Support is always needed to go forward.

 

The voluntary work of training young people could not have started without the help of my wife Violet who acted as First Mate and was a galley slave in feeding hundreds of young people each year. 'Home' baking on board was greatly appreciated as was jam making from time to time. Many young people had a pre-conceived idea of women and my wife often showed and explained different nautical language and procedures that complemented my own training schedule in their early learning stages. That somehow suprised them and was often a source of amusement to myself and other supporting crew members at the time.  Our family pet 'Heather' a Cocker spaniel, was a great help to young people when settling in to live aboard as many enjoyed her as a companion and she responded with her 'tail wagging'.

 

Winter maintenance was such that once again my wife and myself with other adult volunteers spent many hours working on the schooner that was greatly admired and photographed throughout the season and some of the young people even claimed me as their 'uncle' to girls that they met when ashore at different anchorages. Such was the pride of the young people of 'belonging' as crew, that at times we laughed as they adopted 'the sailors gait' or swagger when landing by dinghy on the shore.  Due to steeply rising costs 'Raf' had to be sold in 2004 but the spirit of 'Raf' carries on with the help of supporters to benefit young children living in deprived areas by giving them the opportunity to take part in challenging all-year round programmes. Both outdoor and indoor events covered are - water sports, absailing, orienteering, gorge walking  and active holiday pursuits all available to the young each year as we celebrate our fortieth anniversary in 2014.