Devon Cadets Race Boleh

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Salcombe registered Boleh was proud to compete with a crew of Devon cadets in last month’s ASTO Small Ships Race starting off Cowes. Organised by the Association of Sail Training Organisations and supported by the Royal London Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron, over 200 young people and 19 Sail Training vessels took part.

Following a Parade of Sail, the Fleet enjoyed a fair Northerly breeze but struggled with fading winds and contrary tides on the return leg.  Lead Skipper Richard described his Army Cadet Force crew as ‘Brilliant’ and said only their ‘sheer determination’ enabled Boleh to round the windward mark.  Picture shows Boleh and her crew with other competitors in Cowes Yacht Haven

Boleh wows Wimborne Primary

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We’re delighted to start the new month with a lovely Collage put together for us by Pompey Military Kids  from Wimborne Primary.  Their Teacher Mandy said: “ I just wanted to write and say thank you so much for a really great day on Thursday. The children and Rachel and I loved it. A truly unique, safe and enjoyable experience.” Boleh Skipper Craig and Mate Nigel were equally complimentary about their charges.  We look forward to bringing the Boleh experience to many more Service children during our Autumn sailing programme.

Boleh gives young carers a break

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In a charity partnership new for this year, Boleh recently took 12 young carers and their 4 case workers from Youth Action Wiltshire sailing in the Solent.  The young carers, aged between 10 and 15, face responsibilities in their everyday lives that many adults would find daunting.  It was therefore a pleasure to give these inspirational youngsters some ‘wonderful respite days’ from their normal routine.

Feedback shows how much the young carers took from Boleh’s ‘can-do’ experience, with comments like:  “This is so cool, I never thought I would be able to do this”; “I have had the best day…I want to do this again”; and “I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did“.  The days were also much enjoyed by YAW staff and Boleh crew, with both days being judged a great success for all involved.  We look forward to further rewarding sails generously funded by the Samuel William Farmer Trust.

Boleh Gets To Know Local Veterans

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Boleh’s been busy over the holiday period and one of her most worthwhile sails was getting to know a new client – Veterans Outreach Support.  Operating from the Portsmouth area the charity looks after the welfare of former members of the Armed Services and of the Merchant Navy, including their spouses and partners.

We hope this successful first outing will lead to further opportunities for local veterans to share the Boleh experience and her ‘can-do’ message.  Boleh is only able to carry out her important work thanks to the support of our generous funders – most recently from the Payne-Gallwey Trust – for which we are very grateful.

 

 

Boleh Youngsters Are Proud Jubilee Sailors

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We’re proud to report that Boleh had a prominent place in the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron off

 Cowes last Saturday.  Heralded by a Spitfire display and led by the charity Wetwheels with Boleh not far behind, over 300 vessels from Solent based Clubs and Classes left Osborne Bay to parade past HMS Severn.  There, in perfect weather and with bunting and flags flying, HRH The Princess Royal took the Salute.

Lead Volunteer Skipper, Richard, Ops Director, Craig, and prospective Boleh volunteers Gary and Vass ensured Boleh was at her best and formally dressed for the occasion.  But the stars of Boleh’s day on parade were Craig’s young family Daisy and Charlie, seen at home in the cockpit with their mother Liane.  The Boleh Trust is very grateful to the families whose support helps to make Boleh a success and also to our many donors, most recently Trinity House, who literally keep us afloat.  We also acknowledge the amazing work of Wetwheels and are proud to have made a donation.

Please head over to the Royal Squadron to hear more about the event at https://www.rys.org.uk/

You can also head over to Wetwheels to hear and see more from them and the event at https://wetwheelsfoundation.org/

Boleh Shows Devon Cadets Eastern Solent

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Starting from the Hamble River, Week 2 of the Devon Army Cadet Force Sailing Expedition took Boleh and her crew to the Eastern end of the Solent.  Working with the vagaries of wind and tide, Boleh’s itinerary included Bucklers Hard and the Beaulieu River, Southampton Water, Osborne Bay, East and West Cowes, Portsmouth, Chichester and Langstone Harbours, and finally home to Haslar Marina.

