First stage of Nave Palinuro's education campaign

(To Marina Militare)
08/08/19

Ship Palinuro, left Taranto with the pupils of the course marshals on board Themis, last August 2 arrived in Messina after 6 days of navigation.

The first navigation aboard a sailing ship for the marshal trainees began immediately with a new experience, in fact, after wearing seat belts, the young sailors had their first real approach to work at height by going up to the mast.

The most thrilling part of the day is the tree-lined climb. The latter involves an ascent and descent from the lateral restraints, called shrouds, called the turn of the bar. This activity is preparatory to achieving adequate training to work with sails, in fact, the students are employed in opening and closing them by operating directly on the spars, like real pilots.

A lot of desire to do and curiosity on the part of the boys who, thanks to the experience of the crew, ready to assist them in every moment of difficulty, managed to overcome the first challenge against going ashore. 
The night instead was the starry sky to play the leading role, allowing the boys to acquire even notions of astronomy.

Even the moment of rest becomes a new experience on board the Palinuro ship, in fact, the students use the hammocks, an ancient tradition and typical logistic structure of sailing ships, which are assembled and disassembled daily by the students who, therefore, must acquire the essential knowledge of the simplest nautical knots, from speech to half-necks, to avoid unpleasant "accidents" during the night.

Another commitment, faced daily by the young students of the Themis course, are the guard services at sea, where they immediately showed great responsibility and maturity, despite the various difficulties on board, first of all the rough sea.

Considered an integral part of the crew, the students, divided into 3 teams, are employed in all duties, from the tidying and cleaning of the ship, to the lookouts on the quarters benches, from the helmsman to the operator to the correspondence and, in free moments, in conferences, briefings and gymnastic-sports activities.

The whole day is scheduled by deliveries that engage the students in various seafaring activities, from the wake-up call to the guard service is a moment, but speed and determination are the essential components to better enjoy their first experience on board a sailing ship.