Saturday.

The four Cadets from TS Tiger met at Leicester railway station and caught the 8-16 train to Birmingham New St where we changed trains and travelled trough to Paignton. In Paignton we met most of the other Cadets for TS Royalist, they came from units in Liverpool, Worcestershire and Wales. One very cramped bus ride later we were in Brixham and walked the short distance to where TS Royalist was moored. As I walked across the pontoon, I thought how large the ship was and couldn’t believe that I was expected to be part of the crew.

We had arrived at 2-30pm and the weather was brilliant.

We were shown our bunks where we would sleep and after changing into number fours our first job was to peel potatoes (oven chips are easier).

When everyone had arrived, the cadets were organised in to watches of 6 cadets from all the different units so that we would work with people we had only just met, but by the end of the week we were a good team. My watch was the Forward – Starboard watch, myself Sam, Vi, James, Emily & Maggie.

Later on, we did the “up and over” where we had to climb the rigging, cross over the platform and climb back down. It was quite easy but I was quite apprehensive as I climbed higher.

Evening meal was at 6-00. Later in the evening we were all told what our jobs would be for the following day and luckily I got an easier job because I am a smaller cadet and also the youngest.

Sunday.

We left Brixham, our destination was Alderney in the Channel Islands. When leaving port we all wore our white caps. Members of the public thought we looked really smart and waved and took photographs. Cap tallies were changed from our own units to “TS Royalist SCC” while we were on board. My job was to make sure that the front Course sail did not swing too much. Other members of the watch set the top sail and I assisted. Rest time followed and then a teaching session. We had to pay attention so that we could complete our Task Books. Another job to be done was to set the Jib (very front sail) so TS Royalist sailed faster. Later on we had another teaching session. We arrived in Alderney in the early evening and then the rest of the day to chill. Maggie and I kept night watch from 1 until 2 AM it was a little chilly but nothing too bad.

Monday.

Today we intended to sail to Poole in Dorset however there was no wind so the ship changed course for Cowes on the Isle of Wight. We sailed for eight hours some people were really seasick, but no one from TS Tiger. Our watches were in the afternoon and also night watch. We also had harbour Stations which took quite some time because the channel to enter Cowes harbour was very long.

Tuesday.

We were granted shore leave and were in need of a fix of sweets. We left Cowes and made for Poole. The older cadets practiced setting and lowering the sails and had to know everything about all the sails and lines for their advancements. As we sailed into Poole we passed Sandbanks which is one of the most expensive places to live in Britain and properties cost squillions. It was evening by the time we reached Poole and sailed very close to the Brittany Ferry. Poole Harbour looked really impressive in the dark with all the lights reflected in the water and all the millionaires houses lit up.

Wednesday.

In the morning, we got a run ashore and headed straight for an old fashioned sweet shop – we needed a sugar rush to compensate for all that healthy eating on board TS Royalist. The staff in the shop very kindly gave us a jar of lollies, it must have been my winning smile.

We sailed to Portsmouth and moored right beneath the Spinnaker Tower and next to another ship called “Prince William” like ours but larger.

We saw the Historic Dockyard with Admiral Nelsons Flagship HMS Victory and also the equally impressive HMS Warrior and in the Naval Dockyard, the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. Later we were granted shore leave and a group of us went to the pictures to see “Marley and me” – there were a few tears at the sad ending.

Thursday.

We set sail from Portsmouth and headed for Gosport which was only a few miles away, but because some of the older cadets were going for higher grades we set and lowered the sails lots of times. I was exhausted and ached all over.

Friday.

We packed our belongings ready for the train journey home and after breakfast we were presented with our badges on deck. I was given Offshore Hand grade 1. Mobile phone numbers were exchanged with our new friends and after our farewells we caught the train for home. This time by way of London and arrived back in Leicester at 2-20pm.

And finally

I would like to thank all the Staff and UMC members who have made my week on TS Royalist possible – it was a fantastic week that I will always remember. My thanks also to the permanent staff of TS Royalist who taught me just some of the skills needed to crew the ship.

Cdt Owen Flower

Back to Cadets Page