The Eaglewood School

21/07/2023

Day 6 of our Rona Adventure…and our final blog.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

Our students lived their best life this past 6 days. They’ve tasted new experiences and risen to the challenge. They’ve grown in confidence and replaced fear of the unknown with a belief in themselves.

Along the way, they’ve become sailors - all gaining their Start Yachting Certificate and other more prestigious awards: The Amory award or Scott Award. This is a wonderful accolade and recognition of the determination and effort they have individually given of themselves.

It’s hard to quantify the gains of this week - they stretch far beyond the IQ and dig deep into their EQ. These students have blossomed and the resilience they have shown, is extraordinary. Mother Nature didn’t go easy on them and yet they woke every morning and faced the day with openness.

We had an emotional last night aboard, celebrating each student’s achievements and personal highlights.

It may not be today, or even next week that our wonderful students will see the benefits of this week, but in years to come - when the gift of opportunity comes knocking and they grasp it with excitement and gusto because they know they can!

Thankyou Skipper for giving us a space to reach our best. Thankyou Olivia Inspires, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation and Rona Sailing Project for coming together and changing lives for the better.

19/07/2023

Day Five of our Rona Adventure…

With the wind on our stern, we headed East from Poole across Christchurch Bay. There’s something very peaceful about the downwind leg of a journey: minimal motion, blue skies and a gentle breeze from behind.

It struck me, how content we have become in our shared silence. How a shared glance across the cockpit can crease the corners of your eyes and make you both smile. How the offerings of a cuppa or a bag of Haribos is so genuinely gratefully received.

These past 4 days have brought us together, in a new dynamic - not just classmates but friends, not just teachers but equals on a beautiful boat as crew, working together for the same greater good.

It’s been a privilege to watch our young sailors grow in their own way. To find their unified voice and come together. Nothing captures this more than the reels of selfies, we have discovered on our phones.

Meet Myrtle’s Mad Crew!
Thankyou again for the gift of new experiences Olivia Inspires, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation, Rona Sailing Project

18/07/2023

Day Four of Our Rona Adventure…

Thankyou Skipper! We spent our Tuesday enjoying the calmer side of life on the water. An easy start, later breakfast and a gentle motor out of Poole harbour, allowed us the chance to kick back and giggle about all the many highs and lows of yesterdays epic sail.

The Skipper commented how the crew seemed cemented, unified through their experience and that a sense of team spirit had grown amongst them all.

We shook out the sails, hoisted the Yankee2 and cruised around old Harry Rocks in a light breeze towards Swanage. Logan took to the helm for the first time, proving himself a natural!

As we arrived into Swanage bay, the clouds broke up, the sun came out and we headed to the beach on the tender - another new experience for all. A little shopping, a little ice cream and a swim later, we headed back to our trusty steed, Rona ll.

Back to Poole for another night alongside - hot showers really are an absolute treat to any salty sailor! Once tied up alongside, we settled down to an scrummy feast of ‘Build A Burger’: To Gherkin or not to Gherkin?!

Today, we witnessed the blossoming of new friendships, the growing confidence of our quietest sailors and the boat was at times a cacophony of giggles and laughter - sheer joy!

Yet again, the biggest Thankyou to Olivia Inspires, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation and Rona Sailing Project for another day of making memories! x

18/07/2023

Day Three aboard our Rona Adventure…

We did it!!!!!! We conquered the mighty wind of the Solent and hoisted the sails, heading West to Poole. Might not sound too far by car but for a crew who’d only just found their sea legs, it was the ultimate 8hrs test.

Proud to write, they all smashed it! From lessons about cloud formations to bearings on a compass, and holding a steady course under sail in windy conditions - it was a day of learning. We even learnt to do a ‘Man Overboard’ drill - but don’t worry, as much as some wanted to volunteer, we used a fender and a bucket instead!

Some of us learnt about our resilience to testing conditions - a fair few turned a pasty shade of green half way across Christchurch Bay. Whilst others mastered the art of a smooth tack and the importance of teamwork.

Rona ll made sailors of us all yesterday and we realised our potential as a crew. It looks like Mother Nature may just be handing us a day off today…let’s see what shenanigans we can get up to!

Thankyou Olivia Inspires, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation and Rona Sailing Project for this life changing adventure!

16/07/2023

Day Two of our Rona ll Adventure …

“Things don't always go as planned, but it's when you make a plan out of the unplanned and make the best of the unlikely situations, that you win at life.”

Mother Nature gave us a new life lesson today: She’s in charge and being flexible with your plans, is definitely the way to go.

A second day of unexpected high winds scuppered plans to head west to Poole. Instead, we pulled together, shook out the sails and put all our new found knowledge and training from yesterday to the test.

Rona ll and her crew headed to the mouth of Southampton Waters for a little Wet, Wild and Windy escapades. Skipper decided that returning to the Marina was by far the safest and best option for all onboard.

