Providing annual sail training opportunities to young people aged between 15 and 25 years from all over Shetland.

Left a group, joined a team!

July 3rd 2013

The last few days have seen us undertake a variety of activity. As well as taking in a visit to Stavanger we have progressed our sailing skills and started to think about how this journey has and will change us. Ashore we have visited such cultural icons as Stavanger cathedral and maritime museum, KFC and McDonalds. Obviously different crew members place these in differing orders of significance!!

Earlier today I posed a question to our trainees; “what is the difference between a group and a team?”. We might not be a highly honed crew challenging for the America’s Cup, but we are certainly a crew who have come together in a most remarkable way. At Jorpeland we played ten pin bowling. But I wouldn’t want you to think that we have been on some type of holiday cruise. Far from it.

Pictures: left a group, right a team.

None more so thanour entry into Skudeshaven which has received wholesome praise from local boatowners at the confidence with which our crew manuovered Swan into a very tightberth.

For those notfamiliar with this, it is not a case of the helmsman and engine doing all thework. Warps have to be slackened,tightened, paid out, snubbed let go and made off in a very precise order. Fenders secured and moved by the crew ontheir own initiative. Ropes were “madeoff” (tied up) smartly and coiled down without asking. Team cohesion in some of the more physicaltasks means that they are better able to coordinate action as they hoist sailsaloft or trim them to the wind. There isgrowing confidence on the wheel and some have either laid Swan alongside ordriven off the quay. Although they mightnot appreciate it, that is no mean feat for such novice sailors.

Nor is thisconfidence confined to sailing; it has transferred to their presentations andwritings and willingness to take responsibility for themselves and their ownlearning and development.

Richard, Skipper

Sponsors
Lerwick Port AuthorityArven Offshore Wind Farm
Associate Sponsors
The Swan Trust
Grant Funders
Bell's Nautical TrustShetland Community Benefit FundSIC Coastal Communities Fund