Students Sail the High Seas on the Leeuwin II

by Margaret River Your Guide on 30 May 2008 It felt at times like the Pirates of the Caribbean, but Gaby Bootsma (Year 11) and Alex Miller (Year 10) found their four-day trip on the training ship Leeuwin II to be a life-changing experience. The two Margaret River Senior High School Emergency Service cadets were sponsored by FESA and nominated by the school to sail on the ship.

Chosen for their leadership qualities, they have recently returned with memroies trying to stay awake on four-hour nightly watches, climbing the rigging, dolphins swimming near the ship, and the Sods’ Opera performance of skits at the end.

It was a mixture of learning to formally request their superiors for permission to do things, share respect, to steer the helm, to learn sailing terms and to clean up after a lot of seasickness.

'One of the best things was when we got awards at the end,' Alex said.

'It felt like an achievement.'

The ship sailed out to sea from Fremantle, but was unable to make a landing on any island because wind speeds did not permit it.

'It was pretty rough but the ship got up to the fastest it’s been this year, nine knots,' Gaby said.

There was plenty of seasickness, but the girls were impressed byhow all the students on board looked after each other.

'It was a great team-building experience,' Gaby said.

'We met heaps of new people and made new friends.'

The other Emergency Service students on board came from as far as Tom Price.

Some things they had to get used to included the lack of privacy–there were no doors on the showers so they showered in their bathers.

The ship’s movement made showering–and for the boys shaving–a risky experience.

'It was 10 to a room with bunks, people in your face,' Alex said.

'You don’t get alone time which is sometimes a bad thing, sometimes a good thing.'

They were woken early each morning by music from Queen to sea shanties, did tai chi, and learned to repeat instructions.

Despite taking many changes of clothes, they ended up often sleeping in their dirty clothes to save time – and because no one would mind seeing them dirty.

On good nights, Alex said, they would get eight hours’ sleep, on bad nights, only five.

'The food was good, and so was working in groups, team building stuff, getting to know and build friendships with each other,' Alex said.

'You don’t even notice how much work you do, I ate so much food but I lost weight.'

They were still rocking with motion when they left the ship.

Back at school, remembering their trip is 'like a dream'.

They both agree it was a worthwhile and mind-broadening venture.

'If you want to go on the Leeuwin you have to show you can listen and take instructions,' Alex said.

'It’s challenging, and I also liked that.'

'Do it if you can,' they both said.

'It changes your life.

'The world is such a big place and this is such a small place.'

The STS Leeuwin II is Australia’s largest ocean-going tall ship and is primarily used as a training platform for young people.