Challenger 4 – Exploration Voyage – Age 16-25 – CF700
A group of 16-25 year-olds joined us on board Challenger 4 this February half-term. Read all about their epic adventure here!
Day 1
Tuesday 13 February
We were greeted enthusiastically by Sophie (Skipper) and James (Mate) who welcomed us on to Challenger 4. After meeting our crewmates, we were taken on a tour of the vessel and began to attach the stay sail and other front sail.
Minutes turned to hours as we waited for Paul (Skipper) and crew to leave with their Challenger so we could set sail. Eventually, we left our dock at Portsmouth and headed across the Solent towards our destination – Cowes.
Choppy was an understatement – waves almost as tall as Mount Everest crashed around us and although getting salt water splashed in our faces was utterly unpleasant, this part of the journey out of Portsmouth, bouncing through the waves, was some of our most enjoyable parts of the day!
The rest of the journey wasn’t too bumpy and ‘The Indecisives’ even were able to start on making dinner. It was dark when we moored into Cowes Yacht Haven and parking was a little challenging but apparently we were the most smoothly parked out of the four Challengers!
The ‘Knot-a-Clues’ packed away the ropes and the sails while ‘The Indecisives’ cooked up fajitas. It was a delicious meal and thoroughly enjoyed by all!
Day 2
Wednesday 14 February
This morning for breakfast we had crumpets and eggs, which were prepared by the Watch called ‘Knot-a-Clues’. After everyone had finished the breakfast, we got introduced to the game called ‘Boat Murder’, which is a very interesting game where people get a person, a name and a place on the ship where that person has to be given the item. To ‘kill’ someone, the person has to willingly take the item. The first person to get murdered was Wynne, who got murdered using her own (right) shoe in the saloon by the Skipper, Sophie.
This happened during the explanation of what we would do in the case of someone falling overboard. This demonstration involved the Skipper telling us what equipment would be used if a person fell out of the boat. After this we had a lesson on the ‘points of sail’, which was about what the different directions are called in relation to the wind. After this, we had a lesson on different types of knots, which took the form of a competition between the two Watches. We learnt to tie Bowlines, reef knots, clove hitches, figure of 8 knots and stopper knots. Then we had a knot-off which the ‘Knot-a-Clues’ won.
There was another murder during the knot-tying, where Max was murdered by his Watch Leader using a piece of rope in the companionway. After the knot tying, we had a lesson on buoyage, which taught us what different buoys represent. After this we had lunch, which was baguettes.
After lunch, we assembled on the pontoon in order to go to Cowes lifeboat station to see how they function. We got an inspiring talk on water safety from the staff there, then got to see the lifeboat and the equipment the lifeguards use. After the lifeboat tour, we had 2-hours of free time which we did a scavenger hunt in. After the scavenger hunt, we played mass UNO, with everyone on board playing. For dinner, we had fish and chips.
After dinner we got told what we are doing tomorrow and then had some free time before going to bed.
Day 3
Thursday 15 February
We awoke today to the bird song of the 21st century, with Bob Marley booming through the boat. After the delicious breakfast, organised (NOT COOKED!) by ‘The Indecisives’ (or rather Kellogs) we felt fantastically fueled for the day.
Compared to the salty storm the day before, today was extremely exquisite weather with the sun shining brightly down upon us, glistening across the Solent and shimmering sea.
BUT OH NO – BOB THE FENDER HAS FALLEN OVER BOARD!!!!!! AHHHHH (not to worry though – our team has it covered! – as we were taught how to rescue a casualty from the suspicious sea!), throughout this ordeal Olivia maintained steadfast and intense eye contact with BOB THE FENDER, in an attempt to alarm him. As BOB is an inanimate object, it remains to be seen if she was successful.
Despite best efforts, bribery could not secure us a dominoes for the evening, as a result the ‘Knot-a-Clues’’ shall be forced to wash up mash potatoes while the others relish in their mess.
As we terminate this broadcast, we are being subjected to an overindulgence of Mama Mia Karaoke, send help…
Day 4
Friday 16 February
Challenger 4’s crew started off their most spectacular day with the most marvelous bacon rolls. Riley’s watch ‘The Indecisives’ proceeded to do the most efficient clean through the boat has seen as of yet whilst Will’s watch went to do deck prep.
After finishing the clean through and deck prep, both watches then proceeded to vacate the boat to have a stroll around Lymington.
Afterwards, both Watches made their way back to the boat whilst somehow getting lost in an ice-cream parlour, but eventually making their way back to the boat.
As as a crew we departed the port and swiftly and safely left harbour.
We ran into Challenger 1 in the Solent and engaged in a dance battle across both boats, ending with an obvious win by Challenger 4.
After the tiring dance battle we all gathered to compete in a quiz ending with a win for the shocking sheep.
