British Classic Week is here!
YOUNG ambassadors will be at the heart of a youth development sail training charity’s partnership with the British Classic Week, which gets underway this weekend — its 20th anniversary!
Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT) is the event’s official charity partner for the second year running and will be represented throughout the week by staff and young volunteers. Will Sears (16) from Christchurch and Keaen Lambert (18), from Ryde on the Isle of Wight, will act as ambassadors for the charity’s youth work.
The racing action, which is organised by the British Classic Yacht Club (BCYC), takes places in the Solent from Cowes Yacht Haven. Starting on Saturday (16 July), the regatta comprises a six-race series, welcoming yachts from across the UK and Europe, and a varied social programme across the seven days ending on Saturday 23 July.
The event is an opportunity for TSYT to raise the profile of its vital youth development work with young people aged 12-25. The charity, which has a focus on working with youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds, helps young people to realise their full potential via its unique and challenging residential voyages.
TSYT Chairman, David Aisher and Chief Executive Officer, Alastair Floyd, will launch this year’s partnership at the welcome reception at the Royal Yacht Squadron, on Sunday (17 July). Guests will be able to admire the charity’s 72ft Challenger 1, positioned on a mooring buoy in front of the squadron’s green.
Alastair said: “We’re looking forward to continuing our partnership with British Classic Week. The event provides a great platform for us to raise awareness and support for our vital youth development work, which is needed now more than ever. Our residential voyages help young people to overcome barriers and to ‘sea beyond their horizon’. We want to increase our reach and gain further awareness and support to help even more young people from across the UK, which is possible with great partnerships like this one with the BCYC.”
TSYT has four Challenger yachts, which were built in 2000 and are famous for having raced twice round the world, as part of the Global Challenge races.
TSYT staff and young ambassadors, Will and Keaen will be at the event’s Pontoon Party on Tuesday from 3pm until late, to offer guests a tour of Challenger 1 and a greater insight into the charity.
From Wednesday to Friday, TSYT will have a presence within the bar marquee between 3pm and 7pm each day, where attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the charity and how they can get involved and support its vital work.
TSYT watch leader and young ambassador, Will, rounds off the week on Friday when he’ll share his story at the prize-giving dinner. TSYT helped Will after his life changed dramatically following a haemorrhagic stroke aged 13. Read Will’s story here.