on the water
Island Life - April/May 2010
The Ocean Youth Trust gives
young people a wonderful
taste of adventure on the
water. As it celebrates
its 50th anniversary, Roz
Whistance discovers what it
does for Island children
Crewing the chance of a lifetime
PERHAPS the strangest thing about the Ocean Youth Trust is that its devoted officials have to
spend a deal of time persuading young people to take part in what they have to offer. For this is
the chance of a lifetime.
Nine youngsters, aged between 12
seasickness, but also took in a shopping
Vice Chair of the Isle of Wight support
and 16, who have no previous sailing
trip once in Alderney and a Halloween
group to the OYT. She and Chairman
experience, get to crew a 72ft ketch, the
party, staged by the crew.
Brian Mead are passionate about raising
John Laing. They help to plan a four-day
Being in control of such a vessel is no
voyage, and sail it to their chosen
destination. They learn that turning
round is called tacking and that when
helming ‘you have to have about three
pairs of eyes’, according to one of last
year’s participants. But mostly, what they
learn is the joy of being part of a team,
of a John Laing adventure. They spend
‘They come back so proud,
having done something like
that. Often the shyer, quieter
boy or girl gains the most in
terms of confidence from the
experience’
and the self confidence that comes of
facing new challenges.
Last October the group took themselves
awareness of the opportunity to be part
much of the year going into schools
and encouraging them to alert parents
to what a voyage with the Ocean Youth
Trust could do for their child. They
can also organise funding: “Lack of
funds shouldn’t put off an enthusiastic
youngster.”
light undertaking. Most of the youngsters
The trip takes place annually in the
are taken aback by its size: “When they
October half term, and is preceded, once
from the Isle of Wight to Alderney, in
used to do the Round the Island races
all the children have been recruited, by a
the Channel Islands. The trip involved
they used to call out ‘Watch out! We’re
“bonding barbeque bash”, to get to know
coping with high winds and the inevitable
55 tons of steel!” says Marion Hemming,
each other. It was unfortunate that not
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