Four Ross residents, Harvey Sayce, Daniel Bailey, Beverly Humble and Gail Sayce, all took to the water recently on a sailing trip on The Tenacious Sailing Ship.

Harvey and Daniel first met through Enviroability’s project, Leisure Link, and friendship blossomed. Leisure Link was originally set up to integrate people with learning disabilities into the community, but now many people enjoy the friendly, welcoming atmosphere of Leisure Link. The foursome recently organised a five day sailing trip on The Tenacious from Dartmouth to the busy port of Portsmouth, along the Jurassic Coast which they described as the ‘experience of a lifetime’.

The Ross group joined 30 voyagers and 12 permanent crew from all areas of the UK and Italy. They ate, slept and worked together with much laughter and jolliness.

Each person was given one mess duty - cooking, serving and washing up, either up with the Lark at 6:30am or down with the First Dog (first Star) about 8pm. On watch they took turns as a Helmsman, (steering the ship) on Starboard and Port watch, looking out for blind spots on the radar, they saw lots of lobster pots and yachts, and even had to prevent passengers without tickets entering (while at anchor in Dartmouth). They learned how to pull on the sheets (with ropes) to change and set the yard arms, to pull down and take up the sails (five on each of the three masts and two additional side sails).

They said that climbing up to the next level of sails, to the crows nest was fun, especially seeing Harvey winched up (all people power of course) in his wheel chair. He spent an hour discussing work that needed to be done with some of the crew. Other climbers donned their safety harnesses and climbed up the rigging.

On Day three they anchored at Chapman’s Pool, out at sea, no houses, cars or people could be seen. The sun was still visible, Captain announced those who wanted to swim out at sea could, Daniel with shorts straight on and back up on deck like flash lightening, tentavly he climbed down the side of the boat on the rope ladder and dipped into the cool clear waters. He then went the whole hog and climbed back on board and took a running jump off the top of the gang plank with an enormous ‘amazing’ as he flew though the air into the water. Towards the end of our voyage, it was announced that they were about to have happy Hour, this turned out to be cleaning hour, Starboard watches (Aft and Fore) on upper deck. Port watches (Aft and Fore) lower deck.

Each Tenacious crew member tried to sum up the best bits about the voyage, and gave up and said it was the whole experience. They said it was an:?“An utterly fantastic, inclusive experience of a lifetime for each and every one of us, from all walks, and wheelchairs of life.”

Daniel, Harvey, Gail and Bev plan to share their experience at a Leisure Link night or for more information about the group call EnviroAbility on 01989 763388.See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here