Last Update: 09 September 2011
MOBA © 2009
Training Ship Mercury in Pictures
On The River
The River Hamble provided the focus for all activities associated with TS Mercury’s role as a training ship. There were many small craft at the school with some being owned by boys themselves. Boys were encouraged to get out onto the river at weekends. Typically this involved sailing or rowing on the River Hamble in close proximity to the school. But often permission would be given to go further afield with trips into Southampton Water commonplace. Mishaps, of course, were common as this goes with the territory when sailing. One boy remembers being in a two man dinghy in Southampton Water when a stay snapped causing the mast to collapse. A passing launch towed them clear of the SS France which was bearing down uncomfortably close to them. On another occasion, the motorboat crew were allowed to take the boat upriver beyond Bursledon. Unfortunately the crew spent the night on a sandbank having been caught by a receding tide.
Although such activities were voluntary, no boy could avoid becoming well versed
in boats. For example, boys were rowed out to the ship at night and back in the morning
by the ‘Duty Section’ and all boys took it in turn as Duty Section. As well as this,
numerous other requirements took the boys onto the water. For example ‘coaling ship’.
These everyday activities were not without mishap either with tales of cutters full
of boys being washed up river on the way out to the ship when conditions just got
too much for them. Remember, the Leading Cadet in charge was probably only 17. His
Duty Section of about 8-
No boy would have left TS Mercury without knowing how to row. Occasionally, members of staff would take the boys out sailing beyond Southampton Water into the Solent which, to the boys, was like being at sea. Well built lads were also selected to man the school’s whaler for rowing competitions in local regattas.