On Board with Challenge Wales

When the charity Challenge Wales needed crew to make up the numbers for a delivery trip, our Club Development Officer Hester Walker answered the call.

Using up a volunteering day and adding some holiday time, Hester joined the 5-day voyage in June from Neyland in Pembrokeshire to Whitehaven in Cumbia, and writes:

“Needing need minimum of 10 crew to sail Challenge Wales effectively, when she was required for a booking in Cumbria, Skipper Sam reached out to me and said: ‘Are you sure you can’t help?’

On a Sunday evening, having hosted a Father’s Day/birthday afternoon tea for the family, I set off for a drive to Fishguard Harbour (Lower Town), where I met the 72ft Tall ship at anchor and ready for a crew change.

Monday morning, we departed early for a long day’s sailing and were joined by an exhausted carrier pigeon, soon to be named Jeff. It settled in and almost immediately resigned itself to make the whole passage to Greystones, S Ireland.

We were also joined by dolphins playing alongside to keep us company.

As with all yacht sailing, I get terrible seasickness for the first few days: I remain on deck as much as possible but true to form after lunch, the dreaded happened. Once done and literally hosed down, I resumed duties.

We enjoyed fair weather and good wind for the duration of our trip, started getting into a routine, and learnt quite a bit about Challenge Wales.

The charity helps young people to develop life skills and employment prospects, including those who are jobless or have dropped out of education, and those in care, homeless or at risk of being homeless, or with severe financial limitations.

The magic is achieved through sail training with voyages ranging from one day experiences to longer residential voyages around the UK and beyond, and the charity also takes adults aged 18-75 year to help fund its predominantly volunteer-run activities.

You can read more about Challenge Wales and its impactful work here.

Teamwork

On board, I did my usual: ‘Who are you and what do you do?’

It’s fascinating the people who we meet in our sport. We come together wanting to achieve an individual motivation or goal - mine was to support Sam, whom I’ve known for many years, in getting the boat to its next booking, and to have some time afloat.

A few of those on the voyage were regular volunteer crew wishing to complete their Watch Leader certificate, others were paid customers building miles and getting more experience working towards RYA Qualifications.

But what soon you notice is individuals starting to work together as a team and the camaraderie developed along the way.

Arriving at Greystones Marina in Ireland, our stowaway Jeff disembarked, and after we had cleared away sails and completed other jobs, we took a brief walk ashore to stretch our legs.

Jeff returned the next morning to wave us away on our next passage.

New friends

As we headed up the Irish coast up to Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, the seasickness abated, and I felt more confident that I had found my sea legs.

After a night at anchor, the following morning our destination was the Isle of Man.

Wishing to avoid another anchor watch, we were able to berth alongside the breakwater in Peel (pictured below) and then set off for a full day of motor sailing. We just made it back to an ice cream shop before closing hour and tried as many flavours as possible!

With our final day afloat starting at a reasonable hour, slipping the lines at 10.30am, we had time to go ashore and have a leisurely breakfast before making our way to Whitehaven Marina.

Saturday morning arrived and after a swift clean-up operation, I waved goodbye to new friends. I had made some great connections and sold the benefits of the RYA before setting off for home.

 A 9.5 hour train journey to get back home to south Wales allowed plenty of time to reflect on the week, the joys our sport brings, the good fortune meeting the people we encounter, and the enjoyment of the wildlife we see.

I confess that was also feeling more relaxed in the knowledge I would soon be reunited with my own bed and have fewer snorers to contend with!”

Find out more

We’re pleased to report that Hester made it home in time for a good night’s sleep and a full weekend at work in Dale supporting our Welsh Regional Junior Championships!

Challenge Wales offers a wide range of exciting opportunities from one-day adventures to longer residential voyages, including for schools and groups, Duke of Edinburgh Award programmes, and those keen to give back through volunteering.

For further information visit Challenge Wales.