Saturday 13 July 2024 – our first day aboard
Stepping aboard the Tall Ship in Tallinn at 5.00pm was totally nerve-wracking but also super exciting. We were about to kick off the adventure of a lifetime, sailing the high seas with a bunch of strangers who would soon be our friends.
The crew greeted us warmly and showed us to our quarters. I got the ‘unter’ (bottom bunk), Finn snagged the ‘über’ (top bunk), and there was a Finnish guy sleeping in a hammock between us. It felt cozy right away.
First up, got our harnesses and had to hand in our passports. Safety first. Then we were assigned our watches. We were given watch two, from 4.00pm to 8.00pm.
Then came the scary part – climbing the rigging! We were both very nervous about this as we’re both scared of heights, and you can’t clip-in until you're further up the rigging. But we both pushed through our fear and climbed up the rigging before moving onto the ‘Raa’, which as we learned is the spar that’s used in the rigging of the ship to carry or support the sails.
Feeling proud and full of adrenaline, we hung out with some of our newly made friends, enjoying some music before crashing for the night.
From being nervous and uncertain, to conquering our fears and making new friends, our first day was unforgettable.
Vaila
Sunday 14 July 2024 – the first full day at sea
Today was our first full day at sea. It kicked off early with breakfast with everyone. Finn had volunteered for the early watch, so he was up hours before I woke up. From the get-go, we knew this day would be packed with excitement and challenges as it was the first day of the third leg of the race.
The best part of the morning was definitely the parade of sails. Our ship moved out of the Port of Tallinn, and motored out and took part in the parade. It was so unique and exciting to see all the ships together against the morning sky.
But the start of the race got postponed because of low winds, so until it was restarted it was ‘all hands on deck!’ We set sails, climbed the rigging, and got everything ready to race. Working together with the crew felt great.
When the race finally started, we crossed the line with a good start. The mix of competition and the rush of sailing at speed was amazing.
Then we had our watch again from 4.00pm to 8.00pm, where we started to get to know the others on our watch more.
By the time our watch ended, we were pretty exhausted from all the action, excitement, and travelling. So, Finn and I decided to call it a night early, retreating below deck to our bunks.
Vaila
Monday 15 July 2024 – embracing the unexpected
We woke up at 3.30am to hear there was a ‘rescue mission’. Adrenaline pumping, we hurried up to the deck to help, only to find out it was a false alarm. So we sat around the bridge and learnt about safety and repaired a few sails. It was a colder night but still not a lot of wind, but as the sun came up, the day promised to be amazing.
After breakfast, which was really ‘lecker’ (yummy), we sat out in the sun and I took a nap on deck for a bit. When I woke up after lunch, it was scorching hot outside, so the crew decided to create a makeshift pool on deck, much to everyone’s enjoyment! Due to low winds, even though we were technically still on watch, I was able to join in and jump in the pool with three others from our watch.
We sang sea shanties and fun songs, and laughed at jokes we didn’t really understand! It was a nice break from our usual watch duties and a chance to bond more with everyone.
But soon enough, it was back to work. Katha, our watch leader, called us to help with the sails, so I threw on my Crocs and got to work, pulling lines. We tried to tack, but it was unsuccessful due to the low winds.
Despite not making much progress and not going in an ideal direction, we were still having fun. The sun was shining and we’ve made so many new amazing friends!
Vaila
Tuesday 16 July 2024 – smooth sailing and new heights
Tuesday was another chill day with light winds, perfect for our 4.00am watch. It was another warm, windless watch with barely any breeze. There wasn't much to do, but it was great for learning more about the ship. We learned what each rope did and picked up some German sailing terms since commands are given in German when setting sails. Vaila and I also got another turn at the helm, steering the ship. At first, I was super nervous, but I ended up loving it. It felt amazing to find my rhythm and feel in control.
The weather was awesome as we enjoyed a chill breakfast with our watchmates as the sun rose. We sat in the warm morning sun, sharing stories and laughing. Vaila also drew and chatted to the next watch.
Between watches, the deck was our hangout spot. Lunch was a tasty leek and cream dish, followed getting to know everyone while playing games like Austrian Uno. Each person had their own cool story, adding to the fun.
Just as we were deep into our games, the wind finally picked up. We were so excited since we hadn't had a good position in the race so far. The fresh breeze felt like a promising turn.
The afternoon was filled with more games and learning about each other's cultures, bringing us even closer. We laughed so much, and it felt like we hadn't stopped laughing all day. At 3.30pm, we enjoyed our daily coffee and cake, a perfect relaxing break between watches.
Our 4.00pm – 8.00pm evening watch was busier as we hoisted and adjusted the sails, trying to get more speed in the light wind. Our teamwork was on point, showing how much we'd grown as a crew in just a few days. Then went back to our games.
After our evening watch, Vaila and I did more climbing. I felt brave and asked to climb the mast. I reached the second platform, about 75% of the way up. It was a huge personal win since I never thought I'd be comfortable climbing at sea, let alone that high. The view was both awesome and a bit scary, especially looking down over the endless water.
We also got news that we might reach Turku sooner than expected, which was bittersweet. The trip has been so amazing so far that the thought of it ending was hard to accept.
As the day ended, we thought about how much we’ve grown in just a short time at sea. From steering the ship to climbing the mast, each challenge has been met with new confidence and enjoyment. The bonds we’re forming and the experiences we’re sharing has made this journey truly unforgettable.
Finn
