A Story for Seven Decades: Ashley Deacon
To celebrate our 70th Anniversary, we asked our community to share their stories – the voyages, the memories, and the moments that stayed with them. This is one of them.
By Ashley Deacon
1980
My first experience with Tall Ships Youth Trust was in April 1980: thanks to financial support from HSBC, aged 20, I completed a 13-day, 1,000-nautical-mile voyage as one of 39 trainees aboard the STS Malcolm Miller. It was exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure – and the making of me.
Under a clear blue sky and on a flat-calm sea, with some trepidation and plenty of nervous excitement, we trainees boarded the Malcolm Miller at Southampton Docks on 6th April where we were berthed line astern of Sir Winston Churchill. Having been allocated our watches (fore, main or mizzen) and bunks, stowed our gear and been issued with our navy-blue STA-branded fisherman’s smocks, our first task was to don our plimsolls/trainers and harnesses before being sent aloft the foremast.
Climbing the rope ratlines between the steel standing rigging to the crow’s nest, and then clipping on to clamber out horizontally onto the timber yards, immediately got the adrenalin pumping and, of course, was a great ice-breaker – and we descended to chatter animatedly on the teak deck, already the beginnings of forming a crew.
With drills completed and benign conditions, we hoisted and set sail heading south-west down the English Channel, rounding Ushant and docking at Douarnenez, around 25 miles south of Brest in France. This long haul built familiarity with the 24-hour operation of the ship at sea including the three-watch system, sail handling and ropework, helming, and meal preparation – with the ‘galley rats’ directed by a demanding chef. Most importantly, we began to develop the teamwork, communication skills, stamina and resilience, in sometimes challenging conditions, required in order to become a competent and effective crew.
After our antics in St Ives Bay, we weighed anchor and set sail south-west to round Land’s End for a second time and then south-east to cross the Channel for a third time and, after navigating a treacherous approach with a large tidal range and a huge sea lock, we berthed in St Malo. It was during this leg of our voyage that we encountered our most challenging conditions including Force 7 winds and rough seas – which provided one of my sharpest memories.
At a midnight watch-change, with an increasing wind, I recall leaving my warm bunk and once on deck learning that the decision had been made to reduce sail – including the flying jib. Quite how I ‘volunteered’ for this task escapes me but, having donned my orange oilskins and harness, I embarked on an experience that I have never forgotten: as I clambered onto the prow of the ship, clipped on to the bowsprit safety-rail and stepped onto the rope netting beneath it, the ship was pitching to such an extent that the bow-wave of black sea rose up through the netting to my chest. It certainly woke me up and with all my senses now fully heightened I made my way in the dark to the foremost end of the bowsprit to help haul down the flying jib and secure sail ties around the soaked, heavy-canvas sail. A truly unforgettable experience.
After the issuing of bright orange RYA Logbooks, including signed and stamped Competent Crew Certificates, and appropriate farewells, the crew disembarked to make their ways home with hands raw from hauling old-style rope halyards and sheets through block and tackle (“Two, six, heave!”) and a treasure-trove of stories – in my own case sleeping most of the way.
Epilogue
In September 2021, I climbed aboard Challenger 1 at the Southampton International Boat Show, was given a tour of the yacht by one of the young volunteers, talked to a Youth and Volunteer Manager and was given the TSYT ‘Life Changing Voyages’ leaflet. In August 2025, I rediscovered that leaflet at the bottom of my in-tray and reconnected with Tall Ships Youth Trust via its website: I made an impulse decision to take the Biscay Challenge – what proved to be a 482-nautical-mile non-stop voyage from Plymouth, across the Bay of Biscay, to Coruña on the north-west coast of Spain — as an adult voyage crew member.
With a brisk northerly at our back for virtually all of the voyage we completed the Challenge in under 72 hours — without a single tack. It was a wonderful voyage including some exciting sailing and big seas, seeing dolphins by day and night (leaving bioluminescent trails in their wake), as well as shooting stars and satellites – and Coruña was delightful.
To my surprise, at the end of the voyage the Skipper recommended I consider joining the TSYT adult volunteer crew as a Trainee Watch Leader — something that I am now actively pursuing, both ashore and at sea. I’ve completed a Volunteer Crew Training weekend and two delivery voyages: Portsmouth to Cardiff via Falmouth, St Ives, and Lundy Island; and Cardiff to Greenock via the stunning Isle of Bute. By the time you read this, I should have also completed two more such voyages: from Portsmouth to Falmouth – and back again a fortnight later.
I am also thrilled to have been accepted to join one of the two TSYT RORC Rolex Fastnet Race 2027 adult crews supporting 16 young crew members have what promises to be a truly unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience for them — as well as building their self-esteem, confidence, resilience, team-working and countless other invaluable life skills. In addition to my serious pre-race training, I am now cranking up my sponsorship campaign to help support the young crew members financially.
After a gap of 45 years, it feels good to be able to give something back to such a wonderful charity. Here’s to the Tall Ships Youth Trust’s next 70 years!
– Ashley Deacon
