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9 Goodgymers helped their local community in Colchester

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Colchester

Saturday 2nd November 2019

Credits

Katherine Rose

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Saturday 2nd November brought us a community mission out at Brightlingsea.

We arrived at the Shipyard estate ready to do some good for the Pioneer Sailing Trust.

The trust provides learning opportunities for young people to equip themselves with skills for life, both at sea and on land.

They believe that every young person should have a fair start in life whatever their circumstances.

The trust was set up in 1999 with the idea of restoring a 70ft Essex Smack Pioneer boat which had fallen into decay after years of dredging oysters in the North Sea. The boat was restored in 2005.

The weather was quite frankly horrendous as we arrived at the Trust’s HQ to meet some members of the Trust so a lot a lot of the things which were planned had to be abandoned due the very very windy weather.

We instead went onto the boat and went below the main deck .One of the members of the trust explained about the boats use.

We then set about doing what we could given the awful weather. We tided up some seating ,took down some curtains and removed some lee cloths.

Brief history lesson-Lee cloths are sheets of canvas attached to the open side of a bunk and are usually tucked under the mattress during the day or when sleeping in harbour .The lee cloth keeps the person sleeping in the bunk from falling out when the boat heels during sailing or in rough weather.

After this we went back to the boat house and had a look around the workshop and learnt a bit about he skills involved in boat making.

Sadly due to the weather there was a limited amount we could do today but they appreciated us coming and hopefully its something we can be involved in for many years ahead .

Massive kudos to everyone who came today. The weather was just horrible and I can only begin to imagine how uncomfortable it would be on a boat like the Pioneer out on the open sea in such weather.

Next time hopefully we will be in a better plaice with the weather, but we had a reely good day.

After saying our goodbyes to the members of the trust we headed to the Rosebud pub in Brightlingsea for some warmth, good company and food .

Happy weekend everyone .

As ever,

Ian

This task supported

Pioneer Sailing Trust

Developing Young People Through practical Experience

About Us Once it became apparent the complex restoration of Pioneer was possible, the decision was made to set up Pioneer Sailing Trust in 1999. The trust, whose founder trustees were Mary Falk, Charles Harker and Rupert Marks, is a registered charity. From day one practical help and funding has arrived in generous measure from many individuals, organisations and local businesses. Pioneer’s new purpose is to offer young people the challenge of sailing, which often proves to be a life changing experience. Pioneer has accommodation for three qualified crew and twelve trainees. As a powerful and strong sea going vessel, she is ideally suited for day sailing or passage work in the Thames estuary, across the North Sea or the English Channel. Being a crew member highlights and emphasises many vital qualities essential in life and the trust believes these practical and new experiences helps develop young people. The trust also opened Harker’s Yard in 2009 to further its work with training and education in the marine industry and provided opportunities for work experience and apprenticeships in marine engineering and boat building and repair. Pioneer Sailing Trust works closely with life development trusts, training agencies, councils, social services and other organisations devoted to improving the life prospects of young people, many of whom deal with difficult circumstances. Young people often find time at the trust opens new windows of opportunity.