The rona sailing project

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mrtreeboy222

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Hi chaps,

Has anyone on here heard of/is part of or has been on the rona sailing project? http://www.ronasailingproject.org/ It was my birthday yesterday and i've got a week on 2008 62 Schooner called Merrilyn.

I'd like to know what it will be like? VERY different from the usual sailing onboard the usual vessel i sail i assume.:eek:

Thanks.
 
I used to sail on the original 72ft Rona, Ghuna and later the Donald Serl out of Pompy, and then the Hamble, years ago when it was called the London Sailing project supported by the Lord Amery Trust.

I met the guys on Merrilyn in October last year, in Alderney when I was bringing an Oyster 435 back from the med.

After a chat in the "Divers" it appears their modus operandi is largely unchanged, where they take "young" people and disabled out to sea to teach teamwork, responsibility, structure, discipline.

However as I remember and I must stress that when I sailed with the London Sailing Project, some 25years ago, the sailing is essentially done for you.
You will be told what to do, when and how to do it, in your specific watch.

Great fun I imagine for non sailors but for experienced sailors I would think just the one trip would be enough unless like me you decided to stick with them and become a watch leader or skipper.
 
Yes i have sailed with the project, and will be doing so again this year. The voyage i sailed on was part of the tall ships race so may have been somewhat different to the usual way of doing things, however the experience remained a very positive one. The watch leaders and skipper were brilliant, experienced sailors and friendly people. The boats are also used by a few major manufactures to test equipment, so you may be lucky and get to play with a few state of the art toys - just depends on what's in use that week. Merrilyn is the newest boat, and i believe so called as a large part of the funding came from Merril-Lyinch (they of the USA sub prime crisis).

I'm sure you will have an enjoyable trip, please post a few pictures of it!
Matt
 
I was on Rona in 1974. Ted Handscomb was the skipper. We sailed to Cherbourg. The French people kept pressing fruit into our hands; one of our number was a sea-cadet (in uniform), and they're still very grateful for the Normandy Landings. We ran out of food on the last day - Ted set me the task to make something delicious from Spam, mandarins and cucumber!!! It got washed over the side. The most startling image of the voyage was entering Portsmouth Harbour when a submarine with six crewmen on the deck loomed out of the mist - off on its tour! Commander Cobb greeted us in his 'butty boat'. I was selected for a Tall Ships Race, but declined to go as I re-sat my A-levels! Those were the days...I haven't sailed since!
 
Came back on a short trip on Donald Searle from omonville in force 8. Boat heeled a bit but didn't realise it was so windy until someone remarked on it. Finally got into Yarmouth at 2 in the morning. When the galley crew served dinner of roast lamb. Everone said what a lovely crusty herb coating it had. It was much later when mrs D told me that the oven door wouldn't stay shut and the joints kept falling on the deck and picking up sand and general grot but were just picked up and shoved back in.
 
Merrylyn was indeed financed by senior UK Staff at Merryl Lynch, before they went under. She's an Ocean Shipyards Hull, fitted out by LSP Staff on the Hamble. So successful was the fit out that Donald Searle was refitted to a similar standard, and she's another Ocean Shipyards design. Rona 2 is an Oyset 68 Hull fitter out, again, as a sail training vessel by project staff. It's 10 years or so since I sailed with them, but unless things have changed very much, you will be expected to take a full part in all aspects of sailing the vessel. The only thing trainees don't do is take the helm coming alongside or during MOB practise. The after guard (skipper, mate and Watch officers) ensure you don't bump into anything hard (if you're lucky) and are there to show you the ropes and offer the odd bit of friendly guidance. You will be expected to set sails, grind winches, steer, perform engine checks, cook and clean. If you're interested, you'll get to assist the Navigator. You'll also have a Watch Leader who has sailed the boat at least once and beed considered good enough to qualify for an Amory Award to be offered a place on the project. This year's trainees gaining an Amory may also be invited to sail a leg of the tall ships Race in the following year. If you bring an RYA cruising Log book with you, the skipper will sign it off for you and if time permits, examine your competence in the areas required for a Competent Crew certificate. I don't know if they still offer Scott Awards to the youngest trainees on Merrylynn instead of Amory Awards.

I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun. It was the LSP (the Rona Trust is or was the organisation responsible for raising the bulk of the funds to run the project) who introduced me to "big boat sailing" in the first place and I've remained eternally grateful to them for the opportunity and support they gave me over the years.
 
Last edited:
Topcat47 said:
Merrylyn was indeed financed by senior UK Staff at Merryl Lynch, before they went under. She's an Ocean Shipyards Hull, fitted out by LSP Staff on the Hamble. So successful was the fit out that Donald Searle was refitted to a similar standard, and she's another Ocean Shipyards design. Rona 2 is an Oyset 68 Hull fitter out, again, as a sail training vessel by project staff. It's 10 years or so since I sailed with them, but unless things have changed very much, you will be expected to take a full part in all aspects of sailing the vessel. The only thing trainees don't do is take the helm coming alongside or during MOB practise. The after guard (skipper, mate and Watch officers) ensure you don't bump into anything hard (if you're lucky) and are there to show you the ropes and offer the odd bit of friendly guidance. You will be expected to set sails, grind winches, steer, perform engine checks, cook and clean. If you're interested, you'll get to assist the Navigator. You'll also have a Watch Leader who has sailed the boat at least once and beed considered good enough to qualify for an Amory Award to be offered a place on the project. This year's trainees gaining an Amory may also be invited to sail a leg of the tall ships Race in the following year. If you bring an RYA cruising Log book with you, the skipper will sign it off for you and if time permits, examine your competence in the areas required for a Competent Crew certificate. I don't know if they still offer Scott Awards to the youngest trainees on Merrylynn instead of Amory Awards.

I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun. It was the LSP (the Rona Trust is or was the organisation responsible for raising the bulk of the funds to run the project) who introduced me to "big boat sailing" in the first place and I've remained eternally grateful to them for the opportunity and support they gave me over the years.
Click to expand...

It sounds good for what the organisation is trying to do. Very similar to OYT I think, though on a smaller scale?
My wife and son did some OYT introductory sailing and were impressed.
 
This is a resurrected thread....

The Project is still going strong, my son did a trip with the project and did his first cross channel trip with them away for a week and a weeks work experince working in the office and the yard, they are great and i would thoroughly recomend them, they are very well organised and experienced and the boats are well kitted.

http://www.ronasailingproject.org.uk

If grandparents are looking for a more challenging type gift/ gift+birthday one the courses may fit the bill
 
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