I found myself incredibly fortunate this summer when I embarked on a remarkable journey aboard a Tall Ship during the Cruise-In Company leg of The Tall Ships Races 2023. I had a different experience from the other trainees as I was on board as a sail trainee, a chaperone, and an employee of The Tall Ships Races Lerwick. Our voyage commenced in Shetland, with an overnight trip on the Northlink to Aberdeen. From there, we took to the skies, flying first to Stavanger and then to Oslo. Once arriving in Oslo, we got on a bus to Fredrikstad to meet our ship. My ship was the Christian Radich, a Class A, Norwegian vessel.
My sailing experience had been confined to childhood dinghy sailing. Before I assumed my role as digital media assistant at Shetland Tall Ships Ltd, the prospect of such an adventure had never crossed my mind. Yet, saying "yes" to this unique opportunity proved to be one of the most rewarding decisions of my life.
From Fredrikstad, we sailed to Sirevåg, and then onward to the captivating city of Stavanger. Crossing the threshold of Norwegian waters, we headed to Yell in Shetland. Before our journey came to an end in Lerwick.
The whole experience felt simultaneously natural yet a step out of my comfort zone and offered my mind and body space to reset. The disciplined rhythm of life onboard, dictated by sleep, eating, watches and free time - alongside the absence of a mobile phone signal benefitted my mental well-being incredibly. With limited distractions, I was more present. When not on watch duty or catching up on work, I sat on deck and read, watching the waves between pages. Being out on the ocean was incredibly therapeutic - even more so for me, as I was fortunate enough to avoid seasickness.
The allure of adventure and the opportunity to challenge my skills as a photographer was what drew me to this journey - both desires were fulfilled. My photographic skills were challenged in ways new to me and I was thrown beyond the confines of my creative comfort zone. I am proud of the images I captured and how I have grown as a photographer through this experience.
Climbing the rigging was my best experience on the ship. Although I scaled those heights multiple times, one instance stands out vividly. During a 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. watch, I got the opportunity to climb the rigging to untie a sail with the crew. The sun was just rising, at that early hour the colours were delicate, and the wind was ferocious, It was a struggle to keep pulling my body up, higher, and higher. But once we reached the top of the mast it was so beautiful. We stood there swaying, the sunrise bursting through, miles and miles of ocean and waves. The magnificence of the view, alongside the sense of achievement and adventure, was a feeling without comparison. I even had the privilege of taking my camera up into the rigging with me to take photos, a thrilling combination of my two passions onboard.
My final highlight was watching the other trainees grow more confident. At first, when we started our journey the group were slightly shy but slowly they grew more confident. The shared experience of navigating a totally new, exciting, and challenging experience brought us all together.
If the opportunity presents itself to embark on a voyage like mine - I ask you to go for it! It is one of the most incredible things I have ever done. It is an endeavour that pushes you to grow and discover new things about yourself, a chance to experience true adventure and reset at the same time.
