Adventure on the high seas
Pupils set sail for Duke’s award
Thankfully there was no mutiny on the high seas wh e n C a l d e r g l e n H i g h School pupils set sail.
Tw e l v e p u p i l s b r a v e d t h e elements t o sail f rom Oban t o Greenock on a voyage that took them through choppy waters via Jura, Campbeltown and Tarbert.
The group endured gale-force conditions, battled through serious sea sickness and navigated s o me o f S c o t l a nd’s s t o r mies t w a t e r s o n t h e O c e a n Yo u t h Trust’s 70ft Bermudan ketch, Alba Venturer.
Pupils took responsibility for ever y aspect of the r unning of this sail training vessel; planning each passage, navigating, communicating with coastguards and cooking meals.
The sea staff on board trained pupils to make sure they were able to keep the vessel ship shape and ar r i ve i n Greenock safely – achieving the expedition section of their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award in the process.
This seven-day challenge meant pupi l s had t o devel op skills in not only sailing but also resilience, diligence, patience and determination.
Parent Colin Stewart said: “It was great because they were busy from the moment they fell out of t heir bunk until t he t i me t hey rolled back into bed again.
“I loved how they all had jobs and that everyone was dependent on everyone else, experiencing life in the moment, cold, wet and absolutely loving it.”
Fo u r t h - y e a r p u p i l A n d r e w Sturgeon said: “I never thought I would have so much fun on a boat.”
Meanwhile, Zara Legowski, also in S4, added that the group “were all capable of so much more than we thought”.
One of t he sea staff was exCalderglen pupil Eilidh Sword.
E i l i d h, who u n d e r t o o k t h e voyage herself back in 2015 and has since returned to OY T as a v ol unteer, t ra i ned as a bosun and now as a watch leader for the charity.
Her experience was inspirational and she relished the chance to give back to the school community.
Back on dry land, all 12 sailors a re now pro g re s s i ng t hro ugh the volunteering, skills and physical section of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Depute head teacher Murray Stewart said: “We wish all t he pupils who took part good luck as they put all the skills they learned to good use.”