In April ten female cadets from Tile Cross Academy (part of Solihull School CCF through the Cadet Expansion Programme) undertook a five-day, four-night, voyage aboard Challenger 2, one of the Tall Ships Youth Trust’s ocean going yachts.
After an uneventful minibus journey from Birmingham, the cadets were welcomed aboard the boat, moored alongside Gunwharf Quays at Portsmouth, by Jim the skipper. There then followed an intensive period of briefings and familiarisation to make sure the whole crew were aware of safety procedures above and below decks. Life jackets and oil skins were issued and the recovery actions of man overboard drills were practiced. We then put to sea and headed out into the Solent. The wind was light, so it was a gentle motor over to Cowes with one of the watches below preparing dinner.
The second day brought more light winds but enabled the crew to practice man overboard drills at sea using a dan buoy marker. The cadets worked hard at indicting its position the helm and taking it in turns to go over the side on a halyard to rescue to ‘casualty’ whilst the others worked the winch. Late afternoon we came into Yarmouth harbour which was also home that night to the Contessa 34 fleet from JSASTC with crews from the RLC. The next morning allowed time for a walk into the countryside around Yarmouth (a contrast to East Birmingham!) before a visit to the local shop (also a contrast to Birmingham price wise!). Back on the yacht there was time for as many cadets who felt brave enough to climb to the top of the mast, an activity that quickly attracted spectators waiting to catch the ferry back the mainland and which impressed the RLC sailors.
Lunch was taken at sea during a downwind sail to Osbourne Bay where dinner was taken at anchor prior to a night navigation exercise to circumnavigate the Bramble Bank. All hands were engaged in spotting and identifying the lights on the various marks with the cadets taking it in turns to helm the boat. The yacht spent that night back in Cowes and the following morning enabled a run ashore to Poundland (better value than Yarmouth!) and quick tour of the promenade.
The wind had picked up enabling a hoist of the main with two reefs in, the stay sail and Yankee. The rest of the day was spent practicing tacking and jibing in the Solent before it was time to drop and flake the sails in time to enter Portsmouth Harbour and return to Gunwharf Quays for our final night. Saturday morning was spent cleaning the yacht before departure for Birmingham late morning.
It was an amazing trip. The cadets were challenged mentally and physically. Half the cadets were only 12 or 13 but really worked hard to pull their weight and work as a team with the heavy sails and winching. The confined living conditions also tested and developed their social skills. There were some great cooking skills on show and it was good to see the impact of Food Technology GCSE teaching on some of the older girls. Many of the cadets showed real physical courage to climb the mast, and compassion for cadets less financially fortunate than themselves. All the cadets gained their RYA Start Yachting certificate.
Quotes:
‘I am so proud of myself for being brave enough to climb to the top of the mast’. Serenity
‘I loved steering the boat and volunteered to take the wheel whenever I could’. Fatim
‘I did lots of Joint Service yachting in the 90’s and it was great to be back afloat with cadets and seeing them get the bug.’ Major Neil Mackintosh, veteran.
