Price
£1050
Nights
Seven
Age range
16-25
Start port
Belfast
End port
Plymouth
Passport
Yes
DofE
Yes
RYA
Competent crew
Voyage code
EV088
Bursary
Available
Voyage highlights
Ever fancied sailing in the Irish Sea?
This seven-day adventure departs from Belfast aboard one of our iconic 72ft Challenger yachts, offering a hands-on sailing experience that will stay with you for life.
Our Challengers are 72ft ocean-going steel yachts, constructed to withstand the Southern Ocean. This means that our Challengers are perfect for this type of voyage and will make it an exhilarating and safe offshore experience!
From the moment you step on board, you’ll become part of a crew of like-minded individuals aged between 16 and 25. Strangers quickly become teammates as you work together to hoist sails, steer through changing conditions, and face the physical and mental demands of life at sea.
Along the way, you’ll develop new skills, build miles, experience shared achievements with your crew, and live out memories that will stay with you long after the voyage ends.
Prior sailing experience is advantageous, but other outdoor residential experiences will also be taken into account.
If you have a thirst for adventure and a can-do attitude, this voyage will give you the opportunity to rise to challenges and grow your confidence at sea. Feel free to contact us to understand if this voyage is right for you.
During the voyage, young people can achieve their RYA Competent crew certificate and complete the residential section of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, if applicable.
During your passage, there may be opportunities to make port stops along the way. These could include Falmouth, Waterford, Dublin and Isle of Man, weather permitting there may be the opportunity to sail round the iconic Fastnet Rock.
New skills. Sense of achievement. Increased Independence.
Throughout the week, you’ll learn and experience: Passage sailing, steering a yacht, night sailing, sail handling, ropework, how to keep safe onboard and much more.
Each crew member will be assigned to a watch, and the two watches will alternate responsibility for deck and domestic duties; keeping the yacht sailing efficiently, the crew fed and the boat clean.
This voyage is a great opportunity to build your confidence in more challenging waters and widen your sailing experience.
You’ll hopefully get the chance to complete the RYA Competent Crew course while you’re on board.
The syllabus includes:
- Sea terms and parts of a boat, rigging and sails
- Sail handling
- Ropework
- Fire precautions
- Personal safety equipment
- Man overboard
- Emergency equipment
- Manners and customs
- Rules of the ‘road’ (at sea)
- Dinghies
The cost of your RYA 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 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 must present your valid passport to the Skipper at the start of the voyage.
We believe every young person should have the chance to experience a life-changing voyage and realise their potential.
Bursaries Available: We have funding available to support a young person who has faced, or is facing, personal challenges (For example: this could be a learning barrier, caring responsibilities or a young person currently not in education etc.). Check out our bursary guidance and apply if you need to!
Flexible Booking Options:
- Book your place with just a 30% deposit
- 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.
If you share our values and are keen to do more, you may be able to support our vital work further by joining the TSYT Volunteer Crew. Your Skipper can recommend you for our Watch Leader training programme if they feel you have the skills and attributes that we’re looking for.
All meals on board are included.
