Over the weekend a group of students from Cowes Enterprise College completed a five-day voyage with Ocean Youth Trust South on the ship “Prolific”, for which the Ormiston Trust contributed funding.
The students began their voyage on the Isle of Wight and finished in Southampton. During the journey, the students were responsible for sailing the ship and in the process learned about navigation, how to put sails up and down and how to manage ropes on the ship. Students also participated in learning sessions from the crew about sailing, trained for the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Start Yachting qualifications, and were able to ask questions about specific areas of interest.
On the final day of the adventure, students participated in UK Sail Training’s Small Ships race with the Ocean Youth Trust South crew, adding another exciting element to the whole experience. The students completed 68 nautical miles over the course of their voyage, with a maximum wind strength of Force 8 (up to 46mph!)
This experience allowed students to learn more about what’s involved in a voyage on the sea and have a greater appreciation of eco-related industries such as sailing. This adventure will form part of the academy’s “Maritime Future” initiative where students are encouraged to engage with their local heritage and make connections with the maritime industry. This is in line with the wider commitment of the academy to give students opportunities to try activities that show diversity in available career paths.
Ocean Youth Trust South shared various photos and live tracking videos from the voyage on their Twitter over the weekend. Check out the posts here to see how much students enjoyed the adventure and read the recap posted by Cowes to read quotes about the trip from Ocean Youth Trust staff and students here!
