Price
£875
Nights
Eight
Age range
14-25
Start port
Portsmouth
End port
Portsmouth
DofE
Yes
RYA
Watch Leader
Voyage code
CF744
Bursary
Available
Voyage highlights
Are you eager to cultivate your leadership abilities and explore avenues for personal growth?
This challenging voyage along the south coast offers an ideal platform for seasoned sailors aiming to refine their skills aboard our renowned 72ft Challenger yachts.
For the ‘Voyage of Leadership’, prior participation in TSYT’s Voyages of Empowerment or similar outdoor learning experiences is required.
Our Leadership Voyages promise an intense, adventurous journey, involving navigation, passage planning, watch leadership, and encounters with potentially demanding offshore and overnight sailing conditions.
Due to the demanding nature of these voyages, they may not be suitable for individuals who haven’t completed the previous phases of our three-voyage journey or the RYA Competent Crew course.
This voyage presents an excellent opportunity to push your limits, acquire essential life skills, and grasp the essence of leadership within a community context.
Sailing alongside peers on a similar journey, you’ll develop competencies crucial for pursuing careers in the maritime sector and contributing to the blue economy.
In addition to deepening your understanding of ocean science and sustainability, you’ll benefit from the knowledge and experience of our highly-qualified TSYT Crew mentors.
If you already hold an RYA Competent Crew certificate, you can begin working towards RYA Watch Leader certification and gain an introduction to navigation and passage planning skills at the RYA Day Skipper theory level.
The beginning or end of your voyage may include stopovers on the Isle of Wight, in Cowes or Yarmouth, or in Weymouth or Poole along the south coast.
Depending on the weather conditions, we may sail to Alderney, Sark or Guernsey in the Channel Islands, or you may voyage along the South Coast and explore the historic port of Falmouth.
Navigation and passage planning. Team leadership. Challenging sailing. Training and mentoring.
Throughout the week, you’ll cover essential safety drills before you take charge of the yacht to plan, prepare, execute and review each component of the voyage.
You will take turns to lead the team in all aspects of sailing the yacht, from deck work to provisioning, cooking, cleaning and day-to-day maintenance.
This voyage is a great opportunity to make tangible progress towards achieving your goals, with time to reflect on your achievements and opportunities to learn about yourself as a leader and team player, and to develop the optimism, aspiration and expertise you need to influence your community as well as your own future.
Each crew member will receive a personal assessment covering their leadership, teamwork and communication skills — a great addition to your CV.
During your time on board, there’s the potential opportunity to fulfil some of the requirements for the RYA Watch Leader course.
The RYA Watch Leader syllabus covers the following up to the standard required for taking charge of a watch at sea or in harbour. It is at an equivalent level to RYA Day Skipper, designed specifically for sail training vessels.
- Watchkeeping
- Seamanship
- Navigation
- Safety
RYA logbooks are available for purchase on board at a cost of £6 (Skippers are only able to take cash for this).
All voyages of four nights or more qualify for residential section of the DofE Gold Award.
Please let our Reservations Team know before sailing if you want to use the voyage for this.
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.
Our Leadership Voyages have clear learning objectives and outcomes and can qualify for an authorised absence from school/college. Please ask for more details of how we can support your application.
All meals on board are included.

