And after holidaying abroad for years on package deals, a mum and son have had a change of heart brought about by a life-changing trip on the high seas.



KERRY Hannon and her 14-year-old son, Louis, have just returned from a once-in-a-lifetime sailing trip that tested them physically, mentally and emotionally.

They were lucky enough to be part of a youth sailing trip funded by Orcel Sea Training who work out of the Owton Rossmere Resource Centre in Wynyard Road, Hartlepool.

Kerry was a team leader and her son was one of 20 youngsters, aged between 14 and 19, who boarded two ships – the Faramir and the Black Diamond.

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The adventure tested them both to the extreme as they were given the responsibility of crewing the ship – guided by a trained skipper – during an intensive seven-day expedition that saw them go as far as Arbroath in Scotland.

They then came down to Eyemouth and then Berwick, before stopping off at Holy Island and then back home.

Mum-of-three Kerry said that the trip has had a profound effect on her outlook on life which has spilled over onto the whole family.

She said: "I have come back with so much. It was a life-changing experience. I'm not one to blow my own trumpet but I am really proud of myself and proud of my son – even though he goes gung-ho into anything."

Kerry's daughter 10-year-old Robyn was desperate to join the mother and son team but couldn't because she was too young.

As a result, though, she is determined to start sailing as soon as possible.

Kerry said that despite her son making the age requirement there were still fears for his safety on the ship because he is small for his age, being four foot and nine inches.

The 36-year-old mum said: "When the skipper saw him he was worried about the size of him compared with the other kids. But when he saw how quickly he was up and down that ship he was very impressed."

She added: "I was worried for him in a motherly way but I knew that he would be OK."

Kerry said that the tasks on board were extremely physically demanding.

"We had to put the sails up and take them back down to change direction.

"I have come back with muscles that I did not know existed," she said.

For the first couple of days she also endured seasickness but knew that as team leader she had to continue.

She said: "I was sick overboard, had a class of water and then was called to carry on."

She describes how the ship tilted at 45 degree angles to catch the wind leaving her with the dreaded feeling that it was going to tip over.

"We had been told that it would not tip over, but it was like a roller coaster and I got a bit worried."

Kerry explained that the whole crew took turns on the 'graveyard shift' between 12am and 4am, checking for hazards and making sure the vessel was on course.

But Kerry said it was all worth it when, during daylight hours, they saw basking sharks, porpoises and seals.

Back on dry land, the mother and son team have passed on stories about their trip to their family.

But until Robyn is old enough to start sailing, she has another passion to share with mum.

Mum coaches the netball team along with three other mums at St Bega's Primary School in Thorpe Street, Hartlepool.

Dad, Philip Hannon, is looking to go on a training course with Orcel as soon as he gets the opportunity but the 42-year-old, who works away from home as a mobile crane driver, finds time a constraint.

But that hasn't stopped the family's new enthusiasm for the great outdoors and they have recently been on three camping trips to Osmotherly near Northallerton, Barnard Castle and Eggleston – all in the space of eight weeks.

They have faced new challenges such as rock climbing, hiking and camping that are a far cry from the hotel and beach holidays in Spain and Greece that they used to opt for.

Kerry said: "We are trying to be a bit more adventurous now."
And 17-year-old son, Stuart, who is studying at Hartlepool Sixth Form College in Blakelock Road also joins in.

Kerry said that now she has shaken the family up, the sky's the limit and she even hopes to board a Tall Ships vessel for a leg of their summer 2008 race from Liverpool to Norway.

This is planned as another Orcel Sea Training initiative to encourage children into sailing.

Kerry said: "It's not certain yet but it would be really fantastic if I got to do that."