Sailing Trust

Report for 2013

Fundraising success - tenders invited for first phase of new vessel

Sailing further afield - Youth Sailing Scheme visits Wells Harbour Day

Sailing barge training course inaugurated Continued Race success

Success with Sailability and Dementia Adventure crews

Rigging the jib topsail

Since 2007 Sea-Change has provided action-centred learning and seamanship experience

for young people and vulnerable adults. It is a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Teaching

Establishment, RYA Sailability Foundation Organisation and an Associate Member of the

Association of Sail Training Organisations.

Sailing further afield – Sea-Change visits Wells-next-the-Sea

In August a Sea-Change crew took the Cambria to Wells by invitation of Harbourmaster Rob Smith for Harbour Day celebrating 350 years of the Harbour Commissioners. As the barge used to trade there it was an historic voyage. The cargo ledger for the port shows several visits before 1939 and long before he skippered Cambria Bob Roberts visited with the Will Everard during the war when cement was brought for the construction of airfields. Philip Latham was Mate of Cambria in 1962 to 1966 and he joined for the northward voyage with a crew of young people some from Wells funded by the Wells Harbour Charitable Trust and Norfolk Boat for which we are very grateful. Cambria used to call at Wells with animal feed on her way to the Trent to bring coal to the Essex gasworks, but today this is outside the usual area for Thames barges and special permission was needed from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and we put together two watches with young people on each. On the outward voyage conditions were perfect with fine weather and an offshore wind, so that the sailing time for the ninety miles was only 20 hours, although there was another historic visit to Yarmouth where Phillip used to trade in the barge. This was by kind arrangement of Pilot Richard Gavin and the Yarmouth Harbourmaster. At Wells over 500 people visited the barge and as well as meeting Bob Roberts’ daughters Anne and Gill again we met the daughter of George Dray, skipper before the war, and several relations of other crew. The homeward passage was not as quick due to headwinds, but working two watches and with a couple of stops when the tide was foul the 36 hours to Harwich was great sailing. The north Norfolk coast was bathed in sunshine and sailing at 6 knots with a topsail breeze compared well with the best the French Riviera can offer. After all, this is what the barge was built for. It was also instructive to see how working watches over a period of days can help weld a team and widen expectations.

Open House in the City

In April Appeal Patron Professor Michael Mainelli and Mrs Elizabeth Mainelli hosted an Open House for Sea-Change on their sailing barge Lady Daphne at St Katherine’s Docks. This was introduced by new Appeal Patron Alderman Peter Hewitt and attended by over eighty people including Julia Abel Smith, High Sherriff of Essex. Maritime writer Tom Cunliffe delivered an inspirational talk about the work of the charity and its relevance to the realities of life for young people, saying “when it’s ebb tide in the Wallet, it’s ebb tide in the Wallet and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do about it!”

She’ll shine Maintenance aloft

Beach barbecue

Young Carer on Old Father Thames

Phil Latham

Anisia prepares the jib

Louise Allen and Rob Smith

Sea-Change Runs First Barge Sailing Course Sea-Change offered its first Sailing Barge Course for six people over six days as a pilot for more in future. One memorable day we sailed in company from the Swale to north Essex with the other two engineless barges Mirosa and Edme. The scene in the Swin could have been in trading days. We concluded there are really two parts to the course; one in the way the gear works and another in using it. If you know anyone who wants to learn about barges and traditional sailing please put them in touch.

A crew from Sea-Change and the Port of London Authority won

their class in Cambria in the 150th

anniversary Thames Match. Here

Hilary receives the prize for most valued crew member from Sir

Robin Knox-Johnston and Christine Lawrence.

Bill Wright ran for the London Marathon for Sea-Change raising over £3,000.

Mates Course: left, a handy-billy tackle on the mainsheet and, right, navigation.

Left: “Bikes and Barges” brings two modes of transport together at Maldon each summer for a family day out. This year Sea-Change was the chosen charity and opened Cambria to the public flanked by 300 assorted motorcycles gleaming on a sunny Sunday in July.

Hilary receiving the prize for most valued crew member

from Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Christine Lawrence at

the Thames Match where Cambria successfully

defended her first place in class.

Charter Report There was wind aplenty either end of the season; the first charter in April in Cambria included a quick passage between gales from the Swale to the Medway and then two days wind-bound at Chatham with crabbing in driven snow and some shoreside entertainment; and in October there was another day windbound for Clacton College in Reminder under the hill at West Mersea in a northerly force nine. In between the summer was an excellent one once it got going.

We welcomed new clients aboard Reminder from Cottenham and Swavesey Locality Team (left) and Limpsfield Grange Special School and welcomed back old friends. The Big Lottery and RYA Sailability helped us develop work with Woolverstone Sailability and Dementia Adventure who are at the forefront of thinking about how society should engage people living with dementia. Ed Miller (right) from Woolverstone inspired us with his commentary on how most people with disabilities would prefer to work like anyone else and not have vessels modified by others for them. Sea-Change worked again with over 200 people.