Whilst the Starboard watch kept us safe on deck, the Port Watch were introduced to Sam’s (AKA Pizza King) homemade pizza below deck - turns out, we have a few hidden Jamie Olivers amongst us.

We arrived back to the Marina, with salty hair, big grins and full tummy’s. A chilled afternoon of games, music and trips to the showers to wash the salt away, followed. And best of all, we all sat down to enjoy the yummiest of Roast Pork Dinner.

Top 5 Highlights:
* Logan’s ability to make Kim jump out of her skin time and time again!
* Cheyenne taking the helm and showing us all how it’s done!
* Myrtle’s newfound ability to tie a bowlyn with her eyes closed at lightening speeds!
* Luke creating a meat feast pizza that left us all wanting more!!!
* Lacy nailing the bow spring line, single handed and saving the day!

Thankyou to Olivia Inspires, Rona Sailing Project and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation for making every day so possible.

16/07/2023

Track us!

Below you can find more technical information, photos, AIS data and last 5 port calls of RONA II detected by AIS.

15/07/2023

Day One of Eaglewood’s Sailing Adventure 2023!!

Saturday finally arrived…6 trepidatious sailors, 3 rather excited teachers, 1 skipper, 1 mate and 4 after-guard came together on one very beautiful yacht - Rona ll.

Mother Nature had her say and delivered one almighty storm; winds reaching 47mph and a cloud filled sky that left us all grateful we stayed put on the dock.

Taking those lemons and making lemonade, we got to work choosing bunks and making this floating beauty our home for the next week. There were lessons on deck to be learnt; terminology that left us a little bemused - who calls a toilet a heads and a kitchen a galley?

Anyway, with a new found knowledge and full tummy’s from soup and Pasties, we headed up top to start the Rona ll Olympics! Logan and Luke made an obstacle course of Rona’s decks look easy and then came the watch challenge - who knew we were so perfectly equipped to be tied to one another and negotiate stanchions and foredecks with such comedy grace!

Unbeknown to many, they overcame a fair few mini hurdles in just one day - and all whilst smiling, giving it their all and rising to the challenge of Day One. As far as first days go - this one was a winner!

Thankyou to Olivia Inspires and Rona Sailing Project and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation for this incredibly opportunity!

19/10/2022

A big shout out to Olivia Inspires for all they do to lift the aspirations of so many young students. From Gym memberships, sailing trips to funded work experience placements - the gift of experience is one to last a lifetime!

23/07/2022

Olivia inspires aims to give young people the opportunities to grow and reach their best potential - that is something that comes in different forms for different people - never more so true than this week.

Setting Sail with the Rona Sailing Project was not done with the soul expectation of creating Single-handed ocean yacht racers but moreover, giving our students an experience that they wouldn’t normally have.

The gift for all, was through the Rona Sailing experience, they were challenged in ways they’d never been before; being away from home for the first time, living on a yacht, hoisting sails, lifting anchors, navigating the Jurassic coast line, coexisting with peers in close quarters.

From overcoming a fear of the water to swimming in it for the first time, from fearing thunder & lightening to sailing through it, from hiding your feelings to sharing them with peers and seeing only compassion and empathy follows.

It’s a been a journey of discovery and personal growth and memories made to last a lifetime.

Thankyou doesn’t seem enough Olivia Inspires and Rona Sailing Project

We look forward to the next time.

22/07/2022

Day 5 started with a cool breeze and dark grey skies. Docked in Shepherds Wharf, we slowly came to life - the tiredness and sea air taking its toll on our crew.

Fuelled on Scrambled eggs, we got to work packing down the boat and preparing for a smooth departure and quick change of lines from port to Starboard so we could refuel the Donald Searl.

Our shining stars took the helm, navigating Cowes’ busy waters, across the Solent into Southampton waters. Once clear of Cowes, the Mizzen Sail was hoisted and we headed across the Solent, homeward bound.

Olivia Inspires
Rona Sailing Project
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation

21/07/2022

Waking up to Old Harry Rocks was a rather spectacular sight this morning. After a suasage butty and a hot drink, we shook out the main sail
and headed towards Hurst Spit and The Needles.

Much to the crew’s excitement, The HMS Coastguard helicopter started retrieval practice over a lifeboat, a short distance away. Within moments we began our own Man Overboard drills, jumping into action to save a fender called ’Bob’ from the sea. Cutting our rescue time by 2minutes since our first attempt on Day 1.

We headed down the Solent to Cowes, where the great boat clean began - bunks, beds and bags…followed by boat, floorboards and most importantly, shower time for everyone!

Can’t quite believe it’s our last night aboard the Donald Searl - it’s been such a wonderful few days!

Time for sleep…Night All!!!

Olivia Inspires
Rona Sailing Project
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation

21/07/2022

Nothing better than making BIG SPLASHES!!!