Photographs by © Christina Cran
The STA was set up in 1956 under the patronage of the Duke of
Edinburgh thanks to the vision of a solicitor called Bernard
Morgan, who conceived the idea of sending a group of young men to sea. Mr Morgan assembled the last few remaining large sailing vessels from around the world, which apart of helping him, saved them from a fate worse than death at the Breakers Yard. Thus the Tall Ships Race was born.
The event was initially meant to be a one-off but its popularity has ensured that it has now become a high profile annual event enjoyed by many around the world. But as well as organising and running the Tall Ships Race, the STA are also involved in much, much more. In 1998, 1,600 people sailed on one of the STA's tall Ships, either the Sir Winston Churchill or the Malcolm Miller, which were built in the 1960's and which have both now retired as of December 2000. A further 5,000 took part in the Tall Ships Race. Charters, organised by the association's headquarters and their much needed regional branches, take young people, like myself, ans older people on voyages through either the British, European or International waters. The ethos of these voyages, quoted from an STA Handbook, is "To help young people learn about themselves, their capabilities, and awareness of others in the exciting and demanding environment of a Tall Ship on the unpredictable sea. The unique challenge is an excellent preparation for life.
It wasn't anything like I imagined. But after setting sail on
June 16, 1999, after a short period of training and trying to
adjust to our new moving environment, the 39 trainees, including
myself, were about to find out exactly what the STA was all about.
Our ten day voyage took us across the Irish Sea to Dublin, as
weather made our original plans to travel around the west coast
of Galway impossible. Following a night in Dublin, we
sailed to a small village in the South of Wales called
Waterford after which we travelled to Milford Haven, an
industrial port on the West coast of Wales, and onto our
final destination, Swansea.
Confinement ensured that a close-knit community was
established quite quickly and within a few days a sense
of teamwork was apparent. Although a few members of the crew
were not always eager to participate through either tiredness
or sea sickness. Land came and went as we sailed across the
Irish sea and by day two, the 39 trainees on board were beginning
to adjust to the routines set down. We were also tiring from the
amount of work involved with running a schooner.
Each trainee had been assigned to one of three watches.
Each watch had it own Watch Officer and Watch Leader.
A rota system meant each watch was given a four hour
session in which to 'run' the vessel. Two 'dog watches'
(two hour shifts) each day meant the watches had a different
rota system daily.
As well as being on watch, we were assigned one day each to
work with the chef in the galley (kitchen) and another with
the boatswain, helping with maintenance of the ship. We were
also required to work as 'galley rat', which meant setting
tables and dishing out food.
When on watch, we were required to do everything to man
the vessel - helm the ship (very hard and physical work,
especially in rough weather), look out (standing at the
front of the ship for an hour checking for obstructions
in the water. Very cold, especially at 4 am), take navigational
details, chart the ship's position, tack (change the direction
of the sails in accordance with the wind direction) and much more.
The rota system meant rising and sleeping at very odd
hours of the day. Watch would either start at midnight,
4 am, 8 am noon, 4 pm, 6 pm or 8pm. This meant there came
a point where normal time, the days, hours and minutes which
you work by, became non-existent. Night could have become day
and our days became a string of frequently caught cat naps
combined with a lot of hard work. Docking in Dublin on June 19, after three days at sea, those members of the crew unused to sailing had their first taste of land legs as we left the ship for the evening for a night in Ireland.
After leaving the capital there were a few rough days weather wise which resulted in several cases of seasickness. However, despite a few sad faces, the laughter and team spirit outweighed any serious unhappiness. When not on watch the time was essentially our own unless "all hands on deck" were required to tack or hoist a sail. This meant there was time to get to know the other crew members. Sitting up the stern of the ship chatting, sitting in the living quarters playing cards or, if the weather allowed, which luckily it did on several occasions, sitting in the netting rigged at the front of the ship topping up the old tan! There was also an hour and a half everyday from 9 am where the whole crew came together. The first half hour was spent with the Captain, the Chief Officer and the Navigator, where we were told of our progress the previous day and what the plan for that day was.
The following hour - entitled "happy hour" - was spent merrily
cleaning the ship from bow to stern, polishing the brass,
"scrubbing the deck" and carrying out the delightful job of
cleaning the heads (toilets!). When we arrived in southern Ireland, we required the help of a pilot - a man paid to guide ships up narrow channels - to travel up into the small town of Waterford. The scenery was so close and so amazing. However, it was not the first time that I had marvelled at the sights that can be seen from the water. After a night ashore in Waterford, we sailed to Milford Haven and anchored for the night. The next morning our land legs were given a treat with a five mile walk cum treasure hunt.
Swansea came quicker than anyone realised and before we knew it we were set for our last night together before we left the Sir Winston Churchill ready and waiting for her next complement of new recruits. Our last evening was a strange event as everyone knew it was the last time many of us would see each other and therefore there was a sense of sadness. However we still managed to spend the evening together in a yacht club in Swansea having a laugh. So, from the nervous trainees who had boarded the schooner ten days earlier knowing virtually no one and the next to nothing about sailing a Tall Ship, we left as friends who had worked hard together to sail the ship 247 miles. According to our Captain Patrick Davis this is the norm. He told me : "The majority of people who come and sail on the Sir Winston Churchill approach it with trepidation but by the end of the trip they are asking if they can come back again. Youth trips mean a group of individuals who have probably never had to live as a group or work as a group. But by the time they leave they are able to live, function and work as a team". He explained the ethos of the STA as he sees it : "On the voyages trainees will have done things that they might never have to do again but it is something that most of them will remember for a large part of their lives. Occasionally also you come across one or two people to whom the trip is going to make a difference to their lives for the better and it's these one or two really stand out and make it worthwhile".
Alan White, 20, Helensburgh said, "It was good
getting to know all the different people in your
watches and in other watches. I enjoyed the challenge
of sailing and learning how to do it." He said the best
part was seeing a school of dolphins going past the ship
and the worst part " standing on lookout for an hour and
also getting up at strange hours, but you do get used to
it after a bit".
Janette Morrison, 22, from Aberdeen described the trip as
"absolutely magic", while her brother, Gregor, 19, said the
best part was "meeting lots of new people and the whole
experience of being on board."
Katie Syme, 18 from Glasgow said she had a wonderful
time despite feeling sea sick and said she would
recommend it to anyone, even though it was 'hard work'.
And just sailing somewhere gave me a sense of freedom. That in itself affected me greatly on my return home. It took about a week to feel like I was back in life again. Although I was only away for ten days such a long time was spent at sea and several days were spent with no land in sight. The feeling of no hassle, no worries and no everyday niggles was in itself an amazing experience.
Looking back now after having been on dry land for several months, when ever I feel everything getting me down I think back to that feeling of 'nothingness' and it makes me happy. What also makes me happy is the fact I have been recommended to return with the STA as a Watch Leader. This allows me to travel again on one of the organisation's vessels as either Watch Leader, Bosun's Mate or Cook's Mate at a reduced rate. So, once again I will have the ability to feel that sense of freedom. Hopefully in either the Canaries or the Azores!
Taking part in the voyage was one of the most fantastic experiences of my life. It is something I shall never forget and I imagine that in a years to come I will be boring my grandchildren with tales of the Tall Ships. I will hope the STA, and organisations like my sponsors, are around to give them the same opportunity.
