By David Lindsay

1971

In the spring of 1971, at a time before personal computers, GPS, and mobile phones, I was sitting in my office at Heathrow Airport casually reading my employer’s monthly staff magazine when I noticed a short article asking for applications from any staff who might be interested in applying for a place aboard a Tall Ship. This seemed a good opportunity to me to get away from the humdrum of office life for a while and to have a bit of an adventure.

I was told my application had been successful and thus later that year I found myself reporting to the Schooner, Sir Winston Churchill, in Southampton Docks to join as a “Trainee” for a voyage into the unknown.

On arrival I was required to “sign on” and was allocated a berth at the forward part of the Half Deck where the trainees slept and ate. I counted myself fortunate that at least I had a fixed bunk as a few of the other trainees were allocated hammocks slung from the deckhead above the mess tables located below.

The Schooner had a crew of 55 — Master, 1st Officer, Bosun, Cook, Engineer (the “permanent” crew) and a number of volunteers including a Navigator, Purser, Bosun’s mate, Cook’s assistant and a Supernumery, three Watch officers and three watch leaders. The remaining 39 were the “Trainees”.

After some safety briefings and the opportunity to “go over the top” — up the ratlins on the foremast and through the crow’s nest — we eventually cast off and sailed down Southampton Water, round the Isle of Wight, and shaped a course towards Guernsey.

In the morning the on-watch Trainees continued their allocated tasks of watch keeping, washing down the decks and holystoning them. In addition, the crew continued to ring the ship’s bell, located behind the bridge, to mark the passing of the time and the beginning and ends of the watches. Others also spent time steering the ship, keeping lookout, polishing the brass, general cleaning throughout the ship including the heads and showers, and peeling potatoes.

Despite the cold and discomfort of my first trip I wanted to repeat the adventure and subsequently sailed as cook’s assistant, relief cook and as Watch Leader on the Challenger Yachts.

I was very fortunate to sail on several Tall Ships races and to visit many notable places around the UK and elsewhere. I crossed the Atlantic from Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the Prince William, and visited France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, the Channel Islands, Spain and much of the UK including the Western Isles.

There were always many stories, experiences and adventures. Above all, there were the crews and characters. It was massively rewarding to see how some of the younger voyage crew grew in confidence and skills during their voyages.