By Gethin Hughes, Rostrevor Men’s Shed
When people think of Men’s Sheds, they often picture woodworking benches, kettles on the boil, practical projects, and plenty of good conversation.
At Rostrevor Men’s Shed in County Down, we certainly have all of that—but this spring, 18 of our members swapped the tools for tillers and set off on an unforgettable sailing adventure in Greece.
Our “Greek Odyssey” saw 18 Shed members take to the waters of the Saronic Gulf aboard three yachts for seven days of sailing, teamwork, laughter, discovery, and camaraderie.
For some of us, sailing was second nature. For others, it was entirely new territory. But that’s very much in the spirit of the Men’s Shed movement—trying new things, supporting one another, sharing experiences, and proving that adventure doesn’t come with an age limit.
At Rostrevor Men’s Shed, we are always looking to push the boundaries of what a Men’s Shed can be. While our workshop remains the heart of what we do, we also believe the Shed is about connection, wellbeing, friendship, learning, and shared experiences that challenge and inspire. This adventure was very much an extension of that spirit.
With three experienced skippers—Michael Cunningham, Aidan McKay, and Stuart LeCornu—guiding the flotilla, the rest of the crew brought enthusiasm, adaptability, teamwork, and a healthy willingness to learn.
Our route took us from Alimos Marina near Athens through the stunning Greek islands and harbours of Poros, Hydra, Porto Heli, Ermioni, and Perdika before returning to Athens a week later.
Along the way, we experienced everything that makes a shared adventure unforgettable.
There were calm mornings with coffee on deck as the sun rose over the sea. There were exhilarating sailing days with crews learning the ropes, taking the helm, working together, and enjoying the simple thrill of seeing three boats moving in formation across open water.
There were moments of improvisation too—like when a drifting boat needed assistance, only for our rescue tender to suffer engine failure, leaving two of our crew paddling back in what can only be described as a scene from a comedy film.
We spotted sea turtles, dolphins in the distance, navigated crowded harbours where berthing required teamwork and cool heads, and experienced Greek hospitality that none of us will forget.
Evenings brought fantastic local food, seafood feasts, traditional Greek dancing, impromptu singing competitions, blindfold beer-tasting challenges (with varying degrees of success), and the sort of laughter and storytelling that only grows stronger as friendships deepen.
But in truth, this trip wasn’t really about sailing.
It was about friendship.
It was about men supporting one another.
It was about stepping beyond routine, embracing adventure, and showing what can happen when a group of men say “why not?”
The Men’s Shed movement has rightly earned recognition for its enormous positive impact on wellbeing, mental health, purpose, and community connection. But stories like this also show what can happen when a Shed dares to think differently.
Rostrevor Men’s Shed is proud to be part of a movement that changes lives—but we also believe in showing that the possibilities are much broader than people sometimes imagine.
If this inspires another Shed somewhere to plan their own adventure—whatever that may look like—then we’ll consider that a success.
Because sometimes the best ideas don’t start in a boardroom.
They start over a mug of tea in the Shed.
