Girl guides from Wisbech and March set sail on an amazing adventure around UK

TWO young woman from March and Wisbech have returned from the adventure of a lifetime, taking part in a special Tall Ships voyage to celebrate Girlguiding UK’s Centenary year.

Emily Syred, 19, and seventeen-year-old Ashleigh Mays, joined 36 other guiding members from all over the UK riding the seas in a spectacular trip co-ordinated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust.

During the 10-day trip, Emily and Ashleigh travelled between Falmouth and Milford Haven on board the Lord Nelson, a 55-metre-long square rigged sailing ship. Both girls are using the trip as part of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

While taking part in the voyage, they also had the opportunity to learn a range of new skills such as climbing the rigging and taking part in the ship’s daily ‘Watch’.

During the voyage, which covered a distance of over 320 nautical miles, they saw dolphins and seals, and encountered some rough weather, making helming around Land’s End in the dark a bit of challenge.

Emily, who is a leader with a local Brownie group, said: “The best parts for me were climbing the rigging unaided and when we took part in Soda Opera, where each Watch performed a routine representing their time on the boat.”

The trip was one of 10 individual voyages taking place over 100 days between June and September to mark Girlguiding UK’s 100 years.

Women of all physical abilities were onboard the Lord Nelson as it circled UK waters, as the ship is just on e of two in the world built to enable people of all abilities to sail side-by-side.

Features on board the ship include lifts between each of the ship’s different decks widened decks for wheelchair users, and speaking compass allowing those visual impairments to play a full part in Lord Nelson’s journey.