Sail the Tall Ships Race to Spain :: Wessex Scene Online

Sail the Tall Ships Race to Spain

9th April 2002

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May 09 - One Student’s Journey to Antarctica
Dec 09 - Interview: Mike Perham
Mar 04 - Southampton Graduate Finds a Gap
Jan 04 - Southampton graduate finds a gap.
Jan 04 - Our Man in the Philippines

Students from across the UK are being offered the chance to sail the Tall Ships Race to Spain aboard Ocean Youth Trust South’s 72-foot yacht John Laing, during July and August. Places are available for anyone aged under 26. Previous sailing experience is not required as full training will be given.

The Tall Ships Race brings together a fleet of traditional and modern yachts and sailing ships crewed by young people from all over Europe and beyond. The parties in the stopover ports are often as memorable as the racing itself,

John Laing is an immensely safe and strong steel yacht which is just returning from a nine-month expedition to Antarctica with the British Army. The boat is owned by Ocean Youth Trust South, a charity which exists to offer adventure under sail to young people.

John Laing aims to be one of the most fun boats in the fleet. There are no compromises on safety but after that the next priority is that everyone has a fantastic time. Plus, unlike some other sail training vessels, the crew really gets to sail. John Laing is a boat which allows crew members - even complete novices - to take real responsibility. Over the course of a voyage the crew will be invited to take over more and more of the running of the vessel. By the end of a trip, even first-time sailors can tackle just about every task on board.

Berths available Dates Cost (ex flights/ferries)

Poole to Brest (race feeder leg) 8-14 July Ł530

Brest to La Coruna 16-27 July Ł975

La Coruna to Santander 28 July-4 August Ł620

Santander to Portsmouth 5-16 Aug Ł888

There are also some spaces available on cheaper local voyages around the south coast of England, France and the Channel Islands over the rest of the season.

Student Dan Thomas, 22, sailed aboard John Laing last year. Dan said “It was an amazing, incredible experience - the sunrises and sunsets on those calm waters were quite brilliant. Yes, it could sometimes be quite hard graft, sailing the boat, but then you get so much out of it. It was something you’d remember for a lifetime - I can’t think of anything bad to say about it at all.”

Most crew members join simply for the adventure, for a challenge or for fun; but John Laing also offers great opportunities for those who are serious about developing sailing skills. Ocean Youth Trust training is respected throughout the sailing industry: many professional sailors - from instructors to round the world skippers - are ex-OYT.