This year’s offshore sailing expedition attracted a record 40 applications from young people living in Cornwall, from whom we had to choose just 10 venturers and two reserves.
After a selection process in which they had to submit videos saying what they hoped to gain from – and bring to – the voyage, the successful candidates came together for the first time on 21 June for fun, games and sailing practice at Fowey.
What did they get up to? Well, who better to describe the day than one of the venturers and we’re grateful to Isabelle (back row, second from right) for her account of the proceedings:
“On Saturday 21st June, the new crew for Helen Mary R finally met under blue skies. We arrived at the sailing club in Fowey, and while smiling excitedly at each other, took myriad pictures until skipper Matt prodded us away and onto the boat.
One after another, we climbed aboard and lowered ourselves down into the cosy cabins, where – the cameras out of sight – we heaved off our hoodies in the humid heat.
Matt had climbed down after us and after a speech on safety procedures, attempted to break the silent ice between us by asking what weapon we’d take into an apocalypse. Common responses included a knife, fork, and spoon, which all aggregated to a full cutlery set.
Heaving ourselves back on deck, we lent a hand to push off the pontoon and sail out of the harbour. But as we were just edging out, a rumble of thunder could be heard; dark clouds formed unusual peaks not unlike mountains and lighting began to strike. What a way to start, we all thought to ourselves. Turning Helen around, we sailed back into the harbour, hoping the weather would improve. And it did. The storm clouds prowled north, and we once again all worked to sail Helen out of the harbour.
Shining like a god, the sun warmed our backs and necks; our tongues pronounced unfamiliar sailing terms; muscles strained under the effort to hoist up the sails. We all had a job to do: from steering and learning knots, to making 30 sandwiches for a hungry crew.
At about 13:00, we anchored near Polkerris and rapidly got changed into swim stuff to plunge into the blissfully cool sea.
Pushing out the boom, we shuffled our way along it to stand on its end and backflip our way into the water.
Once the boys had finished testing out how many of them could fit onto a single paddle board, we sailed back to Fowey and tried to decide our destination for the trip – was it going to be France or Ireland?
Nearing the same pontoon we had pushed off that morning, we spotted our parents and after thanking the afterguard, smiled our way home.”
Thanks again to Isabelle for her account. One of the parents told us her son ‘was buzzing when he got off the boat and has learnt so much already in just a day.’
We wish them all joy of the voyage.