Rendez-Vous Tall Ship Regatta 2017 - Somewhat of a Summary...

The Tall Ships Race from Greenwich to Sines was an experience I've been finding hard to put into words. Not only because the whole experience itself was beyond sublime, but the lessons it taught me where like none I have ever come across. All in all it helped me to view life through a more relaxed and loving perspective. It is so easy to get caught up in the bustle and hustle of fabulous London... but is it really what life is about. Certainly not!

Some trainees I became very well acquainted with...

I began the race on the Christian Radich, a Norwegian Tall Ship from Oslo, on the 30th April 2017. I had signed up for this race almost a year ago now... so the fact that I was finally sat on the very ship that would take me safely to Portugal seemed insane. 

I was surrounded by the very people that may possibly become my life long friends and of course I couldn't remember anyone's names haha. There was a large mix of ages, from 18 up to I'd say 65 (there was definitely some old fogies) and we were all in the same boat. Most of us had never sailed before although there was in fact a handful that had fallen in love with life on the ocean, and had made tall ship regattas a regular thing. Aside from us trainees, there was of course the crew who made up around 1/3 of all members on board. 

Among the crew were maritime students of ages 18-24 that were training to become real life sailors ( I found this so amazing, though when I expressed my intrigue the response I received was usually along the lines of, 'We're only sailors!') and of course the fully qualified crew mates. 

12-4 watch crew, back left to right: Iver, Olave, Benjamin, Robin, Martin front left to right: Paul, Allan

It seemed like a lot of people to fit into this 73m (including Bowsprit) vessel however this was not the first regatta they had embarked upon, and it was definitely not going to be the last.
We set sail on the afternoon of the 17th April, along the Thames River and out onto the English Channel. We used the engine to motor boat it to the race start line which was located in the sunny seaside resort of Torbay. On the 19th April in Torbay the race began. 9 Tall Ships from all over the world utilised the forces of nature and sailed soley by wind from Torbay across the English channel, to Sines, Portugal.

Upon my Norwegian Tall Ship I was delighted to be surrounded by kind, intelligent, charismatic people from all corners of the world, some sponsored and some paying for the magical experience that awaited us. The journey itself pushed us to limits that I can say, I have never encountered- that including coffee drinking limits (the coffee was gross but was one of the only things that would keep you awake during night watches!) Alongside the great company came great views of blue choppy oceans, just meters below. The thought that you could potentially topple in at any given moment (whilst above deck) was a looming fear for many, I'm sure, however knowing that you are surrounded by professionals, that take their role very seriously was of course a bonus.

Our arrival in Sines came on the 27th April around the evening time, although unfortunately there was nowhere for us to immediately dock up, so we spent the entity of the night anchored a few meters away from the dock. The next morning the whole crew (trainees and shipmates alike) were above deck ready and waiting for the well anticipated arrival of the Christian Radich in Portugal! I had spent the last week and a half aboard a tall ship with strangers and we were now strutting our stuff (yaaas)... off the boat as friends for life. It was an amazing feeling. The race part of the journey was fun, yes, but what I learnt from the maritime students was priceless... and the two wonderful ladies, Guiliana and Laetitia, that I befriended have left a mark on my heart forever. The next few days were spent celebrating our arrival... although our time was limited as flights back to London Stansted were booked for 30th April. We had a huge festival to look forward to as well as lots of bar crawling...with sailors- and believe me, you have no idea how much sailors drink! Hahaha!

I haven't spoken much about the journey itself... so please, delve deeper and have a read of The Sweet Life on Deck and of course about the festivities in Portugal (and the drinking ha!) at SINES.

Peace&Love,
Willow