One and All (the Tall Ship): Keith stretches his sea legs in the Port River mouth in the Adelaide Coast region of South Australia
The wooden sailing ship, the One and All was built by South Australians for South Australians. We've climbed aboard for a relaxing 4-hour sojourn up the Port River on a Twilight Cruise.
As the modern day world slips past - it's time to pause, take a deep breath and relive the glory days when sailing ships ruled the oceans… Back to the time when the towering windjammers and clippers were the vital trade link between South Australia and the rest of the world. And you don't have to go back very far - as recently as the 1930s the tall ships were still plying the waters of the Gulfs calling into places like Port Victoria to collect the local harvest.
Captain Ian Kuhl shouts the order to hoist sail on our purpose built ship. Launched in 1985 the One and All was the realisation of a dream for a group of South Australians, me among them, to have a sail training vessel in our waters. More than two decades on she's still giving trainees a unique opportunity to learn to work together.
Captain Ian Kuhl, One and All Skipper: "The basis of the ship is about our youth development program which is taking young people out and giving them an opportunity to experience what I guess is a mini part of life. They learn team building skills, leadership skills, and work on their self esteem and confidence."
There's no age limit to any of it either - so when they ask who want's to climb the rigging - well, it's something you just have to do at least once - isn't it?
No shortage of volunteers to go aloft on our cruise and it's something all the trainees have to do out at sea. The emphasis is on extending your personal limits, which can also mean harnessing your fear - literally.
Mercifully, it's lovely and peaceful on the river but image what it must have been like for the thousands of people who sailed to Australia ships in like this - months on board - no land in sight and bursts of atrocious weather.
Down below, grubs up with a veritable feast while others just take in the sunset-bathed scenery. But for the crew, a collection of full-timers and enthusiastic volunteers, the ship is ordered chaos - to us a maze of rope and cable, but to them it's a part-time home and very much an ongoing love affair.
On the longer training cruises there can be as many as 24 complete strangers sleeping in the bunks below - all kids from very different backgrounds - even some with dark demons within. When they take you out to sea for as long as a week at a time, there's nowhere to hide - just hard, character building teamwork.
Hugh, Crew Member: "As they realise they have to work as a team to achieve the tasks they break the barriers down and they end up laughing and chatting away as well as working as a team and being able to run the sailing ship by themselves."
Kylie, Crew Member: "To see them come on so shy and timid and to see them by day seven running the show and bossing us around is just fabulous. It's great for their personal development."
Watch leaders, Kylie and Hugh are One and All veterans but they still get a buzz out of seeing the trainees develop confidence and strong friendships. A lot of kids get off the One and All very different people.
Captain Ian Kuhl, One and All Skipper: "Kids who have never really achieved anything find the right rope and the sail goes up can say 'I just did that'. On day 5 of a 7 day voyage we hand command to them and they get it and take it the next 20 or 30 nautical miles and at the end of the voyage they go 'wow' - we did that - we did that as a group."
As our cruise ends, for the crew on a container ship heading out of Outer Harbour, theirs is just beginning. But somehow, I don't think the crew on board the freighter will take home the same experience as us.
After an extensive mid-life refurbishment, the One and All will begin her summer sailing season towards the end of November, which includes visits to a number of South Australian ports. There are a number of options ranging from our 4-hour sunset cruise to a 6-hour all day trip. Or for the ultimate life changing experience, take a 7-day Sail Training Voyage. She's also available for private hire. Down at the Port she's moored at Dock 2. Check online or contact the office for directions, sail times and bookings. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
One and All
Dock 2 Port AdelaideOffice 66
Commercial Road
Port Adelaide
Ph 8341 2004Published 2nd November 2008
