Beginnings of a new life offshore- an introduction to Tall Ship Sailing

Where the Wind Takes Us

 

Bent over, cleaning the black water tank at the bottom of a tall ship sailing around Sicily I realise that I’m singing out loud to myself even as I splash myself with sewage for the second time. I probably look a little crazy squeezed into the engine compartment of the tall ship grinning as I imagine my mother saying (for the thousandth time) “all this education and you’re still shoveling poo!” (Of course, when I talk to her next week I’ll just tell her about the Sicily bits and less of the shoveling.)

I have always tried to go “where the wind takes me” so I jumped at the opportunity to volunteer as a marine engineer on board the tall ship Tenacious, owned by the Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST). Tenacious is a wooden hulled square rigged tall ship that was purpose built (in 2000) to take disabled voyage crew.

There are 10 permanent crew members onboard (including 2 engineers) and we work as a team to enable the voyage crew to sail the tall ship. The voyage crew have a buddy system so that every disabled person has a non-disabled crew member to share a cabin with so that up to 50% of the voyage crew can have a physical disability (including up to 6 wheelchair users). The JST do not take passengers and everyone is expected to get involved in sail setting, steering the boat, cleaning and helping the cook at meal times.
During this voyage we sailed from Malta, up to Mt Etna in Sicily and back. The first day was really rough and over 50% of the voyage crew were sea sick, but they soon found their sea legs and were pulling ropes and singing sea shanties like real seamen! We often have to help people overcome their fear of heights and the process of securing wheelchairs in order to hoist them aloft often gives them time to worry more. It’s always a team effort to hoist everyone aloft to help with sail setting and it’s great to see everyone up the mast working as a team.

Why do we need engineers on a sailing ship? 

Although we try to sail as much as possible, we often have to use the ships engines to get in and out of modern harbours and ports. In addition we use; generators, hydraulic steering, water pumps, sewage systems and wheelchair lifts, so the life of a marine engineer on board a modern tall ship is never boring! (Or quiet!) For me it’s the perfect mix of being able to play with engines, work and live in a small community and meet the wide range of people that make up the voyage crew. There is something really satisfying about being involved in the “back stage” work to ensure that the voyage runs smoothly and all the voyage crew achieve their goals. I have fallen in love with the ethos of the JST and the international tall ship fraternity, which is great as I'm now employed as a second engineer!

Tamsin Smith, February 2013