Last week, late in the evening, Hubs and I trotted down to the Princess Dock in Liverpool to try and catch a glimpse of Daughter sailing home after her Irish sea jaunt aboard the tall ship, Prolific. Ten or so tall ships had moored up and nothing but an empty ferry terminal stood between us and a better look at them, so we slunk through the terminal and within seconds came across Daughter aboard the Prolific.
If you remember, this was the first time I’d had NO contact with her for an entire week. and had been wondering if she was enjoying the experience, or was dying a slow, seasick death!
Well…there she was, beaming from ear to ear, sporting her panda hat and of course the spangly top! She’d had herself an absolute ball! As we were chatting over the side of the boat, the Captain appeared, and after gushing forth re Daughter being a natural sailor and a right little gem, he suddenly asked if we would like to come aboard and sail in with them through the next few docks……
WOULD I????? OH YES!!!!!
As I was racing for the slippy, evil looking gang plank thing, Hubs was yelling stuff about having no insurance, dodgy, inappropriate shoes, and that maybe we should leave it??????? As if! Seconds later, donning very posh life jackets, we were aboard the Prolific.
Daughter’s bunk.
Once aboard I did look at what I was wearing, I was even worse equipped than Daughter had been when she originally packed. Dainty, slippy shoes, shorts and a thin jacket, and of course the heavens opened, which made the experience all the more dramatic it being dark and all!
But, the next few hours were brilliant! I got to see the docks from the river Mersey aboard a working tall ship.
Daughter and her friends took us on the grand tour. The prolific is a beautiful ship and those who made the trip ranged between 17-73 yrs. Amazing!
Unbelievably, Daughter was the only one who wasn’t seasick and spent most of the trip covering everyone else’s shifts. The hats and gloves and stuff I’d packed for her were now being worn by half the crew, who btw, all swanned off with them! Daughter stuck to her panda hat and glitzy tops and even kept on putting her mascara on. Everyone’s darling she was!!!
And so….finally, my midnight sail came to an end, but what an unexpected treat for Hubs and I! Daughter stayed on the boat and poked fun at us clambering down a rope ladder slung over the side of the ship in the rain. Very delicious!
So here’s a pic of the ship in the daylight. Gorgeous isn’t it? Daughter has the sailing bug now and has a stash of cards for further adventures courtesy of the Skipper.
A few more for you.
Hubs and I think we might give it a go next year….apparently age is not an issue as long as you are mobile, which is great for us oldies.
Tall ships are a magnetic sight. I clambered around one in Portsea a very long time ago. It had been used in the filming of The Onedin Line.
Glad offspring had a good time.
Thanks Menhir, they are stunningly beautiful, magnetic is a great word to describe them.xxxxx
Oh how nice that you got to be on the boat for a while. 🙂
Thanks GG, it was brill and now I have the bug too!xxxxx
Looks like a great pleasure. In my youth, I went out on all manner of sea vessels, though not anything as romantic as this. I think it would be a great pleasure for you, especially since you have some experience on the water. These pictures are fantastic.
You are so lucky to have gone out to sea in your youth, I had little to do with the sea as a child, I was running wild around mountains and in the countryside.
I do love the power of the sea though and can’t wait to get aboard next year and experience it without any frills. Thanks Shimon.xxxxxx
Thanks Dessie. Yes, I was really surprised she was ok, almost everyone else wasn’t as it was a really choppy run.xxx
Delighted to hear that your daughter enjoyed the trip, I am surprised to hear that she suffered no seasickness at all.
I am partial to a tall ship and the Prolific looks very elegant.
I am sooooooooooo jealous! I think sailing ships are brilliant and as I grew up in and around boats I can well understand your not needing a second invitation from the skipper … well done your daughter!
Lol….I was on that ship in a blink of an eye!
You do seem to have had an interesting life, I love all things ships so would love to see you post on your experiences of them, be fab if you had pics as well…..go on! Pretty please!xxxxx
Thanks Arose, it was such a wonderful unexpected treat, you never know what lies around the corner, a little like your singing experience!lol
Yes, I was all puffed up with pride, the skipper was thrilled with her.xxxxx
Looks absolutely wonderful – I am sooooo envious!! 🙂 What a star your daughter is – you must be absolutely swelled up with pride 🙂 She has had a wonderful adventure and experience – and very unusual too!
xxxx
Haha glad you liked your trip on the boat – although I don’t think you gave the skipper much of a choice but to invite you on, what with all that hanging around you were doing! Lol only joking! You and my Dad would love it; such an incredible experience!! I love the pics, the boat looks so beautiful (when it’s not in force 9 winds haha!!) xxxxxxxx
Hahahahahahaha…HANGING AROUND????? Sorry sweetie…..truth is the skipper was so grateful for you being aboard he let us on as a favour to you!!!! But you know this……………xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Fabulous pics – glad you got to go on the ship and that Daughter got back safe and enjoyed herself! x
Thanks Leigh- Ann….it was a wonderful experience….and so unexpected, I loved it. Really fancy a sail next time..xxxxx
great pics…I have no doubt you’ll sign up for an adventure on the high seas, bit of a change then from the canals!
Thanks Karen, yes really different from the serenity of the canal. The Mersey looks truly fearsome in the dark, a very brooding river……xxxxxx
Wow! That sounds like a fabulous trip……Mmmm…Tall Ships! 🙄
Thanks for sharing the lovely pics…..Hugs! :)x
Thanks Ell…it was a real thrill, especially as it was pitch black and pouring down and the Mersey looks really ominous. xxxxx
Oh dear! She’s enjoyed the trip I reckon! And quite a windfall for you 😉 ( Stowaway is my word for the day 😉 ) Beautiful Daughter and ship. Take care 🙂 xxxxx
Thanks Vahid, you always make me smile….I love the fact that stowaway is your word for the day. I loved being a stowaway for a few hours. xxxxx
Wow what a wonderful treat ~ you really must go for it and well done that girl too (she must be a chip off the block!!!)
Thanks Marion, it was a very unexpected treat, life is full of surprises. xxxxx
Thanks Marian – I wish I was a chip off the old block, haha! x
I enjoyed reading that and your photos
Thanks Kath. They are utterly beautiful ships and I spent a day looking at great for anyone interested in them.xxxx
I’ve seen tall ships in London and Falmouth years ago, and been round a Russian one, the Mir.
As I’m not a good sailor and have no head for heights I wouldn’t climb the rigging so I’d be happy just to see one under full sail, which must be a magnificent sight. Flighty xx
Hello to to Flighty!!!!
Hello Marian! xx
I’m the same, I hate heights so would never like to try climbing the rigging either. They are so beautiful when the sails are up, must have been a spledid sight in days gone by. Thanks Flighty.xxx