Web report day One LN 748 GG4 – Newcastle to Boston 7-16th July 2010
The tale so far.....Well here we are in Newcastle – a long way from our start point in Glasgow and to date we have had 105 GG’s and their watch leaders on board (not including the GG/Brownies coming for sleepovers in between the voyages.)
The Girl Guides centenary ‘Ultimate Tall ship adventure’ has had a cracking start, first leg sailing from Glasgow to Oban with a visit to Raithlin Island off the north coast of Ireland and a number of anchorages around the Western Isles. One thing that circumnavigating the UK is showing us, is how beautiful our own part of the world really is and the Western Isles proved no exception!
The next leg (GG2) took them over the ‘top’ from Oban to Aberdeen and an opportunity to visit the Orkneys. Leg GG3 took the GG’s from Aberdeen via Leith to Newcastle, which is where I caught up with the Lord Nelson once again, nestled into her berth on the River Tyne just before the Millennium Bridge which, on the day I arrived was packed with over 3000 brownies and guides for whom the bridge was opened – what a sight! It was also great to see our local JST supporters out to visit and help us with all the necessary behind the scenes preparations for the forthcoming voyage – so many thanks to you, apparently there is more than one ‘angel of the north’ here!
Finally, Day One arrived for LN 748 GG4 with our new voyage crew of 24 GG’s who were soon on board and making their bunks and settling into their cabins and getting to know each other. Then Captain Clare invited everyone to join her in the lower mess for the introductions of the permanent crew before the training could begin, so we would be ready to go to sea and all the necessary things to make our voyage a safe one. Being a prestigious event for the Girl Guides, the press were here too. The permanent crew for this voyage are: Chris the 1st Mate; Cas the 2nd Mate; Natalie the Bosun; Chief Engineer Rachel with Jenny the 2nd Engineer ably assisted by Dave the Engineering Assistant; Cookie Dave with his assistant Joyce aka ‘Joyce the Voice’; Rachel the Medical Purser and Richard our Bosun’s mate.
With all the briefings out of the way, smoko was announced before the first of the evacuation drills and then a chance for our new crew to don their climbing harnesses and have a chance to go aloft.
This was followed by a hearty dinner of roast pork complete with crackling, roast potatoes, new potatoes, cauliflower and gravy, with jam sponge pudding and custard to follow! Once this was finished and the mess men had cleared away, Chris the mate gave everyone shore leave until harbour watches began.
Watch this space and we’ll keep you posted of further developments.
Rachel MP LN