Schoolboy Jordi Arino’s artistic skill won him and his family a day at sea with the Royal Navy.

Seven-year-old Jordi, a pupil at Rhu Primary School, won this year’s Faslane fair Poster Competition, beating 640 other entries from 12 primary schools in the vicinity of Clyde Naval Base.

And not only did the picture of HMS Glasgow adorn the front cover of the Fair programme, being seen by around 20,000 visitors who enjoyed a day out in the sunshine in June, but it also won a prize of a day out with Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel HMS Atherstone.

Commanding Officer Lt Cdr Nick Washer welcomed Jordi and his father Adolfo, mother Lisette and sisters Jessie (nine) and Stephanie (eight) on board Atherstone, one of five Hunt-class ships based at Faslane which are tasked with keeping ports and coastal shipping lanes open when threatened by mines.

They also have an important fishery protection role on behalf of the DEFRA, the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs, which is what HMS Atherstone is currently undertaking – she was flagship at the annual Brixham Fish Festival over the Bank Holiday weekend.

It was a very busy day for Jordi and his sisters, during which they saw a number of drills and practices, including a ‘man overboard’ drill with Jordi in charge of pointing out the ‘victim’s’ position so that the diver could locate and recover the dummy.

They were given a VIP tour of the ship, witnessed a fire exercise, had lunch in the Wardroom hosted by the Commanding Officer and the Executive Officer, and when on the bridge took the wheel and issued instructions to the Duty Watch.

After a busy day, the family transferred to a SERCO launch and were taken back to the naval base. As he waved goodbye to the crew, Jordi said: “Thank you for a lovely day – it was a lot of fun and I had a great time.

“My favourite bits were the man overboard and giving out orders on the bridge.”

Lt Cdr Nick Washer bid farewell to the family saying: “We are delighted to have welcomed the Arino family on board HMS Atherstone.

“It is good to have the opportunity to give something back to the local community, and the chance to show young people what it is we do.”

Turning to her current task, Lt Cdr Washer said: “HMS Atherstone is a ship with a reputation for getting things done and doing things well.

“Our aim is that our ship should be ready to do whatever is asked of her with total professionalism and that this should be a source of pride, satisfaction and enjoyment to all who serve in her.

“My personal aim is to treat everyone how I would like to be treated, to trust until they prove otherwise and to share information and mutual respect.”

Later this month, following her current fishery protection patrol, the ship will return to Faslane where she will undergo her Operational Sea Training assessment, which brings no fears for her Commanding Officer: “As far as I am concerned, the ship is ready, the crew are ready and we are raring to go and keen to be trained.”

• Faslane Fair 2004 will take place on Saturday June 19.