Ambitious Voyage
The Most Encompassing and Ambitious Voyage Yet!
For the first time, ENCOMPASS sponsored 13 Israelis and Palestinians – together with 12 from Indonesia, and team of Brits, to sail the tall ship PRINCE WILLIAM. Unlike the first two voyages where the participants braved the chilly and rough North and Irish Seas, the 48 strong crew were able to work the ship in the hot sun and gentler winds of the Canary Islands (see more in our Newsletter here or Newsletter PDF here – Adobe Arcrobat required).
The Indonesian group encountered a rocky start when their flight from Jakarta en route to London was grounded in Singapore for 30 hours causing mayhem in terms securing last minute accommodation in the UK and organizing a different set of onward flight connections to the Canaries. But with the ENCOMPASS team working like mad to re-route the group – plus searching for all their lost baggage somewhere between Singapore and London – was there a happy ending?
Find out straight from the Voyage Crew Diaries…
Wednesday 3rd March 2004
Everyone has finally arrived! After some delays with luggage and flights, everyone is now on the ship. We have a wide range of people from various cultures and religions – Indonesians, Israelis, Palestinians, British, Irish and Scottish people of various religions including Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Sikh.
We have done lots of training today! Everyone has been very busy learning how to climb the rigging, what to do in an Emergency and how to clean the ship. So far everyone has been really enjoying themselves and the atmosphere is filled with excitement and anticipation. There are several crewmembers with guitars, and the Israeli and Palestinian crewmembers are very good at impromptu dances and singing, so they have been entertaining everyone else. Hearing all the different languages is fascinating, but we are also finding out that there are some words in several languages, which are similar. Everyone is trying to learn a few words in another language, which has caused much hilarity when some of us get it wrong!
Saturday 6th March
There was some impromptu Limbo dancing with the aid of a broom handle and some very fit and supple people of varying nationalities. This was followed by a very exciting boat race…which was neck and neck and very hard to make a decision on the winner. Red watch surged into the lead at last.
We had a lovely invitation from all the Jewish people on board to join them in the Mess for the bread and wine ceremony that marks the start of their Holy day. When the sun sets on Friday, until it sets again on Saturday and three stars shine in the sky, they are on holiday. We all shared bread and ‘wine’ – non alcoholic of course- and gave each other the greeting ‘Shabat Shalom’ – have a good Sabbath. Amitai did the ceremony and Hadar gave us a little talk on the Jewish Sabbath. It was all very interesting and great to see everyone joining in.
Tuesday 9th March
Much fun was had by all yesterday as it was very hot. Many crew members took the opportunity of shore leave, whilst others were happy to sunbathe on board and jump in the sea for a swim. The Rib was busy with the Captain at the helm running people ashore and back. Everyone enjoyed the speed and spray, and some crew members suggested we get jet-skis on board instead of the long-liners!! There was a jet ski competition in the morning just off Puerto Rico, and we had to move the ship as we were in their way.
Cultural exchanges are increasing with everyone asking each other questions. It is very interesting to hear all sides of situations, and to hear comments and observations from people who live in those countries rather than to see it on television.
The crew speak out…
“...I think one of the biggest problems in relationships between different nations is that we don’t have the opportunity to talk. Creating a frame for dialogue is the beginning of solving problems. This voyage is a great model of solving cross-cultural conflict in the world…”
Gregori Asander, Israel
“…I learnt that the religion is not important but the character – this is very important…”
Gazala Abu Gazala, Palestine
“…Before I came I believed that I wouldn’t get on with everyone. How wrong I was. I have made friends all over the world due to this unbelievable chance of a life time…”
Micheal Fagan, UK
“…Pretty interesting because you can definitely see that people from different places deal with different issues in their life – Israelis and Palestine’s deal with terror and severe conflict, when people from Britain deal with personal problems like drugs and alcohol…”
Lior Levin, Israel
“…Although I have been on several voyages, The Voyage of Understanding with a multicultural watch has tested my ability to communicate, teach, team build, deal with problems. This I have enjoyed very much…”
Keith Smith, UK
“…I will work hard and make the world become peace. If I can’t I will make my own world – in my home – very peaceful…”
Firdan, Indonesia
“…It sounded like an amazing experience. I wanted to meet and talk with Paestininans face to face and not just though TV or newspapers…”
Hadar, Israeli
Posted Thursday May 27, 2004
