Today we headed down to Portsmouth, leaving Peterborough at 8.10 am. We arrived at gunwarf quays at 1 pm after a lovely drive with hardly any traffic. We boarded the boat and dropped our stuff off in the dorms and headed onto the deck for a briefing. After being briefed we got into our waterproof gear and prepared the boat ready to sail. We then spilt of into two sections which we noted for dinner arrangements and logistics of learning about sailing. Once we finished prepping the boat, we set sail, we sailed most of the way to Cowes, on the Island of White. Then we were told how to put up the stay sail and where and learnt how to tack, we all had a go pulling in the rope and letting it go so the sail could turn thus tacking. When we arrived at Cowes the two sections split up – section red exited to under deck to start preparing dinner (bangers and mash). Meanwhile section green took down the stay sail and tidied up the snake pit. After green was finished we headed under deck to make our beds and break until dinner was ready. After dinner green section tied up and washed all the cutlery and dishes whilst the other team showered and made their beds. After everything was ready, clean and calm we played a few rounds of cards and headed to bed at 9.45.

Chris and Joss ​

Day 2, we have continued this tour, awoken at our cabin at quarter to 8 sharp, people chatting away about future plans for the day. I got up drowsy and tired after the change of schedule during this week. I organised my bed ready to eat breakfast. A crimson jam across my toast, a dark coffee to finish this meal off I had a bowl of cereal to satisfy my needs and appetite. Then York, a German  taught us the names of the sail parts (such as the luff), he awarded us with wine gums.

We then after went up to the deck to continue yesterday’s work, we took off and were briefed on what to do. We put up the Yankee and then after a while, we set the main sail up. The biggest challenge of putting it up is that we had to sweat. We also were sweating it while the jammer was accidentally closed. What fun! This was the best bit, as we would be sailing anywhere from 0-45 degrees. Some of us even had to pull the Yankee down at the front while tilting and it was such a great experience!

Keven da and Noah 

Day 3, at the moment, our tour was fabulous!

We woke at our cabin at quarter to 8 just like yesterday. We organised our room and got ready for the day we started by eating breakfast which was cereals and toast everyone thought it was delicious. After we ate we headed for our last enjoyment at the Southampton marina facilities. So far we think that Southampton has the best VIP facilities and state of the art yachts.

Giles and Flyn taught us what to do in case of a `man over board’ which is basically what to do when a person falls off a boat accidentally. Everyone went to the dock and had a go at lying down, to simulate the casualty. We then prepared the boat to leave Southampton and sailed to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.

We had a go at a variety of different activities and challenges such as learning new knots, which if we got correctly the mates would award us with fantastic sweets (rich in flavour and those that would have a bite to it!). We also got to climb up the spinnaker which is a part that sticks out of the mast.

When we arrived to Yarmouth we had an hour and a half of shore time. We wandered around the quiet and gentle village in Yarmouth. Everyone liked it as the villagers were very sweet and sympathetic by telling us where the shops/market places where. Salomé, Alice, Keven, Connor, and Mr Read had a game of football in a small green near the docking place. We then finished the evening with a `scrumdidiliumptious’ plate of fish and chips and then played a relaxing game of cards and went to sleep at 9:45pm.

-Written by Salomé and Alice

Day 4, the tour is coming to an end, we woke in our cabin at 7 and got breakfast ready. We had scrambled eggs and muffins this morning, it was quite good and everyone was fulfilled. We then organised our room and got dressed in many layers as we had a long day ahead of us. We then split into our groups, one clearing up and the other getting the boat ready. We then climbed the main sail, which meant we strapped someone in to the climbing harness and sweated them up to the top, we let them spend a few seconds up there admiring the view and brought them back down so the next person could go up. I (Amelie) went up first and reached the very top, Conner next and Noah afterwards etc.

We then put the main sail up and went on our way. Later on we took turns driving the boat before having lunch, which was chicken wraps. Afterwards we spent what felt like hours tacking, which was quite exhausting, immediately after that we practiced our knots and then practiced the ‘man over board’ drill. We then found a place to anchor and cooked. Dinner was spagbol, which was quite nice. After that we had a few lessons on night navigation and set on our way again.

We arrived in harbour at around 9 o’clock and went to have showers. Once we got back we headed straight to bed ready to pack and leave the next morning.

-Written by Amelie