Page 33 - QARANC Vol 20 No 1 2022

A tranquillity rarely encountered in the hospital
A group from JHG(S) took to the water at Port Hamble for a sailing experience to pause, reflect and enhance our mental health and wellbeing
As a thank you for our work during the pandemic, Sail2Help kindly offered us a sailing day experience; and we were more than happy to get onboard. They are a charity which supports young people with mental health issues and are doing essential work during mental health epidemic we are facing.
Our group of 45 from JHG(S) joined the instructors from Fairview Sailing who took us out across Port Hamble in 6-man crews. Blessed with the sunshine, we went over the mandatory health and safety information, strapped-on our life vests and we were ready to set sail.
Following step-by-step our instructor, Kristen, we worked together to pull and winch the ropes to open the sails. It took us a few rounds to perfect our skills, but we were soon able to do it without guidance. Once the sails were up, crew members took it in turns to steer the vessel whilst the rest of us used the opportunity to bask in the sun and discuss widely used sailing terms. Our favourite being ‘tell tails’ which are green and red tags that enabled us to harness the wind effectively to steer the vessel.
With lunch time fast approaching and our stomachs famished from all the hard work, we anchored in Osbourne Bay, Isle of Wight. We sat soaking up the sun, the jovial atmosphere distracting from the battered packed lunches that bore the brunt of the rough ride.
Our bodies refuelled and energised, two of our brave shipmates dived into the water for a paddle whilst the rest of us were on seagull watch.
This marked the mid-point of our day where we really started to appreciate this respite courtesy of Sail2Help and Fairview Sailing. With the gentle rocking of the boat, we naturally fell into a quieter reflective state, observing the tranquillity rarely encountered in the hospital. Individually, we considered the events of the past two years, reflecting on our roles and contributions during this tough time full of sacrifice but also hope.
Prompted by Kristen, who took a keen interest in our experiences, we were encouraged to evaluate our own mental health which is too often neglected.
This whole experience was a metaphor for mental health and wellbeing – reiterating the importance of taking a break and working together to accomplish a common goal. We will never be able to escape the hardships we have and will face, but this experience highlighted the need for pause in our busy lives.
We would like to thank the charity and the amazing instructors for all the work they do to support young people’s mental health.
Cpl Karoline Bayliss, QARANC RN
The Gazette QARANC Association 33