Donate

Price

£618

Nights

Four

Age range

16-25

Start port

Portsmouth

End port

Portsmouth

DofE

Yes

RYA

Start Yachting

Voyage code

CF746

Bursary

Available

Voyage highlights

Start your Christmas holidays in style sailing an iconic 72ft Challenger!
Achieve your RYA Start Yachting certificate
Complete the residential section of your DofE Gold Award
Experience new adventures, make new friends and develop life skills
No sailing experience necessary

Reflect on all your achievements in 2024 and set sail on this five-day Exploration Voyage along the south coast with Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT). This is a great activity for getting outdoors this winter.

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.

To join a TSYT ‘Voyage of Exploration’ you do not require any prior sailing experience as this is the first stage of our three-voyage journey of Exploration, Empowerment and Leadership.

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.

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.

Places you’ll visit

You’ll sail through the Solent and along the 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, Yarmouth and Poole, with plenty of time to explore ashore.

Takeaways from your Voyage of Exploration

New skills. Increased confidence and self-esteem. New friendships.

Throughout the week, you’ll experience steering a yacht, sail handling, ropework as well as learning how to keep safe on board.  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 leadershipteamwork and  communication skills— a great addition to your CV.

Further information

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.

RYA

You’ll hopefully get the chance to complete the RYA Start Yachting course while you’re on board.

The RYA Start Yachting syllabus includes:

  • Sea terms and parts of a boat, rigging and sails
  • Sail handling
  • Ropework
  • Personal safety equipment
  • Man overboard recovery
  • Clothing and emergency equipment
  • Rules of the ‘road’ (at sea)

The cost of your RYA Start Yachting certificate is included in the price.

RYA logbooks are available for purchase on board at a cost of £6 (Skippers are only able to take cash for this).

Duke of Edinburgh's Award

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.​​​

TS Challenger Current Navy 1

Vessel:

Challenger

Vessel Details

handbook challenger

Handbook:

Challenger Handbook

Download

Book this voyage

£618