What the crew have to say…

I would swim in the deep sea again any day!

When the race ended, we turned the engine on and motored for about half an hour. Then we stopped the ship and jumped off the bowsprit into the sea for a swim! It was cold, salty and very, very deep, but it was completely worth it for the experience of swimming in deep sea. I would do it again any day!

Daisy Bradshaw, crew on Morning Star of Revelation, 2018

I learned the new skill of washing up

During my journey I was able to acquire new skills. These skills include operating the sails, manning the helm (steering), and the ability to tie a variety of useful knots, cooking and cleaning the ship in its entirety. I also learned the new skill of washing up, something that is nearly impossible for a busy teenager to do. I’m now encouraged to help my parents at home after mealtimes...But I always have an excuse up my sleeve to avoid such a hefty task.

Elliot Cole, crew on Morning Star of Revelation, from Sunderland to Esbjerg 2018

A feeling you couldn’t imagine

The parade of sail was one of the best things I’ve ever seen just because of the amount of people that had turn up, the atmosphere was so fantastic it gives you a feeling that you couldn’t imagine.

Carla Adams, crew on Rona 11 from Norway to Dover, 2018

A blur of sleeping and sailing

The next 36 hours were a blur of sleeping and sailing as we raced towards Gotland passing tall ships as we went. The watches ran in a 4 hrs on and 4 hrs off during the day time and 3 hrs on/off during the night, although the night watches seemed longer. We crossed the finish line just as the sun was rising. We were the fourth boat to finish the race but because of handicap ended up further down in our class. After mooring up in Klaipeda we had a large breakfast (majority of the crew hadn’t had dinner) and went to bed.

Alaaric Bates, crew on Challenge Wales, from Turku to Klaipeda 2017

Two songs to do the dishes together and a perfect night

Doing dinner dishes was an exciting event each night. Everyone crowded around the table with wash-up-buckets and drying towels, music was blared, and productive chaos ensued, with people passing (throwing) plates and cups to (at) one another, bubbles everywhere, and everyone laughing and singing. Our best record was completing all the dishes, including pots and pans, in just two songs time.

I was surprised but pleased with how quickly I became adjusted to a three hours awake, six hours asleep schedule. One night was particularly memorable. We were running under a clear and star filled sky towards a full moon, it was completely quiet apart from the lapping of water on the hull; it was perfect. I took great joy in looking around and seeing nothing but water and perhaps another boat or oil rig.

Meghan Storries, crew John Laing, Canada to UK 2014

I saw some incredible things

“I got to watch the sun break through the dark every morning. I could see the stars clear than ever, but my favourite things was seeing a pod of thirty or more dolphins swimming alongside the boat.”

Georgia Wright, crew on Moosk from Spain to Plymouth, 2012

Real friendships were formed

“We were woken up at around 3am by the violent swaying of the ship. At 4am we emerged onto the deck and were taken aback by the size of the roaring waves and the powerful swell that tossed us around. After two hours of seemingly futile helming, a 12m wave crashed into the starboard side of the ship, as we were sucked down by the swell. Up on the bridge, as the starboard lookout, I was soaked to the skin by the foaming wave. Over the next hour, the whole ship spring into action to help take down sails and rescue the cabins (the wave went through a vent and cascaded into the cabins below).

“This monumental effort epitomised the teamwork that sailing the Stavros required and it was over the next 24 hours that real friendships were formed. It was during this period that I learnt the need to stay positive and to help raise the morale of others who were feeling a lot worse than I was.

Alasdair Carnegy, crew on Stavros Niarchos, Dublin 2012