Price
£618
Nights
Four
Age range
16-25
Start port
Portsmouth
End port
Guernsey, Channel Islands
Passport
Yes
DofE
Yes
RYA
Start Yachting
Voyage code
CF733
Bursary
Available
Voyage highlights
Join us on this five-day adventure voyage from Portsmouth to Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
This is a great opportunity to challenge yourself while developing independence, exploring new ventures, setting goals and considering your future aspirations.
To participate in this voyage, you do not require any prior experience of sailing. The voyage will enable you to explore the ocean environment while learning new skills, developing confidence and self-esteem, and increasing your social and communication skills.
On board, you can also achieve your RYA Start Yachting certificate: the first step on your sailing qualifications journey, and complete the residential section of the DofE Gold Award, if this applies to you.
The beginning or end of your voyage may include stopovers along the south coast such as Cowes, Yarmouth, Poole and Weymouth.
Depending on the weather conditions and other variables, we may sail to Alderney or Sark in the Channel Islands, before your departure in Guernsey.
New skills. Increased confidence. New friendships. Lifelong memories.
Throughout the week, you’ll build experience in the fundamentals of sailing, including steering, sail handling, ropework and onboard safety. You may also get to do some night sailing if conditions permit.
We divide the crew into two teams (watches) and 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 leadership, teamwork and communication skills— a great addition to your CV.
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.
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).
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.
You’ll be asked to enter your passport details as part of the booking process. If you don’t have these to hand, please contact us as soon as possible after submitting your booking form to let us know your details, as we cannot accept your booking without this information.
You will also need to present your valid passport to the Skipper at the start of the voyage.

