As we arrived at the Challenger 2, we were all very excited, but we were attacked by a kraken that seemed very angry. It launched itself at us on the behalf of our arch nemesis, the Victoria of Wight Ferryyyy. We escaped by the skin of our teeth and using our awesomely magical knot skills (and, of course, our laser beam eyes). However, we were then ambushed by the Victoria of Wight feryyyy itself, who was lying in wait for us and them attempted to reason with us that red was green, green was red, and port actually meant eckyeckythwimp. The french captain informed us that we needed to get him a chocolate ice cream and some small cheese. He also told us that the Victoria was actually disguised orange and purple hippo and he was escaped from the Greek flamingo zoo.

After our awful ordeal, we arrived in Cowes by 6 o’clock and managed to valiantly win chocolate eggs from the harbourmaster (who may or may not be a vampire). However, he tricked us into accepting eggs that were actually from a dragon. Thankfully, they only hatched into chickens, which we then ate in chicken fajitas. We all slept very peacefully, because the skipper’s duck collection and a crocheted mushroom (by the name of Schnopulous LVI) took the helm.

By day duck, by night, SUPERHERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We awoke in cowes, with the sound of seagulls!! Before we knew it it was time to slip lines. Slight issue, we couldn’t piviot out the morning backwards as we would have hit challenger 4, we couldn’t go forwards or we would hit challenger 1… it was a tough decision… who did we want to anger. We went for none of the above and decided to wait. 3, 1, 4, gone pontoon clear! Round we went, to a comment of “wow that actually worked” from a skipper from another vessel.

Sails up… well sort of. The track was remarkably stiff and even with 4 young people and a first mate hanging off the halyard, it would budge. So we went conservative with a reef 2. Glorious sunshine, a disco on the foredeck and it was lunch time. Filled pasta for everyone! The needles called us out and the yankee rose! It was going so well, what could go wrong…. Then it started… beginning as a low grumble that echoed cross the deck.

Vomit to the left of us, vomit to the right of us, good god is that vomit coming at us?? Ok, it wasn’t that bad, we had like 3 people be sick. Past the races it all calmed down, and a large quantity of breadstick were consumed. For those intresrted of the 3 in the assorted packet, herby the best, plain in second and don’t go near the seasamy one. Not good!

As we approached weymouth it was main drop time… main drop time… main drop… aaahh the topping life had decided to throw a tantrum, it decided it was very comfortable where it was and didn’t was to budge.

The swell was not well swell, up and down, side to side. You know what leave it! Drop it as is! So the sail came down and the boom stayed up. we went for a new approach to flaking, now whilst I don’t think it will total catch on, according to a first mate on another boat it looked good…. I have questions. Through the harbour entrance we drifted at an average of 4 knots, in and alongside. Grateful to have the delightful crew of challenger 3 there and ready to catch our lines.

During dinner, I had a very very stern word with the topping lift. Explained how it really wasn’t embodying the tall ships key words and that its voyage crew feedback form would not be a true reflection of its capability. It decided that fair cop, it would do its original job. With the help of Sam and Mike from challenger 3 within 15 minutes, 5 of us had the main sail flaked and away! a long lie down was needed.

This is the last survivor (they’re all fine) on challenger 2.

Today we started off with banging eggy bread which was the first for our amazing watch leader who is from the North, also the eggy bread was slightly mushy sometimes.

We then moved on to pulling people up the mast (no one was hurt mostly, except myself as the skin on my knee was horrifically torn from my body and it given a scar I’ll have forever). After that we went and had ✨free time✨ where we had Bepo Gelato which was proper BANGING!

Then sadly our free time was up and we had to go do the BEACH OLYMPICS which was tragic for our boat, one of our teammates was pulled upside down and sand was thrown in their eyes. We also won the dinghy race Yay!!! Then we had fish and chips which was BANGING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now it comes to me sitting here typing this, hoping someone finds me, oxygen is low (our ship was sent to space and this rock guy showed up and he’s tapping on some glass, PROJECT HAIL MARY REFERENCE ).

Goodbye, for now………

Today we are making a song

ARTIST: LIL’ T

SONG: BIG K

Yo BIG K

Today is not your DAY

So get out the WAY

Or else you’ll fall in the BAY

And you’ll be sad so you won’t go YAY

So you’ll make it your DAY

And run far AWAY

You’ll get to the boat and there won’t be HAY

Then you will make it your DAY

And you will go YAY

(oooooooooooooooo YEAH)

Cause today will be your DAY

(YYYYYYAAAAAAYYYYY)

We were ruthlessly awoken by the engine at dead early in the morning (6:00).  Up on deck the sunrise was like a plate of red, yellow, and orange skittles on a plate of water. Breakfast was lightly toasted chocolate crepes. Joel spilt his rainbow nerds over the deck that would soon end up in his sleeping bag.

The task was set our boarding party was prepped to be ready to board the other challengers whilst playing pirates of the Caribbean. We arrived along side challenger 1 and had a very cool dance off (that we won!!!!!!!!!!😊), once we smoked the other ship the people of youth went below deck to gathered pots and pans, then the boat arrived at challenger 4 and we circled them whilst they banged the pots together (they were definitely intimidated).

Then it got to the hard work, we were forced to excruciatingly heave up the Yankee  and staysail  and practise tacking we then took tuns steering the ship and one person in particular stood out, CYRUS DID AMAZING and successfully kept the ship going straight AND avoided two different near collisions with expert level skill, while this was going on the clock was clicking down until we could dock in Cowes, we had an amazing lunch that was beautifully cooked by, Greta, Holly, Kacy and Thomas (it was ciabattas) after lunch our skipper (the amazing Sophie) allowed us free time around Cowes n we had a lot of fun doing the scavenger hunt that she gave us.

The evening rolled in and the sun set over the horizon as we sat don for our final dinner aboard challenger 2 (chicken curry) and Cyrus, Holly and Kacy had some chocolate spread mixed with rise and it was very gooood, we all got very emotional as we realised that we had just finished our last full day together.

Signed Cyrus (the best) and Robbie