Pupils brave waves along the East Coast

A group of enthusiastic Year 7 and Year 8 pupils embarked on a sailing trip along the East Coast during half term in May.

Their journey began on Monday 29th May, setting sail from Ipswich Harbour with their first mooring at Levington in their sights. During the trip, they navigated the River Orwell and the River Stour as well as facing the challenge of strong waves when they arrived in the Channel.

Making the yacht their home for five days, pupils truly experienced sailing life – working closely together to prepare meals and keep the boat ‘shipshape’. They even slept in hammocks! What’s more, they learnt how to drop and ‘weigh’ (raise) anchor, set sail and to tie a variety of tricky nautical knots, which they had plenty of time to practice on the voyage.

This trip was part of the School’s Outdoor Pursuits programme, on which previous trips have seen pupils learn power boating, skiing and much more. Open to pupils across the School, the programme is a great opportunity to try a range of exciting and challenging outdoor activities and acquire new skills.

“We will never forget this boat trip, which was a unique adventure. The entire crew was fantastic and had so many entertaining stories to tell us. We highly recommend this trip to anyone with an interest in sailing or wanting to try something different! ”

Dhanush (8AJM), Zail (8GMM) and Kian (8AJM)

“I learnt many things and made new friends. I learnt how to tie ropes, the different sails on a ship and I experienced the life of a sailor. I have also improved my cooking skills and learnt how to do different household tasks where I hope I can help my family at home. This was an amazing trip, and I can’t wait to do this again.”

Shlok (8ADH) n