Part 13: Peli on Tour

(09.09.2022-09.10.2022)

In the evening of 09.09. Polly and I arrive at the Pelican of London in the Liffey. We are welcomed by the second officer and given a short tour of the ship and our cabins. I share my cabin with the ship's engineer, doctor and scientist. Privacy is a very rare commodity here on board - nothing I'm not used to. The entire crew is very welcoming. Everyone here is used to new people coming on board all the time and is happy to meet new people. The crew is made up of people from all over the world - we have people from Argentina, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic and - with me - Austria, in addition to people from all over the UK and Ireland.

At this point a couple of specifications: Pelican of London was originally completed in 1948 in France as an Arctic fishing trawler under the name Le Pelican . After a long period of activity in the Arctic, she was sold to Norway. After being seized for smuggling, she went to the United Kingdom where she was converted into a mainmast barquentine. As this rig is rather experimental, she is probably the only one of her kind in the world. Finally, she made her maiden voyage as Pelican of London in 2007 for Seas Your Future. Since then, she has been in service for the charity and is mainly used as a sail training, science and education vessel for up to 47 crew members.

The first night goes quietly, the next day there are safety briefings - where is what, how does what work, etc. Around lunchtime we can start working. I'm on board as a deckhand, which means as much as handy-man for everything that has to be done on deck - maintenance work, sail and rope handling, deck scrubbing, etc. First job: mast climbing and swapping the topsail. After quick climbing instructions, I´m ready to go. Up the mast, along the yard and then realising that I don't know any knots yet. Have to learn it at 20 metres of height then - well, thats fate. Still a little nervous up there, however, the euphoria clearly prevails. After two hours at altitude, I'm back on deck with a slight backache and a grin from ear to ear.

The next day, the trainees come on board - a one-week "Ocean Science Voyage" is on the agenda. The trainees, young people from Ireland, are taught sailing and scientific basics about oceanography, the environment and climate. At the same time, they will be involved in some kind of citizen science projects as well as beach clean-ups. After the trainees have endured their first day of instruction, the journey can begin the next day.

I feel a mixture of anticipation and fear of seasickness. As soon as we leave Dublin, however, all my worries are gone - the land only visible in the distance, a cool wind catching in the sails, the sometimes gentle and sometimes not so gentle swaying of the ship in the waves - it is immediately clear to me that I am made for the sea! While the trainees get rid of their stomach contents on the first night, I stand on the foredeck with my tea and enjoy the cool spray.

During the next week we utilize the northerly winds to move south, back and forth between Ireland and Wales. My job is now largely to teach the kids how to clean and how to climb. At the same time there is more than enough time to enjoy the wonderful weather, the waves and the view. Not infrequently, we are accompanied by dolphins who probably see the ship as their mummy.

So we sail from Dublin to Hell's Mouth bay. Then it's back to Wicklow, Ireland, where we have earned a beer in the pub after a spectacular mooring operation in the very undulating harbour. There is not much time, the next day we head straight for Solva, anchoring on the rocky Welsh coast. A half day of activities for the trainees ashore and some relaxation for the crew before heading to Rosslare, where the trainees leave the ship again.

Sunset off Solva

Sailing route 12.09 - 18.09

We enjoy the unusual calm on board after a week of hustle and bustle. Some other volunteers come on board to bring the ship safely to the Netherlands. It is an interesting contrast to sail with a completely adult crew after all the youngsters.

Best watch

After only half a day in Rosslare, we set off. Due to complete calm, the sails unfortunately have to stay in their gear and the engine has to do the work. For the first time, I am also part of the watch system: to keep the ship running for 24 hours, a group of people must always be on the bridge, navigating and keeping a lookout. For this purpose, watch groups are formed in a 4-hour watch - 8-hour break rhythm. I am part of the 08:00 - 12:00 watch. During this time there is often not much to do, so you have to pass the time a bit. Sea shanties, watch dances, we are creative. Every one of us looks forward to the watch. Of course, we also look forward to the end, to finally dance the end of watch dance.

The next stop is Darthmouth, a beautiful village on the south coast of England. We enter Darthmouth Bay in bright sunshine - the atmosphere is indescribably stunning.

We enjoy our first shore leave since the trainees like classic sailors - off to the pub! Going for a drink and storming a pub with the entire crew, with whom you otherwise work all day makes for a very wholesome feeling. After Lukas demands his Danish drinking song, the German-speaking department has to follow suit.

Since the pub has carelessly not lashed down its decorations, we capture a paddle from these landlubbers, arrrgh. But as soon as we return to the Pelican, the voice of reason...okay, it was the captain's voice...tells us to take it back. So we make our way back to the pub with the paddle to return it. However, things turn out differently

The paddle is still on board today, and will always remind us of The Dolphin in Darthmouth!

Sailing Route 18.09 - 08.10

The very next day we continue towards Schreveningen near The Hague. After 3 days of calm seas and sunshine, we arrive in Schreveningen, where we will be moored for a fortnight. We volunteers help with the maintenance, but don't miss out on the local activities. Surfing, skating, a day trip to Amsterdam and the obligatory visits to various bars and pubs - we enjoy ourselves.

Gradually, however, the crew here is shrinking more and more. Most of the volunteers leave for home, and it becomes quieter and quieter on board. On 5 October, however, new life arrives - the teachers and watch leaders for the upcoming Ocean College Winter Voyage come on board. They are full of anticipation and excitement - I am happy for them, even though I know that I will soon have to leave the ship. On 8 October, the time has come for the crossing to Amsterdam.

"Teachers on Acid"

In the morning we leave our mooring and sail out into the North Sea. An intense wind is blowing, the water is choppy. An absolute 0 to 100 as far as the rocking of the ship is concerned - a bit of a shock, especially for our newly acquired crew members, who soon find themselves hanging over the side of the boat. It calms down as soon as we approach the lock and are in the channel to Amsterdam. Soon, we got everyone back on their feet again.

In the harbour of Amsterdam I finally spend my last night on the Pelican of London. It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to all the great people I got to sail with. However, it is clear to me that this was not the last time I will see most of them - and the Pelican!

My heartfelt thanks to the entire crew of the Pelican of London and all the people I got to spend time with on board. Special thanks to Janice, Luisa, Jakob and Connor from Bosuns Fleet and Axel, Amelie, Cian, Big Ben, Lottie, Johnny, Sophie and guest member Caoimhe from Best Watch.

So my time on the Pelican of London comes to an end. I think back over the last few months - what I've learned, the contacts I've made, where my journey has taken me so far and where it might go next. I decide it's time to leave the aimless travelling behind and look specifically for projects to get involved in. This requires a rest - and planning phase for me now. And I already know what the perfect place for it is...