Most of our work with Cambria is not accompanied by staff as we are able to book her for periods of time, but in 2013 we undertook two accompanied charters with her. The first was for the Colchester Institute Workprep Course, and started at Pin Mill on the Monday after she won the Passage Match and finished at Maldon on the Friday after which she attended the excellent Bikes and Barges event there. Woolverstone Marina helped ferry the group aboard at Pin Mill and Heritage Marine provided towage at Maldon. The second was with William Morris Special School from Gravesend, via the Swale to Gillingham and was for the Cambria Trust. This kind of longer residential suits the vessel very well.

The girls learnt how to steer the boat, how to tack, raise and lower the sails and anchor, most of them climbed the rigging and most of them got to steer... most importantly they learnt how to get along together without us hearing one cross word or argument between any of them which for a group of girls aged between 15 and 20 some of who had never met one another was pretty exceptional.

Tim Bunn of Limpsfield Grange School.

Dementia Adventure – John eases the mainsheet

Synchronised coiling with Workprep

Youth Sailing Scheme This was the name given by young people to their extended involvement, sailing directly with us and in touch between voyages for support where necessary. Although it started with a group of young people from Maldon, YSS has included people from further afield in recent years, and we are delighted to welcome referrals for extended participation for anyone aged 14 to 20 who might benefit from and enjoy the experience.

Not content with sailing to Wells, Zack Wilbraham joined the square-rigger Lady of Avenel (left) for a passage up the east coast and through the Caledonian Canal to Oban catching the Sleeper back. After the snow in April for the first voyage, there was plenty of summer sun for the sail to Pin Mill for scrubbing the bottom and to Gravesend for the Thames Match. Then there were the passages to and from Wells joined by some young people from there, and to London to hand the barge over at the Thames River Festival. The last week of the season was the traditional YSS Halloween charter complete with apple-dipping, pumpkins and a warming fire. Plans for 2014 are coming together. We plan to offer YSS an Arthur Ransome week in the Walton Backwaters (his “Secret Water”) living aboard a barge, camping, exploring, sailing dinghies and maybe with a smack there as well. This is because, apart from Reminder for the majority of accompanied groups and Cambria for the majority of YSS, the 44 feet Sallie (right) will be available for young people seeking seamanship experience in a smaller vessel to complement what they learn in barges. There will be at least one barge sailing course in 2014. At the time of writing we await the outcome of a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund Future Skills Programme by National Historic Ships, five sailing organisations and the International Boatbuilding Training Centre. If successful, there will be two intakes of five trainees in 2014 and

2015, one for each organisation. This follows the strategy mentioned in the report last year to develop future skills for the sector.

Below: Dean Conway now works on barges for Sea-Change and others - this is exactly what YSS is about.

Extremes of the season - snow in April

and Halloween in November.

Appeal Progress Trustees have agreed to seek formal tenders to build the new hull and launch Phase Two of the appeal for £200k to complete the rig and fit-out. She could be sailing in 2015, keeping future skills alive by engaging trainees carrying real freight inspired by historic voyages!

We are very grateful to those who have brought the appeal to this stage: the Eranda, Wates, Bernard Sunley, Garfield Weston and Trusthouse Charitable Foundations, Sir Donald Gosling, Plain English Kitchens, the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, Fairlie Yachts, Trinity House, Michael Everard, The TK Foundation and generous anonymous donors. Jill Homewood (left) has joined to write funding applications. Jill also works part-time for Remap which creates custom-designed solutions for people living with disability. She brings a wealth of experience in fund-raising, and started with us by putting her best foot forward in a sponsored run.

It would not be possible to do our work without the generous support of many individuals and institutions providing bursary support for those unable to afford the full costs of sailing with us. These included our immensely helpful trade body ASTO, the Kelsey, Merianog, Essex Youth, Oak and Augustine Courtauld Trusts, Maldon Regatta Association, Maldon Bikes and Barges, The Big Lottery, The Royal Thames Yacht Club Charitable Trust, Norfolk Boat and the Wells Harbour Trust, the RNVR Youth Sail Training Trust, The Frederick and Phyllis Cann Trust, the Elkington Trust, RYA Sailability, The Worshipful Company of World Traders, Martin McColl, The Malcolm Chick Charitable Trust, The Homelands Charitable Trust, The Honourable Company of Master Mariners, The Artemis Charitable Foundation, Sported, The East of England Coop (who again gave vouchers for food), Sported (which supports sport for personal development) and Yacht Carbon Offset who offset our carbon. Thanks also to relief skippers Ed Gransden and Francis Kent. Sea-Change provides opportunities to young people and vulnerable adults from any background or ability to learn from positive activities, develop self-esteem, life skills and a stake in the community. To sail with us, for more information or if you can help in any way please contact info@seachangesailingtrust.org.uk 01621 744196 www.seachangesailingtrust.org.uk Unit 1 Blackwater Marina, Mayland, Essex CM3 6AL

From left: Peter Hewitt, Michael Mainelli presents a cheque from World

Traders to Don and Richard and Gerry Courtney from Maldon Regatta to YSS.

William Morris School

Youthworks

Workprep

YSS scrubbing and painting

Stutton Ness

Dementia Adventure

Woolverstone Sailability St Joseph’s College

Children’s Support Service

Cottenham and Swavesey

Judging a treasure hunt