Price
£745
Nights
Five
Age range
14-25
Start port
Portsmouth
End port
Portsmouth
DofE
Yes
RYA
Competent crew
Voyage code
CF830
Bursary
Available
Voyage highlights
Want to take your sailing skills to the next level? Join us on this six-day Voyage of Empowerment starting and finishing in the waterfront city of Portsmouth.
This is a great opportunity to challenge yourself onboard one of our iconic 72ft Challenger yachts, while setting personal goals, building your skills and embracing responsibility onboard.
Together with like-minded individuals aged from 14-25 you’ll develop your life skills, build up increased confidence and resilience as well as making lifelong memories.
Throughout the trip onboard our challenger vessel, you’ll work towards achieving your RYA Competent Crew qualification. You can also use the voyage to complete the residential section of your Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.
To participate in our ‘Voyage of Empowerment’ you should have some sailing experience or have a similar residential experience in other outdoor and adventure activities.
You’ll sail through the Solent and then along the stunning south coast. Likely stopovers include Cowes or Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, and Poole or Weymouth along the coast.
Bring something to record your ideas and reflections in (this can be a digital device) and be prepared to get involved in co-creating an ocean-based sustainability project to build your awareness and skills around taking action to protect our ocean environment.
Life skills. Increased confidence. Problem solving and Decision Making. Independence. Resilience. Lasting memories.
For those who have not sailed with us before, you’ll experience life in a watch system, two teams 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 looking after her to cooking and cleaning.
Throughout the week, you’ll develop your sailing skills to the next level through extended passages, offshore sailing and taking more responsibility with your team. As part of your Empowerment experience, you’ll also take time to consider your aspirations, set goals and work towards them each day.
Each of our voyages engage with our ocean environment, taking part in activities building understanding around our oceans and how to positively impact on our environment and our communities.
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 safety
- 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 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.
We believe everyone should have the chance to experience a life-changing voyage and realise their potential.
Bursaries Available: If you’re a parent facing financial constraints or a young person who has faced, or is facing, personal challenges (this could be a learning disability, you are a young carer or are not currently in education etc) we have funding available to support you. Please apply to see if you qualify.
Flexible Booking Options:
- Book your place with a 30% deposit, just click the ‘book now button’ and follow the process.
- The remaining balance is due 8 weeks before your voyage.
- Need more flexibility? We can set up a payment plan to suit your needs—just contact us for details.
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.
![TS Challenger Current Navy 1](https://tallships.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/TS-Challenger-Current-Navy-1-420x295.png)
![handbook challenger](https://tallships.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/handbook-challenger-420x295.jpg)