Outward Bound School

"After we had reached the latitude of 5 degrees North, the weather started to improve although we were still shipping water. When we were two days from 'Mombasa we received a gale warning and sure enough along came the gale from the South. It was a strong gale for 24 hours and then eased off slightly. During the strong gale our speed dropped to 5 knots. "As we neared the coast the sea became quieter although it was very choppy off Mombasa. I had sent in a wireless message giving our arrival time and the signal station notified the pilot station when we were sighted. "The pilot boat comes out nearly two miles to meet the ship owing to the strong current near the coast. If the ship were to stop close in the current could set the ship on the reef outside."

THE OUTWARD BOUND MORAY SEA SCHOOL

Any keen-spirited boy who wants adventure would enjoy four weeks at one of the three Outward Bound Schools. These establishments train boys from fourteen to nineteen years in responsibility, selfdiscipline, endurance and reliability. Two of these schools, at Aberdovey and Burghead, Morayshire, achieve this through the sea, but not, as many people believe, for the sea. The instructors are mostly Royal and Merchant Navy officers.

Seventy-six boys from all over England and Scotland thoroughly enjoyed the exceptionally successful course at Moray in September. The rules and discipline are strict, more so for the boy unused to discipline than for a Public School boy who finds them reasonable. The training is physical, moral, and spiritual. Prayers are held twice a day, in the morning, with a short talk, and at night.

On arrival the boys are split up into six watches, named after famous admirals. Each watch competes daily to have its pennant flown at the mast-head, and the watch with the most points at the end of the course is presented with an iced cake.

The everyday training consists of seamanship and athletics. In seamanship periods the watches often sail and row in the school's cutters and sloop-rigged motor boat. In bad weather splicing and knots are taught. In athletics everyone tries to better his own standards. Besides the high and long jump, the hundred yards and half-mile, there are the two miles and also the five-mile walk, throwing the javelin, and putting the shot. Everyone gets as many chances as he likes at each event.

Each Sunday the boys go out on short expeditions of about eight to ten miles in the surrounding countryside. Two of these were to ancient historic buildings, and another to the Naval Air Station at Lossiemouth.