Written by Pupil Journalist
Day 1
Today was largely spent travelling. We arrived at School at 7.00 am and travelled by coach for an hour and a half before reaching the boat, The Jenny M. On arrival, we were excited but slightly seasick. After lunch, we put on our wetsuits for the first time and entered the water. I cannot fully describe how cold it felt during the initial water confidence activities, although it became more comfortable as the days progressed and the weather improved. Despite the cold conditions, the first day was highly enjoyable. There was a slackline over the water, and we took turns jumping off into the sea, which everyone enjoyed greatly.
Day 2
We all woke up feeling excited, although slightly nervous, for our first full day on the Isle of Wight. We were divided into groups and took part in a range of water-based activities. My group began with keel boating, followed by windsurfing, which was enjoyable but challenging. There was a significant queue for the showers in the evening. Our afternoon activity involved a walk to a nearby beach, which was very relaxing after a busy day.
Day 3
Our main activities today were raft building and dinghy sailing. We were due to race our rafts; however, ours was the only one that remained intact. During the dinghy sailing session, we took turns steering the boats downwind before being towed back. We also learned how to tack and control the sail. After dinner, we practised tying a variety of knots and even managed to tie an instructor to a chair.
Day 4
In my opinion, this was the most enjoyable day. In the morning, we took part in kayaking and practised a range of skills. One highlight was capsizing, as well as watching a friend attempt a headstand on a kayak. Later, we completed a stand-up paddleboarding session. I spent more time in the water than on the board, as I capsized frequently. On one occasion, I stepped backwards off the end of the board and found it difficult to climb back on due to laughing so much. We also learned a useful technique to lift the nose of the board out of the water in order to turn more quickly.
After dinner, we went crabbing. Although I did not catch any crabs, one group caught a very large one, which they named Brad-Bob. Another smaller crab was named Costa. All crabs were returned safely to the water afterwards. The evening concluded with an enjoyable quiz before we went to bed.
Day 5
As it was the final day, we did not take part in any water-based activities. Instead, we played games including gutter run, drop the bomb and find the path. We then began the journey home. It was an excellent residential, and although everyone enjoyed the experience, we were pleased to return home and see our families.