TRAPPED on board a tall ship being battered by hurricane-force winds may not be everyone's idea of a "tremendous experience", but for Gordon Davies it was just that.

Former head teacher of Tredegar Comprehen-sive School Mr Davies, 61, was always a keen sailor and when he retired in 2002 decided he wasn't going to while away the hours at his Abergavenny home but get out there and realise his dreams.

"I decided to buy a passage on the Lord Nelson with the Jubilee Sailing Trust and help crew the tall ship the 2,000 miles from Gran Canaria to Southampton," he said.

"Normally the Trade Winds off the coast of Africa help you on your way but, unfortunately, we hit head winds which slowed us down to two knots. Then three days into the three-week voyage we hit a Force 8 gale.

"We were all seasick and needed stronger tablets than the ones I had taken. We then had a forecast of a severe storm in three to four days' time, so we had to use the two motors and hurry to the Azores for shelter."

The Jubilee Sailing Trust is a charity which promotes the integration of physically disabled and able-bodied men and women, and on board with Mr Davies were ten disabled people with severe mobility problems.

Once the ship arrived at the island of Terceira the 32 crew had no choice but to sit the storm. Their ship's mooring to the harbour wall was secured with 12 hawsers and two steel ties.

"Crockery was smashed and we were lifted in the air off our beds," said Mr Davies. "Four of the hawsers and one of the steel ties snapped, and four-foot waves covered the ship as it keeled over by 20 degrees.

"The wind speed was in excess of 90 knots and the pressure was very, very low. The 12-hour storm was Force 11, gusting to 12, which is hurricane force."

The side of the ship and one of the sails were damaged and one of the motors failed. The remainder of the trip was slow, with no sign of the much-needed Trade Winds until the last few days.

"We sailed into Southamp-ton three days late last week. It had been a tremendous experience and was very rewarding.

"I really enjoyed it although it has convinced me of one thing. I no longer want to sail round the world on my own. That pipe dream has been shattered!"