Hello there this is Olivia and Matilda.

This is the first day of our adventure, there was many new challenges that we faced.

Matilda had sailed before but was excited to learn how to sail on a big boat. Olivia had no understanding until she started to learn the knots, tacking the wind and gybing.

After a long day of traveling as far as Shrewsbury for some, we awkwardly arrived at the dock and instantly were put to work

As the day progressed conversations flowed, and it felt like we had known each other for years.

When sailing Olivia learn how to steer the boat while the others did the tacking. Matilda loves furthering her knot knowledge and brushing up on her nautical terms (nerd).

Our group was tasked with cooking for the others, Olivia was the cook who cooked the food while she  prepped the meat, Matilda, Sophie, Sam and Alex helped prep the veg .Matilda did the table setting along with bringing the food over. Everyone loved it!!!

Olivia touched raw meat.

We did the snake pit and pulled on ropes to make sure that the sails are secure and nothing happens to them. We packed away the sails without assistance working as a team under the watchful mocking wise eyes of the first mate.

Then we tucked into our bizarre bed hammock thingmabobs.

Goodnight and we will catch you up tomorrow.

This morning, we woke up at the usual 7:00 but to lovely weather, and 80s rock music from the crew which wasn’t as lovely (joking).

We then set the boat up and hoisted the mast.  After that we then went up the mast! The view was amazing, and it was so fun to go up high and wave to other boats, of which we got a fair few waves back and although it was a tad scary knowing you where being hosted up by fellow crew it was nice to have more trust in them after as none of us got hurt.

We then donated to our betters’ gifts of bubbles, sunglasses and a hand windmill. (We will be expecting the Skipper to be sporting these spectacles).  We then sailed to Poole via the Isle of white (The needles).

We also learnt some knots such as the Bowline and round turn and two half hitches . This was quite fun to do when the boat is tipping at a 20+ degree angle!

Finally, we arrived at Poole and had Spanish Quorn for dinner. We all had a busy day and should appreciate a good night’s rest!

Alex  and Sophie​

Hello this is Mabel and Will,

Today we were given more control over the vessel, and different people were given different roles to instruct and take the other crew through.

After getting out of the huge harbour of Poole, we rigged the boat quickly for sailing, and a group of 5 boys tried to beat Mate Alex’s 17.25 second Stay sail haul. We failed but got close enough to worry him. However, he said he could do better which we fail to believe.

Once the boat was rigged, we set course for the Needles in light wind eating biscuits and some may have fallen asleep on deck. One prankster trying to draw on an asleep crewmate happened to injure themselves in the process. Karma!!!

Gybe after Gybe we made it to our anchorage just round the corner of Cowes where we ate a wonderfully cooked Chilli con Carne with cheesy Nachos and sat down on deck for sunset and chocolate. Looking forward for our night navigation through the solar back to Gunwharf Quay.

Thank you!!!!