Price
£770
Nights
Five
Age range
14-25
Start port
Newscastle
End port
Ipswich
Passport
Yes
DofE
Yes
RYA
Competent Crew
Voyage code
CF798
Bursary
Available
Voyage highlights
Ready to take your skills to the next level? This five-night North Sea voyage goes beyond just sailing—it’s your chance to sharpen decision-making and gain essential life skills that propel you toward adulthood with confidence. With this empowerment voyage, you will boost your employability, strengthen teamwork, and dive into an adventure designed to help you thrive!
Our Empowerment Voyages form the second stage of TSYT’s three-voyage programme, ideal for those who’ve sailed with us before or have solid outdoor residential experience. As a crew member, you’ll build on your skills— challenging yourself aboard our 72ft Challenger yacht.
You’ll develop resilience, independence, mental toughness, self-reliance, and gain the confidence to tackle whatever comes next, all while enjoying an incredible time at sea!
Plus, this voyage can help you complete the residential section of your Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and work towards achieving your RYA Competent Crew qualification.
Starting in Newcastle, this North Sea journey takes you along England’s northeast coast and across to Belgium or the Netherlands.
Possible stops include Hartlepool in County Durham, known for its historic quay; Zeebrugge in Belgium, or Den Helder in the Netherlands, famous for its naval heritage. The voyage concludes in Ipswich, a town known for its maritime history.
Independence. Resilience. Decision-making abilities. Lasting memories.
Throughout the week, you’ll experience plenty of opportunities to helm the yacht and enjoy some night and offshore sailing, as well as building proficiency in sail handling, ropework, passage planning and onboard safety.
In your watches, you’ll take responsibility for all aspects of sailing the Challenger, from deck duties to cooking and cleaning, under the expert guidance of the TSYT Crew.
This voyage is a great way to explore new places, with plenty of time to reflect on your personal development.
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 fighting
- 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.
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.
The full voyage cost is £770; however, thanks to generous funding aimed at supporting the ongoing development of young people, we can offer a bursary that will significantly reduce the cost, do apply to see if you qualify.
The Skipper will determine the final route depending on the 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 may make the recommendation for you to join future voyages or join our volunteer training programme, if they feel you have the skills and attributes that we’re looking for.
All meals on board are included.
