Nautical Explorer - Rona Sailing 2025

We were invited to take part in the Rona Sailing Project, a volunteer-led initiative that’s been running for over 60 years. It’s one of the UK’s oldest sail training organisations, designed to help young people develop teamwork, resilience, and confidence through offshore sailing.

Our voyage ran from Sunday morning to Thursday afternoon (15th–19th June), and it was nothing short of transformative. Throughout the trip, we were immersed in a wide range of practical and technical skills. We learned how to tie essential knots like bowlines and clove hitches, helm a steady course, and raise or lower sails depending on wind conditions. We also picked up maritime terminology— like identifying a cardinal buoy, which marks safe water in one of the four compass directions—and other navigational markers that are crucial for safe sailing.

The crew was split into two watches: Port and Starboard. Each group rotated through responsibilities such as cooking meals, cleaning the boat, and managing sailing duties. This structure helped us build trust and cooperation, especially when conditions got tough. Every day, we logged our activities in a ship’s logbook, recording everything from engine checks and meal times to safety drills and even incidents like someone falling overboard (thankfully, all handled safely and professionally). At first, many of us were nervous—it was the first time most of us had ever stepped onto a sailing vessel. But that nervousness quickly gave way to excitement as we sailed past the Isle of Wight, surrounded by open water and fresh sea air. The first day was rough: seasickness hit hard, and we were too drained to do much. But by the second day, we found our rhythm. Tasks became second nature, and we began to feel like a real crew. The transformation was remarkable. We grew more confident, more capable, and more connected. The Port and Starboard teams worked seamlessly together, and there was a genuine sense of camaraderie. Everyone contributed, and there were no conflicts—just a shared goal and a lot of laughter. The experience gave us not just sailing skills, but life skills: responsibility, adaptability, and the joy of working as a team.

Julian Boch 9O and Sky Okechukwu 9P