johnsunter.com >> pictures >> sailing bay of biscay
Sailing across the Bay of Biscay with Fairbridge Drake on the Spirit of Merseyside.
In my late teens, I used to help out, at a Charity called Fairbridge Drake, who re-motivated unemployed people using outdoor pursuits.
There was a really big trip going on, sponsored by Hambrose bank. The trip would involve 2 weeks in the Pyrenees and 2 weeks sailing in the Bay of Biscay, through France and Spain.
This is me, in Manchester centre, in the morning that we set off.
Here aged only 19, I am at the wheel of a 91 foot ship, with the lives of 20 people, literally in my hands.
The ship was called the Spirit of Merseyside, and set of from Liverpool historic dockyard.
We trained for a qualification in Sailing, and had to learn what all the different types of Sail were (I can still remember them to this day).
To sail the ship, we were rotated into 3 groups, and did 4 hours on, and 8 hours off.
When we weren't working, we slept in our bunks.
Everyone piles onto Nadiah and Chris's bunks for a picture.
There was a table in the main Galley, where we ate our food.
We took turns at cooking, which could be difficult when the sea was bad. I was on the same shift as Nadiah, and we quickly became friends (and still are, nearly 20 years later).
Gerard, Nadiah and I have a cup of tea and a chat, after we have finished our shift.
I had loads of "Para" cord in my rucksack, and wore a perry whistle around my Neck (I always wear a whistle and a small torch around my neck when I am travelling).
It quickly became the "bling" fashion accessory, and everyone had one.
On a nice sunny afternoon, I lie on the deck of the ship and get some rays.
As we pull into port, we have a quick meeting, about where to go and what to do.
Caroline (the person who's head is visible through the doorway) was the 2nd mate on the ship. (a chap called Duncan was the 1st mate).
If we couldn't "dock" the ship actually in the harbour, we would way anchor out from the shore, and then take a rubber boat ashore, called a see horse.
Resplendently dressed in our FD fibre pile jackets, we stop for lunch in Bilbao.
The Hambrose bank's PR company, sent a bloke along on the voyage called will. He was a real public schoolboy, and as most of us were from inner cities I wondered how we would all get on.
I shouldn't have worried, he was a great laugh.
On one occasion, he rented a car in Bilbao, and we filled it with people and went driving for hours.
In the afternoon heat, everyone sits and relaxes on Dock.
In the picture, the lad next to Nadiah is called Tony. He slept on the bunk above mine, and we became good friends.
In the evening, people would sit out on deck (or in this case, on top of the dog house), talk and drink tea.
Me at the wheel of the boat, with Sue Larkham.
About a year after the trip, she came all the way from London to attend my birthday party.
After 2 weeks at sea, and despite severe sea sickness we arrive in Santander and disembark.
