Crew Reports and Comments

Ships log for the Hope Sailing Expedition

Day 1

We departed Ross at 10am, and set off for Falmouth! It was a long trip down, with everyone talking excitedly. We stopped off in Bodmin Moor at the famous Jamaica Inn, and visited the smuggling museum. After this, we took a walk through some of the beautiful countryside, and the boys waded in a stream. They were soaked!
Dean couldn’t find his shirt, and went back to look for it. After 15 minutes we realized Keiran had accidentally stuffed it in his shoe!
Soon we were back on the road, and eventually reached Falmouth. After a short wait at the wharf we were taken out to the boat, the Hardiesse. She was brilliant! We unloaded our bags and everyone rushed off to explore the ship. But we were all soon called back up on deck to hoist up the sails. After a few minutes we were sailing out of the harbour and up the river.
We eventually anchored at a floating jetty, helped to cook the dinner and took down the sails, learning how to do a clove hitch. After dinner we told jokes and stories round the table. It was great!
We also hosted a Daily Joker Award, choosing somebody each day that did the most stupid thing. Today’s was won by Georgie when she asked: ‘which side of the boat is the water on?’ Keiran also won it, for the ‘shirt incident’.
We went outside later to see the stars, then all headed off to our bunks. A brilliant day!

Day 2

Up early at 7am. We took turns in cooking meals, so some people volunteered to make breakfast. After that we took pictures of all of us on the boat. Everyone had a laugh posing! After a safety brief and a quick cup of tea (vital for the crew) we set off. We sailed back past Falmouth and out into the bay, following the coast. It was incredibly windy and rainy, and after dashing up to look outside, everyone kept below deck!
We all took turns in steering, and Adam steered us out around the coast.
After a while, we stopped in the mouth of another river, and put out the anchor. Keiran, Dan and Adam set out fishing lines, trying to catch sharks. They baited it with Haribo!
We got to climb up the rigging and go out onto the bowsprit. We were a bit nervous, but everyone had a go, even Sammyjay! We then came down for dinner and talked over the meal, and played ‘slaps’ after. It was a tense game!
Everyone trooped out on deck for a while to take in the silent and dark shore, before going below for our second night.

Day 3

After a great breakfast of soldiers and eggs, we all piled on deck to put out the boats.
Together we hauled on the ropes, and Dean guided the boats into the water. We split into two groups and rowed over to Trebah beach. Once there, we lost no time in getting in the sea! David, Georgie, Sarmnyjay, Dean, Ben, Dan, Dean & Keiran went in, and cleaned the floating buoys (amongst a lot of mucking around!). We also had an ice cream each (after rowing back for money).
We then rowed back to the Hardiesse, which took a while because the wind was so strong, and it had started raining. As we tired down the boats and hoisted the sails, the rain fell heavier, and we scrambled to get the jobs done.
As we sped back to Falmouth we braved the wind and rain, and came out on deck, attaching ourselves to the rail, singing songs and shouting! Sammyjay even spotted a dolphin out in the waves!
Eventually, as we sailed back into Falmouth Harbour, the weather cleared up, and we all emerged on deck to talk and relax in some much needed sun.
After dinner, we did a ship’s quiz. There was lots of shouting and groans, but overall it seemed that lots of facts had been sinking in over the trip!
After this, we packed our bags and had an early night, since we were up at 6am next morning!

Day 4

Today, with much bleary eyes and stumbling, we got up at 6am and got our bags up on deck. After a quick breakfast, we all worked together and got the boat cleaned really quickly. Then we said our goodbyes, loaded the bags on the dingy, and motored back to dry land!
We went for a quick shop to get supplies, then headed on to a wonderful beach near
Padstow that Terry knew of. He hadn’t been exaggerating, everyone gasped when they saw it! Although it was windy, we all tumbled out and excitedly ran down to the beach, carrying barbeque equipment. We waded in the sea, and built things in the sand. Adam and Keiran made a sand ship with seats inside, and Georgie and Dean created a sand sofa!
Everyone had burgers and mucked about on the beach, exploring the rocks and dipping their toe in the sea.
Eventually we put the equipment back onto the bus, and went for a quick walk along to the next bay. Then we piled back in the bus and drove all the way back to Ross, with lots of sweets talking to keep us going! We finally arrived back at the Hope Offices at 8pm.
Our fantastic sailing adventure had come to an end, though for days after we felt ourselves rocking, as if we were still on the rolling boat!

Written by Ben Ray - Youth Team Vice Chairman of Hope Support Services