Tall ships crew turns all hands to puppets
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.WHAT TO DO with a resting sailor? Captain Bligh would never have stood for it, but that doesn't deter Captain Julia Fearnside. Rather than letting the devil make work for idle hands she has them making puppets with their socks.
The only woman skipper taking part in the Grand Regatta Columbus tall ships race says her hardest task is keeping her crew happy during breaks in shifts which have them working three hours on, six hours off.
'At first everyone is so tired they sleep all the time, but then you need a lot of social skills to keep everybody happy. We've done everything, even made puppets out of our socks,' she said.
The 72ft Ocean Youth club ketch Francis Drake was one of 120 tall ships which raced from Lisbon to Puerto Rico via the Canary Islands and then on to New York and Boston before crossing back over the Atlantic to Liverpool.
It took the 12-member crew, aged between 16 and 24, 23 days to complete the last leg crossing from Boston to Liverpool.
The purpose-built boat is one of 10 vessels run by the Gosport- based Ocean Youth Club.
(Photographs omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments