We met up at Gunwharf Quays and we started to see the crew come together and then we got to explore the yacht, which was to be our home for the next 7 days. After meeting and getting to know everyone and having a few laughs over lunch, we finally set sail to Cowes on the Isle of Wight. As we embarked on our journey, there was a sense of anticipation and excitement for what was to be an amazing trip ahead. After arriving at Cowes and settling in at the harbour and after having our delicious dinner of pasta meatballs, we decided to have some fun with a variety of team-building activities which overall strengthened our bonds and most importantly gave everyone an opportunity to have a great laugh. This led to an end of an amazing first day.

Most importantly thank you very much to Cadet Adventure Training for giving us this unique and amazing opportunity.

Dylan Mead – Starboard team​

At 0800h port crew started on breakfast with starboard tidying up we started to prepare the deck and do our daily clean. After the boat was ready for departure, challenger 2’s crew went for a stroll around Cowes.

At 1100h we left Cowes yacht haven leaving the Isle of Wight behind us. After an hour of motoring we got the second Yankee sail up swiftly followed by the main and 1^st head sail. We cruised to the needles practicing some tacks leaving the Solent. Once we had arrived at Studland bay, the anchor was dropped with a view of Old Harry Rocks and the crew began their evening challenge.

The task was to create a replica of the Tall Ships Youth Trust Challenger 2 with only marshmallows spaghetti and jelly babies. While our skipper’s model was rather impressive, others were not. Many enjoyed eating the materials some took a much more competitive approach and created a quite good model.

As the sun dropped over Studland bay, port and starboard went below deck to their bunks as their heads hit the pillows ready for the early start ahead of them.​

Today we set sail from Studland across the English Channel to Alderney. Upon setting sail we got ready and the starboard team made bacon baps for breakfast.  After eating we split into our teams and started doing 3-hour watches, looking out for other ships, and lobster pots that had been sprinkled in random places. Starboard took the first watch whilst Port got in some sleep as we all needed it. Our voyage was quite boring as there wasn’t much to see but on the odd occasion, the dolphins would pop out of the water. When we were sailing towards them, they got so close we could have touched them. We all got very excited with people coming up to the deck so they could see the dolphins and even dropping what we were doing to see them swim away. A few hours had passed and we were all getting very tired and our morale was getting low, especially as we were using the motor all the way. In his infinite wisdom, JJ decided that we needed music and a singalong, so he started with akuna mattata. After an hour we all started to pack the sails up so that we were able to moor in the marina. After all our hard work we were able to pick up the buoy and get all the sails and ropes into the locker giving us a lot more space up top.

We then decided that we all wanted to go swimming so in no time at all we got our swimming costumes on and went to the beach. We spent just over an hour on the beach and in the water when we realised that we needed to get back for dinner, so we got into the shower and got ready for dinner which was cottage pie.

That concludes day 3 of our adventure on the high seas. We have had a good time today and hope tomorrow is just as amazing.

On Wednesday 29^th June the crew of challenger spent the day on Alderney – one of the Channel Islands. Port and Starboard went into the local town visited the historic museum, and learnt lots of new and interesting facts, from the local community in today’s time to dating back into the WW2 and back to the stone ages.

Then after that inspiring hour, we were allowed to set off in groups and explore the island. To cut the crew some slack, we all rented bikes from the local cycle shop – where the locals running it were so helpful and polite. We explored the scenic routes.

Within my group, we went north of the island and explored Corblets Bay, where the ocean was clear and the perfect weather to take a paddle. Other people in my crew also visited the old and inspiring forts dotted around the island. We also stopped for an ice cream at local cafes and campsites as it was just needed after a 3 hour bike ride.

After all that, we regrouped and took a visit to the local fire station where we had all experienced a turn on putting on their jackets, helmets, masks and using their equipment including sitting in their fire engines, we even got a ride in the fire engine around the island. After such a beautiful and tiring day we returned to the challenger and made a scrumptious homemade bacon and gnocchi dinner whilst taking in the last alluring sunset at the harbour.

Today the crew indulged in some French pastries for breakfast which was swiftly followed by preparation of the deck. Port watch was on deck set up and starboard carrying out the daily boat clean. Challenger two slipped the lines at Cherbourg marina at 0930h. Skipper Amy masterfully sailed at a 35 angle across the English Channel – a first for many. With all three sails full of wind, the sea sickness kicked in for the crew, some managed with ginger biscuits whilst others slept below. With less than half of challenger twos crew still standing, we continued at a close hall sail. We entered Yarmouth marina, Isle of Wight. Once docked up we then had curry sauce with chips for our dinner. With port and starboard freshly showered, the watches split and created their paper plate awards. With heads down challenger two clocked out and awaited their final Solent crossing tomorrow.​

Today concludes our wonderful adventure across the English Channel. Today we sailed from Yarmouth back home to Gunwharf. Along our sail we took in the sites whilst also packing our bags and tidying the boat up. Today is all about leaving however it feels like we have only been on the boat for 3 days. It’s been quite a chill day and we have listened to music and had a sing song knowing this would be the last time we could. All together I will say that this has been a lovely day and whilst doing our last checks of the boat it finally dawned on us that this was it our final day.

I can truly say with confidence that we have not only bonded as a crew but also as friends. Most of us all think that the boys won’t survive a day without each-other so much so they have already arranged a group chat and camping trip together.

With this trip coming to an end we would like to thank our skipper Amz for this amazing adventure and our first mate Giles for his hard work and how well he has dealt with us even at the hard times. We would also like to thank the rest of the adults, Chris, Brodie, Donna and JJ for the amazing experience given to us and all the help we have had throughout the trip.

So this is us signing off,

The army cadets crew of the challenger 2