City of London Training Site

This site is the sole property of its webmaster Shaun Wall, who is a probationer volunteer with MVS City of London unit. Copyright of this website is held by WallToAll@gmail.com and is hereby asserted. This site was pulled for a while in early Feb 2008 because a 'senior and respected member' of the London unit advised the HoU that he objected to the 'style'. HoU asked that it be closed and he was obeyed immediately. The webmaster recognises the authority of LondonHoU and indeed all properly appointed officers of MVS in London and throughout the Kingdom. The site was re-instated (on instructions) at the insistance of people who were using it as a training tool (and also for entertainment) and could cope with the zany presentation which is far removed from the RN, RNR, RNXS.


In this site you may learn or be shown how to find out
as much as you need to know about seamanship as
it affects your life as an MVS volunteer. This site is for
Master Mariners, Skilled Seamen and Good Sailors also.
especially, it is for people who want to be as good a
volunteer as they can be with this marvellous organism
which is " The Maritime Volunteer Service. "

Learn how to get well and truly "KNOTTED"

Separate buoys from floaters,

reaches from stretches,

nesses from points.

Put the kettle on! It's time for a brew!

Learning comes best with a cuppa ....

Roll of honour

: MartinW,  DanielR,  MartinL,  BilgeRat,  DonD,  SteveL,  OtherTwin,  Viking,  GoFor,   BeyondRockall,   DavidB

Why? They are the original joined-up members, with a private e-mail presence via this training site.

( All MVS CoL members, supporters, well-wishers, hangers-on and likely lads and lassies were circulated Feb 01 08. Everybody is important to the unit including those who hang on, especially if it is for dear life. If you wish us well, the sentiment is reciprocated! You are all dear to us and we will gracefully accept your joining us! Those accepted as friends of this training site will not be named unless they are members of London Unit. Even then they are identified only by nicknames. )

Dear Members [of the IoW unit, Re: The experience of a lifetime!

Proposed MVS Weekend on TS Royalist – Square rigged training ship owned and operated by the Sea Cadet Corps.

There is an un-missable opportunity for the Solent Region MVS to charter TS Royalist with her professional Master and crew for a weekend in May 2008, either the 2nd or the 9th, to be arranged. This would be from 1800hrs on Friday until 1600hrs on Sunday and the cost per head will be approximately £110.00 per head. (Less than the cost of full board in an hotel for the weekend.)

The ship accommodates 26 trainee crew members and is fully equipped. Clear joining instructions, a kit list and handbook will be issued before the trip.

To sail a square rigged ship is great fun but hard work and physically demanding, so I would ask you to bear this in mind when making your application for the weekend. It is essential that you are able to work as part of a team, and although age would not be a barrier to participating you need to have a head for heights and be fit enough to climb aloft to work on the yards furling and unfurling sails. Not everyone has to go aloft to handle sails each time they are changed but it is expected that you go over the rigging once during the trip. A good basic knowledge of bends and hitches, rope handling and deck work would be preferred but not essential as instruction can be given whilst on board.
The professional crew will instruct all the participants in what is required of them and take them through all the safety routines before the ship leaves harbour. Everyone will be issued with a safety harness and must clip on when moving about the open decks in rough weather and all the times when working aloft.
It is worth reading “A Square Rig Handbook” by Frank Scott, published by the Nautical Institute, ISBN No: 1 870077 11 3, which will give you a good insight into what to expect. (Borrow from local library.)
If you would like to participate please email me asap with your preferred date. As soon as I have enough applicants I will confirm a booking and will need to ask for a deposit from you. Deposits will be non-refundable unless you find someone to replace you or there is a waiting list.

Yours aye,

Lynn Peppitt
Sec. IW Unit (email lynn.peppitt@onwight.net)