BLOG: Getting through this with a little help from the sea

One of our wonderful Trust skippers and professional motivational speaker, Vicky Ellis, shares her secrets to how sailing, the sea and the Trust family can help you get through any challenging experience, from isolating in lockdown to cancer recovery.

There’s lots the trips at sea can do to help our land lives as we face any challenge, whether that be coronavirus or cancer. As one of the Trust team skippers I spend a few weeks of my summers taking out amazing groups of young people. It’s my favourite weeks of the year.

Sailing has played a huge part in my own life; it’s been a hobby, a passion and even a job. The sea also played a huge role in my own cancer recovery journey. As a skipper I enjoy most watching a group of strangers form into a team able to sail a yacht, but the real magic that happens on Trust trips is making someone remember how awesome they really are after cancer has made them doubt it or forget it altogether. For me that is the best gift I can be a part of.

Rather than keep it a secret, I’m going to share a handful of the skippers’ tricks we use to make the magic of a Trust trip happen. It might help you with any voyage you are going to undertake, whether navigating lockdown and the Coronavirus pandemic, embarking on a recovery journey after cancer treatment or indeed for any other challenge life throws at you.

Make connections

One of the best features of the Trust trips is making new friends and we provide space, time and opportunity for people to make new friends. You can use this lockdown time to take advantage of the fact everyone is home and also wanting to connect and has plenty to talk about! So connect or reconnect with your crewmates or the Trust family, and your family and friends, both old and new. Talk and share and laugh. See where it takes you. One of the things people have worries about on a Trust trip is getting along with others in a small space. This worry disappears once they arrive as the job of the skipper is to make a small space a welcoming haven and through fun, games and adventures, we turn strangers into friends. Why not join the Trust Pen Pal network and connect with other young people ahead of your next trip. Sign up HERE.

Don’t stop having a go

Learning new things is a huge part of every trip, and everyone does. Whether it’s learning how to get on a boat for the first time to tying knots, steering or cooking up a wicked breakfast! Even in lockdown or on the road to recovery there will be opportunities to try something new or learn new things so have a go. Part of my job as skipper is to make sure I give encouragement and support to help people as they step outside of their comfort zones. Only there do we learn and grow and realise (or remember) what we are capable of. So keep surprising yourself and have a go at something new. You are all way more amazing than you remember! Check out the Trust Tutorials on YouTube and get some new skills in the bag ready for your next Trust adventure.

Work a fun routine

Routine keeps harmony on a boat meaning we can get on with the important business of having huge amounts of fun. On my Trust trips we tend to agree a routine to keep us coordinated, although negotiating the wake up time can be tricky! We also divide up the chores and cooking rotas amongst everyone to keep it fair.

We set aside social times where we all get together and play some games and also ‘me time’ where people can read or chill out before tea. It’s good to have a routine you work to in lockdown too but it doesn’t have to be a strict hourly schedule. The best bit of routine is it should give you things to look forward to. So set aside time to celebrate milestones or make special days like cake baking afternoons, video chat nights, PJ or fancy dress days, Friday night is movie night … the list is endless so have some fun and make a fun routine!

Food glorious food!

Food is such a huge part of a Trust trip and it never seems to stop. We balance it out with plenty of fresh air and exercise I might add! Fajita dinners make me think of Trust trips and no ice cream seems complete without a horde of sticky treats on top! (Hmm, maybe that is tea tonight sorted or an idea for a fundraiser or a video chat challenge with my mates..!) But when I venture on longer sailing trips across oceans - that’s what I love to do too! - I have to plan, and surviving without much fridge space and for maybe weeks between food shops.

Here are my two favourite recipes with long life food for you to try in the lockdown:

• Crunchy coleslaw: Carrots and white cabbages are both vegetables that will last over a week if you want to push out the days between shopping trips and still get some crunchy vegetables in week two. Grate or cut them into thin strips, mix with mayo and sliced onions if you like and eat with Jacket potatoes or as a side. Yummy!
• Chorizo one pot dinner: A sailing store cupboard favourite, chorizo is a Spanish cured sausage and will keep in the fridge for weeks. Make a stew starting with fried chopped onions, add in tinned tomatoes, some tinned beans (like tinned butter beans or even baked beans work!) and add in the chopped chorizo (chop into 1cm thick slices – remove any outer coverings first!). Bubble gently for about 20 mins. Eat on it’s own or serve with bread, potatoes or rice.

Reflect on your progress

Write a journal – I love keeping a journal at sea, it allows a bit of reflection and ‘me time’ to see what I have achieved, what the best bits were that I had forgotten. I’m keeping one at the moment with my family to remember what we all did during this crazy period of time. The world is changing so fast right now and it will be remarkable to look back and see how you have adapted to the situation and grown. It will help you realise you are moving forwards too, even when it sometimes doesn’t feel like it. Stay safe all and see you on the water again, soon!

Vicky Ellis
Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust Skipper