Parents, staff, students and the general public were amazed to see the confidence, courage and transformation in the crew of the ESF Tall Ship Challenge as the youngsters arrived in Newcastle on Wednesday 25th June at the end of their eight-day voyage from Portsmouth.

Although not allowed to climb the rigging as they sailed up the Tyne in the afternoon because of the wind, the early evening was calm and balmy and the children couldn't be kept off the two 40 metre masts as they demonstrated their newly-honed skills. As well as climbing confidently across the complex networks of rigging and platforms, the students showed off their knot-tying and radar navigation skills, as well as conducting visitors around their sleeping quarters and other facilities below-deck.

As well as crossing the Channel to visit the French port of Dieppe, the ship stopped a second time, in Ipswich, on its way up the east coast of the country and, although exhausted, spirits were high throughout the experience. Even the teachers seemed to have "spent up" what little energy they started out with!

All that remained for the crew to do on the Thursday morning was to clean out the vessel, pack up their belongings and disembark in time to let on an adult crew in the afternoon who turned the ship around and sailed out for London.