Twelve people from Emmaus Greenwich joined the crew of sailing smack Pioneer for a day trip this summer.
The Pioneer, built in 1864, is the only remaining example of the deep-sea smacks. Today, it is usually run to improve the lot of young people living hard lives by giving them opportunities to take part in residential sailing trips.
The Pioneer takes our companions on an annual free day trip, which we absolutely love. For many, this was their first time working on a sailing boat. Lovely weather accompanied us as we sailed through the beautiful Colne Estuary and along the coast. We practiced tacking, gybing and putting up canvas, and the skipper, first mate and bosun worked hard to keep the day interesting and enjoyable.
Thank you so much to everyone at the Pioneer for this amazing experience!