PO Lobb were also on their respected sides.
Once half of us had been down below to make our beds it was time to get our Number 4 uniform on, this is our working wear which you will see in many of our photos. We fitted our life jackets all got changed and it was straight into our watches on the lines for departure. We learned what all the ropes were called starting from the front of the ship to the stern ‘back’. We were moored up on our starboard side. This meant the exit to the ship and ropes came off from the right hand side. We let go of the ropes AC David took helm and we left Ouistreham for Fecamp. The water was extremely choppy on our way there! A lot of cadets were sick! When we mean a lot everyone but AC David and our staff. We then had lunch which was chicken soup! We can say this definitely did not sit well with us and a lot of us struggled after our long journeys the day before and the sea sickness took over. However, this did not stop us! The Fighting Sausages – (Which is our nickname after HMS Cumberland) still managed to go up to the bridge for our watches where we learned navigation, look out and how to helm the boat (steer). When noting down on the charts were we where on our course we had to take down the longitude and latitude, the depth, wind speed and direction, the course were where steering on and our speed. This was to ensure we were staying on our course to Fecamp. Upon arrival at Fecamp we were met by a very rude gate operator, we went into the marina and waited for the gate to open so we could moor up for the evening. Eventually we were allowed through the gate where we had to get ready with our lines to tie up! “I was on the stern line and waited for LtCdr Phenna to shout for it.” CFC James. Once all lines where secure up on the pontoon it was then time to secure them on the ship by taking a turn around the cleat then doing 2 x’s and then a final turn around and tidying the rope up. It was then dinner time and the most important time aboard the ship! We had a Sunday roast, and it was so good! After this we got our phones back called home then it was an early night after such a long night before and tiring day at sea.
Day 2 Fecamp – Boulogne – Todays tasks were a lot easier as we had better weather conditions for our voyage, we took it in turns up on the bridge in our watches where we completed our duties in helming the wheel, navigation and keeping watch for surrounding vessels, buoys and any other things we could see out at sea. As we arrived ahead of schedule into Boulogne we had the time to go ashore and get an ice cream. Upon arrival back to the ship it was back into our uniforms dinner was served and our engineering class commenced. After this it was shower time and bed for our next full day at sea.
Day 3 Boulogne – Calais – This was our shortest journey of the week, which meant we could have shore leave in Calais! We all managed to go ashore to discover Calais, of course we had to find the nearest McDonalds as it would not be right to go to another country and not try the cuisine. We then went back to the ship and were tested on our knowledge and what we had learned throughout the past few days on board which consisted of, buoyage, navigation, knots, and of course our man overboard exercise. We then finished the evening with a game of Pictionary, and it was time for bed.
Day 4 Calais – Ramsgate – today we woke up got dressed and had breakfast. It was the time for colours at 08:00, we then set of for Calais ferry terminal so we could be stamped out of France so we could make our way back to England. We then got back to the ship and got underway for our very last time of our offshore voyage. We were given a lesson on anchoring and a chance to complete our syllabus with a knowledge test on our way. Upon arrival at Ramsgate it was straight into clean ship, we cleaned all parts of the ship and then got ready for our evening meal. After evening meal it was back up to the funnel deck to do evening colours and our presentation ceremony. AC David received his offshore hand 2 qualification with elements of his offshore Seaman signed off, OC Dillon, CFC James, and CFC Abel all gained their offshore hand 1 qualifications.
Day 5 Ramsgate – Carlisle – It was now time to depart the ship and head home, we had many trains to catch to get us back to Carlisle. We were delayed on our last train back to Carlisle but we all eventually made it. We got off at the station met with our parents and we could not wait to tell them all about our fantastic week abord TS Jack Petchey.
We all had a fantastic time on board and without the help from the Ulysses trust we would not have been able to make the memories and friendships we have on this voyage. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them and show them what we got up to on our week offshore.
