img#wpstats{display:none}

A Nice Day for a Swim

by · 10th February 2007

I had joined Tenacious, the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s (JST) three-masted sailing ship, in Castries and we were now well on our way from St Lucia to Antigua. We were going to spend the night anchored off the island of Dominica. When we arrived there wasn’t much of a breeze, the sea looked warm and inviting, and the captain decided that we could take up that invitation.

The bow of Tenacious, taken from the water, anchored off Dominica. The island can be seen in the background, with a couple of the swimmers cdlimbing down into the water.
Tenacious anchored off Dominica

Because Tenacious only has three decks, with just accommodation below and the bridge deck aft, the main deck doesn’t sit particularly high above the water. Therefore, getting in and out of the water wasn’t going to be a major problem. The more adventurous either dived or just jumped in, the lass so used the ladders running down the side of the hull. Since I had my camera, in its water-proof housing, with me, I decided to take the latter option.

Someone diving off the side of Tenacious to join some other swimmers. The picture is taken from the main deck and shows Dominica in the background.
The fastest way to get into the water

Tenacious was designed and built to be sailed by a mixed-ability crew. She has lifts between the decks to provide wheel-chair access and hoists in place to lower them up to the first yard or, as in this case, over the side. It wasn’t compulsory to go swimming, but anyone who wanted to was able to enjoy the experience. Those who didn’t feel comfortable in such open water could wear life jackets, and there were also life rings on long tethers so that people wouldn’t drift too far from the ship. I’m not a strong swimmer and there was a bit of a current: between that and trying to handle the camera after a while I took advantage of one of these rings.

Two of the crew guiding someone from the main deck on the hoist as they start to lower them into the water.
About to be lowered into the water with the hoist

A picture taken from the water of a woman wearing a life jacket and using one of the life rings, another being lowered using the hoist and a third entering the water via a ladder
Swimming by the side of the ship

Unfortunately, this lovely dip in the Caribbean finished all too soon and we had to make our way back on board. The hoist was used for those that required it, the rest of us used the ladders. It had been a lovely experience, without the screaming kids and trying to keep out the way of other swimmers that seem to go with my usual trips to the pool.

A group of swimmers heading back to the hoist ladder to return to the main deck
A group of swimmers heading back to the ship

That night we sat out on the main deck for our meal, rather than going below to the mess. A barbecue, a cold drink, and the warm evening breeze: the perfect end to a perfect day.

Some of us sitting around on the main deck enjoying an evening barbecue
Sitting on the main deck enjoying a barbecue

(There will be another blog about Tenacious, the ship and sailing her, at a later date)

Tags:

You may also like...

Archives

Categories