21 September 2011
21st September 11
Our last trip of the year for those sailing with the Trust for the first time, with this group
aged 18-24, began on Monday.
Eighteen young adults from hospitals in Cambridge, London, Cardiff, Bristol, Southampton and also Aberdeen are all out on the water this week, getting involved in sailing their yachts, and crew life.
On Monday after the lunch, welcome and teambuilding there was more time to get to know the boats and each other. The crews began preparing dinner of chicken stir-fry, whilst others tried crabbing on the pontoons, visiting the other boats to look around and chatting. After dinner, Gary from Plaza Ice Cream arrived with his van to provide everyone with an ice cream dessert, and the UKSA swimming pool was open to those who fancied a splash-about in the evening. Usual games on the different boats went on into the night before everyone settled down for their first sleep on board.
On Tuesday, the weather slightly altered the plans to sail to Yarmouth, and the crews sailed across the Solent to Haslar instead, after lunching in Osborne Bay.
On Wednesday the five boats set sail to Yarmouth, and when they arrived got to relax a bit before heading to the green for some games and the customary fish and chips.
Some of the people on the trip had the following to say about their experiences so far this week.
Sean, aged 22 from Middlesex said “I’ve met such amazing people, and we’ve been sailing obviously, did a lot of tacking today zigzagging into the wind. Our skipper is a ‘fella’, some of the people aren’t up for the banter but others are. Kamal moisturised my leg, and I caught a mackerel today of the back of the boat but it was too small so we had to throw it back. We had a waterfight yesterday and today and I ambushed Suzie just now to get her back.”
Kamal, 20 from London said, “I enjoyed myself this week. It is the first time I’ve been on a boat, I
was really excited and anxious, and kind of scared about it but it’s been really cool and fun, and its not claustrophobic or anything in the boat.
Nia, 23 from Hampshire said, “I’ve had a lot of fun learning how to sail and meeting people. We did a lot of tacking today and I was steering the boat for during it. I’ve also helped raise the sails which was hard work. We’ve been playing loads of card games and I almost caught a crab in one of the harbours but he ran away before we could get him in the bucket.
Elliot, 20 from Essex said, “This is the first time I’ve attended a cancer charity event or communicated with people who have been going through the same thing I had. Mostly because I believed the functions to have the propensity to be melancholy occasions, I couldn’t have been more wrong. I have had an amazing time, met some incredible people and learnt new skills all through an unfamiliar experience I almost turned down! If the opportunity ever arises again I wont hesitate to accept. “
Jon, 20 from Cambridgeshire said, “Thankyou for such a good time, I’ve never been on a yacht before but I have really enjoyed myself. As well as meeting new people and realising how bad I was at playing cards, I had a great week!!”
Greg, 21 from London said, “ Before I was ill I had looked into taking sailing lessons and maybe doing a yacht master if I enjoyed it enough. Time and money had always been an issue at the time. Living in London makes it hard to get to any coasts very easily and this week of sailing has been exhilarating. The best part has been meeting so many friendly and strong willed people, all with similar stories. Thankyou!!
Victoria, 22 from Cambridgeshire said, “This is one of the first trips I have done with a cancer charity and it has been amazing, I hadn’t ever really felt like I could discuss what I had been through with other people but having people in the same situation as myself it was easy to talk freely about it. I have had such a lovely time getting to know new people and I feel that my confidence has got so much better just in time for me to return to Uni! Thankyou. “
Frankie, 23 from Gloucestershire said, “Well this has been the first time I have ever been sailing and, as I thought I would, I’m loving it and would love to be able to sail again. A lot of the time I forget why I am even able to be on this trip in the first place. I’m really enjoying it, have learnt a lot already which I didn’t know about sailing before, and have met lot’s of new people around the same age as me and I’m sure I’ll be keeping in contact with most of them. Also it’s been cool checking out the other yachts and playing a different game every night ? Big love.”
Tomorrow the crews will sail some more and end up at a barbeque, before sailing back to Cowes on Friday to say goodbyes and head home. It’s been a fantastic week so far, and we hope all the crews enjoy their last couple of days.