In the early hours of Saturday 29th June 14 members of Oundle School’s Royal Navy Cadet section flew to Corfu to join three 40ft yachts harboured at Gouvia Marina, on Corfu island. The Exercise, which aimed to train all the Cadets to the level of RYA Competent Crew had been generously supported by the Ulysses Trust with the award of a grant of more than £1,500.
Having completed the necessary handover checks and victualed all three yachts to the satisfaction of the skippers, we departed later that evening, eventually anchoring in Corfu Bay for our first night on board. The noisy arrival in the early hours of a ‘party boat’ playing chart music at high decibels woke most, but the crew were up early the next morning for an invigorating swim in the lovely warm waters of the Ionian, with the stunning backdrop of a Venetian fort to add to the experience, before the sail training began in earnest. All crew were given extensive safety briefings and were put through their paces with man-overboard drills. There was not much wind, and the flotilla motored to the lovely sheltered bay at Sivota, where we anchored for night two.
After a restorative traditional Greek breakfast prepared by the Cadets, the party stopped at a stunning sea cave, which was skilfully accessed by dinghy. A feature of sailing in this part of the Mediterranean, is for the wind to pick up in the afternoon, and this was certainly the case during our week away. The Cadets had their first real opportunity to put their sail training into practice with light winds allowing for controlled sailing. Engine trouble on the yacht Victory necessitated an unscheduled crew transfer, under motor, to the other two vessels, which was skilfully handled by the Cadets involved. Day three saw all crew having time at the helm under sail and motor, and we were joined briefly by an inquisitive dolphin, who spent twenty minutes circling one of the yachts, much to the delight of all the crew. There were tired but satisfied faces aplenty as we pulled into the stunning fishing village of Lakka, on the northern top of Paxos, where the yachts anchored together and the crew were able to swim ashore for gelato refreshment.
Having circumnavigated the charming island of Antipaxos, lying to the south of Paxos, on day four, the flotilla stopped next in the picturesque quay at Gaios, the main Port on Paxos, with its arresting crescent-shaped harbour, lined with lovely tavernas and cafes, which provided energy-restoring ice creams for all the crews, before they moved onto Pirioni, eventually overnighting at Parga, a beautiful town on the North-western coast of mainland Greece. Much-needed supplies were collected during a brief run ashore, and some of the more experienced Cadets had a chance to plot a return course to our home port of Gouvia. Lunch was taken on the day 6 of the trip at Kefalari, before a delightful night spent at Platarias Quay.
The most exciting weather was encountered in the final hours of the trip, just south of Gouvia, when the wind strengthened rapidly from almost nothing to a strong breeze, gusting more than 30knots at times. The crews had to reef the sails quickly in challenging conditions and it was testing but rewarding end to the trip as the Cadets quickly recognised the skills they had developed over the course of the week.
The trip was a unique experience for the Cadets, and for Oundle School CCF, which has never before run an overseas offshore sailing exercise. The exercise provided the CCF’s Royal Navy Section a clear sense of purpose for their training programme, and has trained a cadre of trained and enthusiastic Cadets to act as leaders in the Section over the coming years. In addition to the obvious sailing and boatmanship skills that the Cadets themselves gained, they also had the chance to develop their teamwork skills which are so important to the effective handling of a sailing vessel. Many also found themselves picking up culinary skills in the yachts’ galleys, which will also be of value to them in the years ahead.
As the youngest crewmember commented:
“The trip has been a fantastic experience that has provided me the chance to get my first sailing qualification, and to learn more about being part of team, all whilst living in the unusual and close confines of a yacht. We have been generously supported by The Ulysses Trust and the CCF and I am very grateful to the staff, CCF and Ulysses Trust for such an incredible opportunity.”
The trip was highly successful in its aim with all 14 cadets showing the necessary skills and initiative to qualify them as RYA Competent Crews, and all those who were fortunate to attend are very grateful to the Ulysses Trust for their generous support.
