Price
£770
Nights
Five
Age range
14-25
Start port
Portsmouth
End port
Portsmouth
DofE
Yes
RYA
Competent Crew
Voyage code
EV053
Bursary
Available
Voyage highlights
This year we are entering the Round the Island Race, which attracts more than 1,400 boats and around 15,000 sailors each year, making it one of the largest yacht races in the world, and the fourth largest participation sporting event in the UK.
Set sail on this seven-day adrenaline-driven voyage along the south coast with Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT), which culminates in entering the official Round the Island Race and following the 50-nautical-mile course round the Isle of Wight.
Starting on the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, the fleet races westabout, to The Needles, round St Catherine’s Point and Bembridge Ledge buoy, and back into the Solent to the finish line at Cowes.
After a week of training, together with your crew, you will cross the start line at Cowes in eleven separate groups, starting every 10 minutes from 08:00 until 09:30, and head in a westerly direction towards Yarmouth. Your next challenge will be to pass round the Needles Lighthouse, along the south-west coast of the island to St. Catherine’s Point and then up across Sandown Bay to round the Bembridge Ledge Buoy.
Before heading back to Portsmouth, you will then make your way either side of No Man’s Land Fort and across Osborne Bay to the finish line back at Cowes.
Together with like-minded individuals, step out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in ocean exploration, sailing on board an iconic 72ft Challenger yacht.
Our Voyages of Empowerment are designed as the second stage of TSYT’s three-voyage programme, building on the entry-level skills learnt on a Voyage of Exploration.
Throughout the adventure, you’ll have the opportunity to learn new skills while developing your confidence and self-esteem and building your social and communication skills.
These voyages support young people to develop resilience, a positive attitude towards challenge, greater independence, and an individual understanding of how they function within a team.
For this reason, this Voyage of Empowerment may not be suitable for young people without prior voyaging or residential outdoor learning experience.
You can also use the voyage to complete the residential section of your Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Gold Award and achieve your RYA Start Yachting certificate: the first step on your sailing qualifications journey.
You’ll sail through the Solent and then along the stunning south coast. Be sure to have your camera to hand, as you may spot dolphins, seals and fin whales along the way.
Likely stopovers include Cowes, Poole and Weymouth, with plenty of time to explore ashore.
New skills. Racing experience. Increased confidence and self-esteem. New friendships.
Throughout the week, you’ll experience steering a yacht, sail handling, racing techniques, ropework as well as learning how to keep safe onboard. If conditions permit, you’ll also get to do some night sailing too.
We divide the crew into two teams (watches) – traditionally, known as Port and Starboard. In your watches, you’ll take it in turns to be involved in all aspects of sailing the Challenger from deck duties and maintenance to cooking and cleaning.
Each crew member will receive a personal assessment covering their leadership, teamwork and communication skills— a great addition to your CV.
During this voyage, you will work towards achieving your RYA Competent Crew certificate.
The RYA Competent Crew syllabus includes:
- Sea terms and parts of a boat, rigging and sails
- Sail handling
- Ropework
- Fire precautions and fighting
- Personal safety equipment
- Man overboard
- Emergency equipment
- Manners and customs
- Rules of the ‘road’ (at sea)
- Dinghies
The cost of your RYA Competent Crew certificate is included in the price.
RYA logbooks are available for purchase onboard at a cost of £6 (Skippers are only able to take cash for this).
All our voyages of four nights or more qualify for the residential section of the DofE Gold Award.
Please let our Reservations Team know before sailing if you want to use the voyage for this.
The Skipper will determine the final route depending on weather and other variables.
Your Skipper can also recommend you for our volunteer crew training programme, if they feel you have the skills and attributes that we’re looking for. You can speak to your TSYT crew if this is something you’d be interested in and you’d like to find out more.
All meals on board are included.
