It was all aboard for Ysgol Harri Tudur pupils in Pembroke recently who joined the Tall Ships (Wales) Trust and the Dragon LNG Darwin Experience on the Tall Ship Klevia for a day of sailing skills and environmental science.

The Klevia was built in Denmark in 1936 as a fishing vessel.

She has since been restored and traditionally rigged as a gaff ketch, she can often be found sailing down the Menai Strait in North Wales as well as on longer adventures to France and Portugal.

Tall ship
(Pic supplied)

The group of 8, year 10 students set sail from Hobbs Point to Sandy Haven with Skipper Scott, and crew members Rosie and James on hand to teach them how to run a gaff rig, develop their navigation skills and learn nautical terms.

This exciting day sail is an annual opportunity for Ysgol Harri Tudor thanks to Paula Holt from the Tall Ships (Wales) Trust with additional support from Pembroke Dock Town Council and the National Lottery Community Fund.

When the students weren’t sweating or tailing they took sketches of the rigging, collected environmental data such as cloud cover, wind speed, wind direction, and air and water temperature before assisting Sam and Amy from the Dragon LNG Darwin Experience with a plankton trawl.

Plankton samples were collected from Sandy Haven Bay and were examined below deck using stereomicroscopes.

Tall ship
(Pic supplied)

Students identified a range of different types of zooplankton from crab larvae through to polychaete worms, whilst considering the importance of plankton as the start of the marine food chain and what it can tell us about climate change and the impact of plastic on marine animals.

Sam Williams, manager of the Dragon LNG Darwin Experience said: “A wonderful day was had by all, the students showed such enthusiasm and excitement over the course of the day for this truly unique experience which wouldn’t have been possible without Paula’s organisation and support from all of the sponsors and of course to Scott and his fantastic crew for sharing their wealth of sailing knowledge.

“We are already looking forward to next year’s sail!”