Along the route Cadets learnt to sail, helm and navigate Boleh, enjoyed rowing the dinghy, swimming and beach BBQ’s, reviewed Her Majesty’s warships, and got to grips with communal life onboard a small vessel.  Picture shows 2 smiling ‘galley slaves’ tackling the all important subject of the next meal!  Thanks again to our volunteers for all the work they do to make these trips such a success.

Boleh’s New Dinghy

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New Dinghy! We’re thrilled that at last Covid relaxations, our enthusiastic crews, the weather and Boleh’s programme have at last allowed us to make the most of Boleh’s new dinghy – a Seago Spirit 270.  Thanks to our generous donors, beach BBQs, swimming and offshore anchorages are now the order of the day!  The Seago replaced the dinghy kindly loaned to us by our former Lead Volunteer Skipper, Kevin Hood.  Picture shows Kevin’s successor as Lead Skipper, Richard Metcalfe, instructing Devon Army Cadets on the preparation and use of this much appreciated asset.

 

Devon Cadets Back Aboard Boleh

Devon Cadets Back Aboard Boleh

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We’re delighted to see the Devon Army Cadet Force (ACF) back onboard Boleh for their annual Summer expedition.  Last year we were proud to have Boleh crewed by their ACF colleagues for a memorable and long awaited visit to Boleh’s home port of Salcombe, Devon.  This year, Boleh’s itinerary took the first Batch of Cadets to Portland, Weymouth, Lulworth Cove, Poole, Studland, Yarmouth, Portsmouth, and the Hamble for crew change.  The weather and Boleh’s dinghy ensured plenty of swimming and beach BBQ’s!

Lead volunteer Skipper, Richard Metcalfe, presenting Cadets with their completion Certificates, commented that without the ‘Can-Do’ attitude of their leader, Scott Wallace, and of the Cadets themselves, the trip would not have been the great success it was.  Our thanks go to Richard and our volunteer Mates, David Critchley and Andy Pritchard (himself from Devon) for their hard work, and to the Nuffield Trust and the Army Central Fund for supporting our charitable work. Lets hope Batch 2 have as much fun!

Boleh helps her Naval friends

Boleh helps her Naval friends

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This year the Trust is privileged to have a new client –  the RN Wounded Injured and Sick (WIS) Recovery Programme – generously funded by the RN&RM Charity.

Boleh delivered the first 5 day course for a WIS group earlier this Season with further bookings in September and October.  This initial course with a crew of Submariners and Royal Marines was judged a ‘resounding success’ and enjoyed by all, including their overnight stay onboard her in Cowes.  Picture shows Boleh ready to sail with Portsmouth Naval Base Commander, Jeremy Bailey (centre), WIS Manager, Angie Cheal (left), Boleh volunteers and the WIS crew embarked.

Commenting on his sail, Commodore Bailey said ‘Fantastic to join the WIS Programme briefly and learn so much about the Boleh Trust’s impressive work and how the Royal Navy delivers an active recovery programme for our most important asset – our people.’  WIS Manager, Johnny Morris from Faslane said ‘The lads got so much from their time on Boleh. They really bonded as a team, shared stories and experiences, and grew in confidence as the course progressed.  We are all very grateful to the Boleh Trust and to our funders for this positive experience.’

Boleh Completes ‘Wonderful’ Portland Programme

Boleh Completes ‘Wonderful’ Portland Programme

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This year we’re proud to say Boleh’s Portland deployment sailed well over 100 local schoolchildren and teaching staff, supporting the Chesil Sailing Trust’s popular ‘Sail for a Fiver’ scheme.  Students from All Saints, Atlantic and Budmouth Academies and from Wey Valley and Dorset Studio Schools were taught nautical knots, the use of fenders, and how to hoist and lower Boleh’s mainsail and  genoa.  At sea, they learnt to tack, gybe and helm, giving them the full Boleh experience.

We’re also thrilled with the Feedback, from the children“ It has been one of the best days…..ever”; “We don’t want it to end”; “ We want to stay longer”; “Such a good day and such good value at £5”.  And from their teachers: “The teams that led the days were fantastic, super friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic”; “We’ve had a whale of a time, the students loved it”; “Both groups had an amazing days sailing”; “Thank you for the wonderful opportunity”.  Picture shows eager young mariners under practical instruction from Boleh’s Skipper.