T.S. Royalist turns 40 in a fortnight...

Greenheart

Greenheart

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I just saw Dan Snow describing the Empire's conquests in the age of Nelson's navy. He was standing on the plunging bow of the training ship Royalist, so I thought I'd take a look at her history.

Turns out she'll be forty years old, two weeks today. I wonder whether her future looks as long and secure as her past? Or whether her owners have a successor in mind?

Did you know, she's less than 77' on deck? Less than a hundred, overall. Wonderfully proportioned.
 
First saw her in Oban Harbour in 1988. Then I think I saw her in the Solent a couple of years back. Tremendous boat.

Tim
 
On Thursday 23 June this year we left our home port of Milford Haven, bound for ten days in Ireland. On the way out of the Haven we passed this fine vessel:


IMG_003.jpg



Presumably it's the Royalist you're all referring to. (My original photo has a file size of 2.3MB but I've reduced it to 70kB for this post, hence the strange appearance of the standing rigging.)
 
I have had the pleasure of sailing on her four times. I gained my offshore watchkeeper ticket with it (sea cadets of course) and was offers to go back as bosuns mate! However, by the time I was legally old enough to do that I had already signed my life away with the royal navy!

She is a fine vessel below, the cook (if it's the same chap) is one of a kind! She is also very traditional down below and her age shows that. She is by far what anyone would call modern in today's standard, she still has that very 70s fit out.

The sailing is one he'll of an experience I remember standing on the yardarm in a force 7 coming out of Southampton water trying to get some sail stowed! But every trip is great fun.

Last year (or the one before?) a lad died, he fell from a yardarm, I don't know what happened, but there are times where you unclip and then clip on again, although they may have changed that policy now due to the young lad falling.

Please note that all my trips were amazing and it's a great experience for sea cadets, I could not do any of the trips unless I was sponsored, I was lucky enough to be part of city of londons unit (hms Belfast) and I got sponsored very easily with plenty of well off people in London. However if you know the sea cadets and a young cadet wanting to have an experience of a life time then please donate some money!
 
amazing experience

11 years ago I had my 1st ever sailing experience onboard TS Royalist. I remember my knees shaking and my heart racing as I climbed the ratlines for the 1st time, the bosun (Roger) at the time egging me on from aloft. After that I spent a week or so each year for 5 years watch leader for the sea cadet kids. I had many a wonderful time onboard this fantastic vessel and hold many fond memories. 3 years ago my partner & I bought our own yacht and are now living aboard in the Med. If it wasn't for TS Royalist and my adventures I would never have really got into life on the sea. Regards to todays crew and Phil if your still around, TC (topcat)
 
Royalist adult cruises

I don't know if this still happens but Royalist used to run adult cruises (called 'shackles' after the charity they supported) for two weeks in each year. Ann and I sailed the western isles one summer. It was a fabulous experience that we still talk about though I do remember the cots are built for kids and my feet dangled dangerously in space. Really recommend it if you can get a space...
 
VADROUILLE said:
Last year (or the one before?) a lad died, he fell from a yardarm, I don't know what happened, but there are times where you unclip and then clip on again
Click to expand...

The report's on the MAIB site now if you want the detail.

Essentially, he was very confident aloft, some people going out to do the clew gasket but froze halfway along the yard, he decided "humph, I'll do it myself then" and decided to climb out past them. On Stavros at least, people are not supposed to pass on the yards, but if it's exceptionally necessary you remain clipped on at all times while doing it. He unclipped (possibly was forced to by Royalist's inadequate harnesses) and slipped while swinging out behind one of the people he was passing. Very sad.

I don't think there have been any changes to the official procedures (where you're clipped on and where you're not, etc) but I hear there's been a bit of a tightening up to help ensure those procedures are followed.

