A Voyage on TS Bob Allen - Flagship of the Junior Sea Cadet Corps
April 2006 see picture gallery here
Sunday - Six excited junior sea cadets, Hicks, Brennan, Cornell, Mcguirk, Chapman and Shea accompanied by PO Wright caught the train from St Albans to Weymouth. Arrived at our base TS Duke of York and settled in. No meal provided on the Sunday evening, so it was down to the quayside to get fish and chips, followed by a walk round the harbour.
Monday - After breakfast we were issued with waterproof sailing kit and life jackets. The unit launch took us out to the ship. The boys enjoyed this as they took turns on the helm. Eventually Bob Allen came into sight in Portland harbour. The boys rather disappointed response being "isn't it small". I had been thinking exactly the same. But then I am used to sailing some of the world's largest square riggers. So it was rather a shock to see a vessel of 12.9 metres!! After getting the vessel ready and learning the ropes (not very difficult as all colour coded and named), we set sailÿ. I took the helm, while the boys learnt the art of sailing the vessel, setting the various sails, then tacking and wearing the ship several times in Weymouth bay. We returned to Weymouth harbour for a picnic lunch. After this it was off out sailing again, with lots more practice of sail handling and helming. We returned to the sailing centre for our evening meal. TS Royalist had come into harbour so I took the boys down for a tour round. Fortunately the Bosun, PO Scott, who I knew from a previous voyage was aboard. She gave us a tour round and explained life aboard to the boys.
Tuesday - Set sail after breakfast - freezing fog with very poor visibility. The boys now getting quite good at setting sails and some quite proficient on the helm. By lunchtime we were freezing. Had lunch at the centre to thaw out. The afternoon was a bit warmer at sea; had man overboard drill. The boys enjoyed rescuing our "person" with the aid of a boathook. Returned to the centre for our evening meal. We then played badminton at the centre and after several games we set off to go crabbing in the harbour.
Wednesday - As a slight boredom among the boys was setting in after two full days at sea on a very small vessel the centre staff discussed with me the possibility of going to visit the Weymouth lifeboat and other things today. I thought this a marvellous idea. We had a most interesting tour of the lifeboat followed by time in the souvenir shop! We were then free till lunchtime. I noticed that TS John Jerwood was now alongside. They very kindly allowed us aboard and we thoroughly enjoyed a tour around the vessel. After lunch we visited the coastguard station with John, one of the centre staff. Very interesting, but a bit too technical for some of the boys. Came out for a well deserved ice cream! Then went by land rover to visit Portland Bill lighthouse, where I was delegated to climb to the top with the boys! From here we went to visit the famous Chesil Beach, the evening being spent playing badminton and having a "war" on Weymouth beach!!
Thursday - Back to sea today, this time going further down the coast to Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, where we anchored for lunch. No heads aboard this vessel, so it was "share a bucket!". During the voyage the boys got to learn about charts and basic navigation and I learnt about GPS. We did our packing in the evening followed by a bit more badminton and of course crabbing.
Friday - After breafkast we went souvenir shopping then returned to the centre where the director of training from SCHQ was being shown round. He kindly presented the cadets with their certificates, Junior Hicks winning the cadet of the week award, as voted by the centre staff, for his enthusiasm and willingness to take part in any aspect of shipboard life and his ability to help some of the others in aspects they found difficult. We caught the train from Weymouth mid-day and arrived back in St. Albans late afternoon. I think the boys all gained a lot from the voyage and hopefully an interest to go on the slightly bigger(!) TS Royalist when they are older.
PO Heather Wright