A summer of sailing
In early August, eight boys from Tonbridge, accompanied by two staff members, embarked on an epic journey aboard the 72ft ocean yacht CatZero, departing from Hull and bound for Norway.
With most of the crew new to sailing, the group set off with a mix of excitement and nerves for their challenging voyage across the North Sea.
Learning as they went along, the crew quickly adapted to a watch system, rotating six-hour shifts during the day and four-hour shifts at night. According to the boys, the most demanding watch was from 3 am to 7 am, though it was often rewarded with breathtaking sunrises. With favourable weather and steady winds, the team made steady progress towards Stavanger. Over the course of 55 hours and 450 nautical miles, they skilfully navigated busy shipping lanes, wind farms, and oil rigs before finally reaching Norwegian shores.
The journey offered the boys unforgettable experiences, including visits to iconic landmarks such as Pulpit Rock, waterfalls, and the Kjeragbolten boulder. They also had time to soak in the stunning natural beauty of Josenfjord, sailing past sheer rockfaces and cascading waterfalls.
Head of Sailing Jonathan Moss reflected,
'Our final evening brought the crew together to celebrate a truly unforgettable adventure. With clear skies and calm seas throughout, we were incredibly fortunate and left with memories to last a lifetime.'
As Leg 1 came to a close, the second crew, consisting of 10 Lower Sixth boys and two staff, flew to Stavanger to meet Cat Zero and make the crew change. The crew experienced a further four days of glorious sailing in the spectacular settings of Vindasfjord, Josenfjord and the famous Lysefjord, with time to relax, swim and share some delicious self-cooked food.
Staff member, Bill Burnett said, '
Everyone contributed to all aspects of running the boat, setting sails and steering, sitting anchor watches through the night, peeling potatoes and cleaning the loos. After a final night back in Stavanger we set off England and home, under reduced sail in a stiff northerly force 7. We were flying along as the boys competed to achieve the best speed of up to 15 knots, and logging 289 miles in the first 24 hours – anything over 200 is a pretty good day in ocean racing. The trip was a huge success by any standard, the boys really rising to the challenge and proving tough, resilient and excellent company.'
November 2025