Agroup of diehard Karachi sailing enthusiasts got a rare opportunity to board the Navy’s newest majestic Tall Ship, PNS Rah Naward, recently for a day-long sea trip arranged by the Pakistan Sailing Federation (PSAF). Tall Ships are like the old sailing vessels of the Christopher Columbus or Vasco da Gama days, of two or three centuries ago, used to transport goods under their huge sails. A few of the world’s navies have today rediscovered these ships as excellent training vessels for teaching leadership and seamanship. Karachi sailors are a small group of 40 odd colourful characters such as the most knowledgeable Capt Johnny Sadiq and the like, who are keeping sailing alive in the civilian community. This particular ship, the 2001-commisioned ex-Prince William, used as a sail training vessel, was one of the two brigs (two mast) operated by the Tall Ship Youth Trust, a UK organisation. Acquired by the Pakistan Navy in 2010, the ship that reminds one of the pirates of the Caribbean is now a floating academy for the Pakistan Naval Academy PNS Rahbar cadets. The guests, during the initial briefing in the ship’s mess, were informed about its salient features by the dashing Captain Lt. Cmdr Omar Khayyam.
The ship has a capacity of 66 people. With a total sail area of 949 metres and consisting of 18 sails, comprising seven stay sails, a spanker and 10 square sails, the ship, though having the appearance of a classic Tall Ship, is equipped with a full specification of modern equipment including two controllable pitch propellers, air-conditioning, water makers, satellite communications, radar, a bow-thruster, etc. All slightly technical for a novice like this scribe, for whom the fun actually began after getting the joining card and being allowed on deck to watch the ship undock.
The ship was brought out of the naval dockyard by two tugboats, PNT Jandar and PNT Jafakash, one pulling from the front while the other pushing from behind to soon have it off and on its way, proof of which was the coming alive of the gyroscope/compass and the helmsman at the captain’s wheel. It was a windless day but the captain promised to set the sails for the guests to admire the ship’s magnificence. But not before educating us about the ship’s various alarm systems. Hence guests were advised to not panic on hearing the crew shout ‘ears on upper deck’ to cover their ears just before the blowing of the ship’s powerful horn, the continuous ringing of the bell indicating fire or the three bells or prolonged blast alerting the crew about someone going overboard. They were also told to keep a safe distance while the sailors worked on the ropes. That done, one was allowed to freely roam about anywhere on the boat.
The real action started when the naval academy cadets together with the ship’s crew climbed up on the topmost masts, untying the small ropes known as gaskits. They climbed to the cross tree on the fore mast bringing the sails in gear. The ship, after all, is referred to as Tall Ship because of the lofty height of its masts. The 106-foot high crows’ nest was once used for sighting other ships or land. Two PSAF trainee sailors, Zubair Khanani and Abbas Panjwani, also climbed up with the crew, harnessing themselves on the way, and fulfilling the federation’s main purpose of training youngsters for teamwork and leadership roles. The drill requires one to be tough and the young people on board, including optimist sailors as young as eight to 11 years, benefited from the experience.
One by one, the cadets, midshipmen and seamen set the sails in sequence when the winds were at nine knots. It was not an easy task as 3.5 ton yards (rope) were pulled up on the count of ‘one, two, six, heave’ by the cadets. The procedure took over an hour following which the cadets took a ‘spaghetti run’ of the ship to pick up and collect the loose coils lying all around the lower deck.
The hospitality of the ship’s crew left nothing to be desired. Hosted like royalty, the guests totally enjoyed the tea, refreshments and lunch served to them at regular intervals in the ship’s mess. And back on deck, with the sails fluttering, one dreamed of epic voyages in the vast seas. A dolphin on the lookout for some fun chased the vessel, much to our delight, but it soon got bored with our slow speed and turned away.
Upon returning to shore, it was like watching everything happening in reverse order. The sail set last was folded first and so on ... and soon the crew was radioing for the same tugboats to help dock the ship.
Everyone had a wonderful time while the city dwellers remained oblivious of the beautiful sunshine and fun at sea. So true ring American writer Ursula K. Leguin’s words, ‘It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.’