Sail Training with S.A.L.T.S.
" ... only pleasant memories of our sailing trip linger. My memory tends to ignore those recollections which are unappealing, recollections such as washing dishes and cleaning heads. ('Each of our lives travels an individual, unique passage and just for an interlude our paths were joined, uniting in a little floating world. And what a special world. Together, we composed an exquisite song in tune with the water, the wind, and ourselves. It was the melody of friendship, of knowledge, and growth, harmonizing with all that is genuine." Kristin Kester, fifteen-year-old trainee aboard Robertson II Kristin is one of almost a thousand young people who sail aboard one of Canada's last original Grand Banks fishing schooners each year. They come from all walks of life , from Canada, the USA and countries as far apart as Brazil and Switzerland to take part in a unique "voyage of discovery" in the waters of the Pacific Northwest. The craft of sail is a technology which no longer "belongs" to our age. Although its roots go back to the earliest recorded times and its flowering continued even into the memory of people still living, this vast tradition has been set aside in a disconcertingly brief space of time . Basil Greenhill , former Director of Britain's National Maritime Museum, has noted the disappearance of this ' 'ex-
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by Martyn J. Clark perience which illuminates'' from prestain , a jovial man in his late thirties with ent-day seafaring. And writing closer to a bushy salt and pepper beard. He goes the disappearance, Sir Alan Moore, on to explain in some detail what is exfounder of the Society for Nautical Repected of a trainee aboard the Robertson search , observed that "when the last bakII. Bow watch and-stem watch positions, ers are growing old we may be content man overboard and emergency drills, the with half a loaf, knowing that soon there schedule of rotation known as the "watch will be no bread. " system," procedures for first and second The resurgence of sail training in tradisittings at meals-all are covered. Even tional vessels is a good example of the the use of the heads is described in detail "half a loaf" attempt to perpetuate this because unlike the ones at home, the head "ancient and honourable craft of mast is a complicated system of pumps , levers , and sail." Officers and crew, builders valves and piping. At least that's the way and restorers , sailmakers and riggers all it seems to you . " Pump plenty, and don't perforce must become student historians forget to put the lever in the 'off' position in a school without walls or curriculum, when you're finished," the Skipper expiecing together the puzzle of how it used plains. " If you leave the leveron we could to be done . have an unwanted flood," he warns, and The Sail And Life Training Society adds dryly, ''perhaps you guys on the lower (S .A.L.T.S.) commenced with the restobunks could sleep with one arm over the ration of the Robertson II, a project which side. This way we'll get some warning if spanned five years , proceeded with the the water rises in the middle of the night!" construction of the brigantine, Spirit of Soon everyone is divided into one of Chemainus (launched in September 1985 three watches, named "Fore," "Port" and "Starboard," and you gather on deck and inspired by the brigantine Cadboro , first square rigger to enter Victoria Harto take a tour around the ship with eight bour in 1837) and is currently building the other members of your watch. Details are topsail schooner Pacific Swift (based on the Swift of 1778) as a working exhibit at Expo '86 in Vancouver. All three vessels are designed to enhance the sail training perspective of the growing numbers of youngsters who are prepared to sign up almost a year in ad_vance for the chance to ''learn by doing. ' ' What's the attraction? Well, slip your feet into a pair of seaboots and picture yourself about to embark on your first sail-training voyage aboard the Robertson II. Remember to shed a few years and to recall the first time you perched on the pierhead and gazed down at the maze of lines , wire rope, masts, booms, sails and everything else that can collectively be called a sailing ship. Before long you find yourself seated with about twenty-seven young trainees in the fo ' c'sle. There are tiers of bunks and benches on either side of the long, wedge-shaped table disappearing into the gloomy recesses of the forepeak . A new Above left, Roberston II in light airs. Above, and curious mixture of smells is one of close hauled for the British Columbia mainthe first things you notice-smells of varland, the Coast Mountains in the background. nish, tar, rope, coffee and fresh bread from the galley which is located at one explained by your watch officer, a member of the crew who will run your watch under end of the hold . There a cook and an the overall supervision of the captain. Your assistant are busy preparing lunch , as well as keeping an eye on the rolls baking watch officer is a tall , slim woman of twenty-one. She is assisted by a watch in the large oven. Everyone seems to be leader, a young university student and past talking at once, some are making new trainee of the Robertson II who has volunfriends , others renewing old acquainteered some of his summer holiday to help tances from earlier voyages . Finally the mate calls for silence with the program. Ome by one the lines that control the and introduces the skipper. "Welcome sails are pointed out, the halyards that aboard" are the first words of the capSEA HISTORY, SUMMER 1986