Pupils set sail on expedition
Dof E Award challenge
A group of 12 students from Calderglen High School set sail on the high seas as part of an annual expedition.
They spent a week on the water as part of their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Setting off from Greenock, Inverclyde under the expert guidance from Ocean Youth Trust and Calderglen staff member Ronnie Bleach, the group travelled around the Kyles of Bute, Campbeltown, Argyll & Bute and as far away as Bangor in Northern Ireland.
Living on the boat, they were responsible for cooking, cleaning, navigating and having important roles as the ship’s crew.
One of the crew, senior pupil Fiona Robertson, said: “We all learnt a lot about ourselves as a whole – whether that was how to hoist the main sail, tie a bowline knot or merely how to survive without our phone. We all benefited from the experience in our own ways”
Fiona added: “Throughout the trip we saw the exquisite beauty Scotland has to offer and we visited places many of us never knew existed”.
When the group arrived in Campbeltown, they disembarked at the quiet fishing town and carried out a beach clean.
The group then sailed across the North Channel to Northern Ireland.
After sampling local delicacies, the crew took advantage of a break in the weather to sail the 32 miles back to Greenock, via Portavadie, and were welcomed home to the fireworks from the closing of the Cowal Games, viewed from the Dunoon coast.
Mr Bleach said: “This again highlights our commitment for pupils to experience a wider range of opportunities and experiences, which in turn has a positive impact on their development. We thank Ocean Youth Trust for their continued partnership.”