Sail Training

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Each group that comes to us will complete a voyage of a week or more on one of our four traditional vessels. That voyage will typically cover more than 200 miles and involve visits to a number of different destinations in the UK and the coastline of neighbouring Europe.

Before joining the young people will have been involved in various aspects of planning, and that may include selecting those who will participate, setting ground rules, planning travel arrangements and provisioning.

While on board they will sail the vessel under the direction of its professional crew, and undertake all of the duties involved: raising sail, helming, standing watch, preparing and cooking meals, cleaning the vessel above and below decks, and learning the basics of
seamanship – including in the majority of cases completing the syllabus for a Royal Yachting Association vocational qualification.

Each course is tailored to the specific needs and objectives of the group concerned.

While on board they may have to endure bad weather – rain, thunder and lightning, gales, rough seas and the seasickness that comes with that. They will make long passages overnight, standing watch while the rest of the ship’s company is asleep down below. They will have time to explore the places they visit, learning something about communities very different from their own, and they will swim, go beachcombing and enjoy barbecues.

Healthy eating is an important part of the experience, and can quickly have an impact on behaviour. The young people prepare and cook all meals, using fresh ingredients, under the supervision of the ship’s cook. Everyone – ship’s crew, group leaders and young people – share mealtimes round the table in the saloon, and can enjoy the social intercourse that brings. This is a new experience for many.

Each evening, after dinner, the young people help plan the course of the following day, taking account of weather forecasts and the influence of wind and tide, and the need to look ahead and be in position to return home at the end of the voyage.

The concentrated nature of the experience produces marked changes in outlook and behaviour in a very short time. The young people who return at the end of the voyage are very different from the ones who set out.

During the voyage and over following weeks they will be encouraged to think about their lives, helped to consider the options open to them, and assisted with developing personal action plans.