A typical day on board a tall ship consists of:
AM
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Wake up early for watch duty
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Join friends in the mess for a hearty cooked breakfast
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Happy hour! – clean the ship (but to music!)
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Climb 100 feet high to the yards to set the sails
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Admire the beautiful view and maybe spot dolphins on the bow
Midday
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Join friends in the mess again for a feast of baguettes, meats and salad
PM
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Time to take the helm and steer the ship!
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Off watch now, so relax with friends on the bow of the boat
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Take in the sights and chat with new found friends on board
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Start planning your tactics to win the next inter-watch challenge!
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Watch the sunset over the horizon
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Climb into bunk for a well earned rest before the next watch!
The ship’s day is divided into seven watches which are kept according to a rota:
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0001 – 0400 Middle watch
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0400 – 0800 Morning watch
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0800 – 1200 Forenoon watch
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1200 – 1600 Afternoon watch
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1600 – 1800 First Dog watch
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1800 – 2000 Second Dog watch
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2000 – 2400 First watch
Superimposed on the watch keeping rota is a daily routine, similar to this:
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0720 – 0840 Breakfast in two sittings
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0850 – 0900 Chief officer’s briefing
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0900 – 0950 ‘Happy hour’ (cleaning)
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1000 – 1030 Practical training
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1220 – 1330 Lunch in two sittings
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1330 – 1530 Quiet time / maintenance
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1600 – 1700 Practical training
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1720 – 1840 Supper in two sittings
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Being at sea brings a closeness to nature so often lost in modern life - this is the ultimate route to well-being and good mental health.
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What outcomes can a young person expect?
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Participating in a MAST voyage provides the individual with the opportunity to achieve
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Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Competent Crew
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Duke of Edinburgh (Gold) Residential
The learning activities around sailing are complemented by a learning environment where skills are gained in speaking with confidence, working as part of a team, communication, and through life coaching and activities that help them recognise a wider potential for their future.
To achieve these outcomes the voyage includes classroom based briefings sessions on all aspects of sailing, and as much opportunity for young people to learn on board ship through supervised practice.
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What benefits can a young person achieve?
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Increased confidence levels and communication skills from interacting and working with people from outside their normal social circle and Peer group
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Increasing self-awareness and enabling them to recognise new skills and broaden their view of available opportunities
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Improved team working skills including the ability to give and take instructions, an awareness for the safety and well-being of themselves and others, and to appreciate the benefits of working as a team
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A key benefit for our young people is helping them to recognise the valuable contribution they can make to their communities
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Increased physical and mental fitness through the work needed to crew and maintain a Tall Ship
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A sense of achievement through learning unique skills, – including the some of the more technical aspects of sailing such as navigation and sail handling.
What can a sponsoring company expect?
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By supporting young people to experience Tall Ship sailing, a Company or Organisation can either chose to send their own employees on a voyage as part of their personnel development programme and reap the benefits mentioned previously.
Alternatively, by sponsoring young people outside their organisations, they can support young people who otherwise could not access such an experience. What a great way to exercise Corporate Social Responsibility and make a real difference to a young person’s life.
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