We started the day by introducing ourselves to each other and getting to know the interior and exterior of the boat. We also experienced a very wet start to the day, as it rained heavily at the beginning and throughout our sail.

We were taken through the safety briefings and shown how everything on the boat works. After about an hour or so, we started getting the sails out of the sail locker and preparing them for the next day.

After that, we had some time to sit and chat while some people had a go at helming the boat and others helped out with different jobs when needed.

Once we arrived at the port, we split into our watches. One watch cooked spaghetti bolognese for dinner while the other tidied the deck. After eating, we went for our showers, had some time to relax, and then headed to bed ready for the day ahead.

By Jonathan

We sailed from Holy Loch to Campbeltown. The weather was okay at first, with just a little rain, but then it picked up and started absolutely chucking it down! It was an eight-hour sail though, so it was bound to happen. Despite the rain, the views were really nice.

To start with, we put up the mainsail, but there wasn’t any wind, so we had to motor. Once we got to the end of Arran, we were able to sail the rest of the way to Campbeltown.

When we arrived in Campbeltown, we tidied the boat up. Challenger 2 had come over from Belfast and tied up next to us. We then went to the shops before coming back for dinner.

After that, it was time for bed. It was quite hard to get to sleep because there was a lot of talking, but eventually we all managed it.

By Amos

Today we had croissants for breakfast. After breakfast, we went on a walk around Campbeltown, stopping off at Tesco before following a path around the marina and along the loch.

When we got back from the walk, we put on our waterproofs and started getting ready to sail. Once we were out of the marina, we put the sails up and got underway.

For lunch, we had jacket potatoes with a choice of beans, beans and cheese, cheese, or tuna mayo as toppings. After lunch, I had a go on the helm and had so much fun steering the boat.

Later, we learned about the different types of Mayday calls before taking part in a practice man overboard exercise. After that, we lowered the sails and used the engine to head into Tarbert Marina.

For dinner, we had a lovely chicken curry. Once everyone had finished eating, Kate’s watch went for showers, and when they got back, Gordon’s watch had their turn. The showers in Tarbert are really nice!

After our showers, we had some free time until half past nine, when we started getting ready for bed so we could be settled and quiet by ten o’clock.

By Jessica B.

We woke up at around seven and tried to get the boat ready as quickly as possible so we could make the most of the time we had ashore. Once we went ashore, we visited the Co-op before taking a short walk up to a ruined castle overlooking Tarbert Harbour and the town.

When we got back to the boat, we got ready and pretty much set sail straight away. Just after leaving Tarbert Marina, we spotted a seal, and it was so cute paddling alongside our boat. We put up the mainsail and set course for the Kyles of Bute, which were absolutely beautiful.

We sailed through a narrow section, and the skipper took a photo of us all behind the steering wheel. About halfway through the journey, we put up the Yankee and staysail, and from then on it was pretty much smooth sailing.

Just before the final turn into Greenock Marina, we practised a few tacks before doing a gybe to turn onto the last stretch. Outside the entrance to Greenock, we took down all the sails before motoring back into the marina, where our journey had started and the circle was completed.

We had a lovely dinner of sausages, mash and vegetables before packing the boat away for the final time. Some of us had showers, while others didn’t, and then it was time for bed for our final night on Challenger 1.

That’s pretty much everything that happened during my day sailing.

By Jessica R