My name is Katie, I’m 24 years old and I am an active supporter from the Telford network. I feel very privileged to be writing this blog, and this is the first one I have ever written for Greenpeace, but I am doing so because I have been lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to sail onboard the Rainbow Warrior for her final voyage.
When I joined Greenpeace as an active supporter, I never thought that two years down the line I would be on the Rainbow Warrior II as she completes her last ever campaign against Nuclear Power in South Korea before she retires after 22 years serving the planet and writing a blog about it...but here I am!
I applied to become a volunteer crew member on the Greenpeace International website six months ago and had completely forgotten I’d applied until a very unexpected email arrived in my inbox at the beginning of May, and then the adventure started!
The last campaign was amazing. We received such a positive response from local communities and we worked closely with a local anti-Nuclear NGO who have been doing inspirational work. We were overwhelmed by the press interest and local support for the campaign; on the first day we had nearly 40 journalists and press and nearly the same amount in visitors which made for a very full boat!
It seems fitting that Greenpeace began 40 years ago with an anti-nuclear campaign, that the first Rainbow Warrior was sunk on trying to achieve the same goal and the Rainbow Warrior II’s last mission was to campaign against nuclear power in South Korea.
Now, as I write this, I am sat onboard the Rainbow Warrior II in her final berth at the Singapore Yacht Club and this really is the beginning of the end. The Rainbow Warrior has served Greenpeace for 22 years and now her final resting place is a really fitting end to a truly inspirational life as a Greenpeace ship.
There have been lot of ‘lasts’ on this voyage; her last deep ocean transit, her last birth, the last birthday party onboard for the Chief Engineer, the last visit from a school of pre-school children, and it has been an unbelievable honour to be part of it.
The Rainbow Warrior is now being decommissioned. We are packing up all the important equipment ready to be shipped to the new ship, where the legend will live on, but for the crew, a happy and emotional collection of people from all over the world this is the very end of an amazing ship, an amazing legacy and something we are all incredibly proud to have been part of.
The Rainbow Warrior II, as we know her will never sail for Greenpeace again but her final voyage, in my opinion was a fitting tribute to the amazing work Greenpeace does to protect our planet for future generations. 
As we sit in our berth every member of the crew is very reflective as we remove the pin-rails that secure the lines for the sails, as we turn off the engines for the last time, as we await the arrival of the boxes that will send the contents of this old lady to the new Warrior, as we cry tears for all these ‘lasts’, that this is really the end. But at the same time, we look forward in anticipation to the launch of the new Rainbow Warrior.
As a volunteer deckhand, I can honestly say that this has been the most amazing, inspiring, and certainly most privileged experience of my entire life. I have met some incredible people – which is truly the best part of this trip, I have made friends for life here, and we have all shared in something 
that words cannot describe, but if I can leave you with one thing, it would be that the Rainbow Warrior is more than just a ship; she has a personality and an energy that every member of the crew experiences onboard and that when the last day comes and we all say our final goodbye, it won’t really be the end, because that spirit and hope will pass to the new Rainbow Warrior, and we will all be watching in anticipation for the memories and proud moments that the new ship will bring for Greenpeace, and all who sail on her.
The Rainbow Warrior III afloat for final fittings
Please make a donation to the cost of the new Warrior
Or why not organise a local fundraising event to help with those final fittings
- Rainbow Warrior Fundraising gig in Camden
- Emily (also from Telford) fundraising idea (sorry they're all sold)
- More ideas from the community fundraising webgroup
The new Warrior will be sailing to London later in the year, and we will need lots of volunteers to help while she is in port. If you'd like to get involved, then please get in touch with your local network coordinator, join your local webgroup and/or join the national Greenpeace webgroup.We'll be in touch with more details nearer the time.
Thank you
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