Pete
 
whiteoaks7 said:
I don't know if this still happens but Royalist used to run adult cruises (called 'shackles' after the charity they supported) for two weeks in each year. Ann and I sailed the western isles one summer. It was a fabulous experience that we still talk about though I do remember the cots are built for kids and my feet dangled dangerously in space. Really recommend it if you can get a space...
Click to expand...

Tall Ships Youth Trust do the same on Stavros S Niarchos. Adult voyages in my experience tend to be somewhat undersubscribed, so should be no difficulty getting a space.

Oh, and being aimed at slightly older teenagers, the bunks etc are full-sized :)

[/plug] :)

Pete
 
Isn't it a fairly simple matter, to supply two harness-tethers, of adequate length, to each outfit worn? So that no-one need unclip, before first clipping-on to the next secure point.

I thought such a set-up was standard equipment now - at the very least, aboard training ships.
 
dancrane said:
Isn't it a fairly simple matter, to supply two harness-tethers, of adequate length, to each outfit worn? So that no-one need unclip, before first clipping-on to the next secure point.
Click to expand...

Exactly.

dancrane said:
I thought such a set-up was standard equipment now - at the very least, aboard training ships.
Click to expand...

It has always been standard on Stavros and William. According to the MAIB report, it was not on Royalist at the time of the accident. I don't know if they have since changed.

Pete
 
I remember my first trip as a subby (SCC). Officers joined around noon. To the wardroom, G&T all round.

Introduction by the Sailing Master (Francis Drake - really).

Duties assigned.

Another G&T. And - "Oh, by the way, officers need not go up the mast".

Cadets arrived 1400 on parade on the quarter deck.

Good afternoon lads (no girls in those days).

"Welcome aboard. You no doubt are all worried about having to go up that mast." "So we'll get it out of the way now".

"Just to show you there's nothing to be afraid of, the officers will go up first to show you how it's done"

Rotten sod!

How I remember that devil's elbow;- you ain't done it, you ain't been scared!

Great days.
 
Back in the 70's

I sailed on the TS Royalist for two separate weeks in the early seventies, one Falmouth trip and one to Alderney. Both times we embarked at the fuel jetty HMS Dolphin. What I do remember is being cold, hungry and lots of hard work, including climbing the rigging in all weathers and developing a technique for climbing dependant on the roll, cleaning stations topside and below decks, and of course tacking stations which was actually the fun part.
Also passing the Needles aloft in an 8, where we eventually lost three anchors while trying to shelter, and then had to be rescued by an oceangoing tug from Portsmouth.
But I wouldn’t of missed it for anything…… highly recommended.
 
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dancrane said:
Isn't it a fairly simple matter, to supply two harness-tethers, of adequate length, to each outfit worn? So that no-one need unclip, before first clipping-on to the next secure point.

I thought such a set-up was standard equipment now - at the very least, aboard training ships.
Click to expand...

My only experience of going aloft is on Lord Nelson. Originally they had just a wide belt with a tether but they now use a full climbing harness. That's all very well but there is nothing to clip onto while going up the shrouds. There is a vertical jackstay at the futtock shrouds but apart from that you don't actually clip on until you reach the yards.

Having said that, all sails are handled from the deck and trips aloft are limited to making and releasing the harbour stow.
 
All of the above brings back memories of being sent from the Nautical College Pangbourne for a week on Royalist in 1975 or 76 - we went from Portsmouth west and called in at Dartmouth and Salcombe where I now live - brilliant trip and aloft in high winds is something I'll never forget! We had to wear our uniform ashore which was very similar to Dartmouth' College's which got us into a party in one of the pubs - free beer! :-)
 
dancrane said:
Isn't it a fairly simple matter, to supply two harness-tethers, of adequate length, to each outfit worn? So that no-one need unclip, before first clipping-on to the next secure point.

I thought such a set-up was standard equipment now - at the very least, aboard training ships.
Click to expand...

There is no standard rules that apply to sail training vessels however...

14 months ago Royalist had a safety management review and now has one of the best climbing systems in industry, endorsed by several organisations.
 
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