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Price

£990

Nights

Eight

Age range

14-25

Start port

Portsmouth

End port

Portsmouth

DofE

Yes

RYA

Watch Leader

Voyage code

CF806

Bursary

Available

Voyage highlights

Develop your leadership abilities in a dynamic and challenging offshore environment
Build your understanding of RYA Day Skipper theory, enhancing your navigation and seamanship skills
Sign off RYA Watch Leader competencies and actively support the development of your crew
Engage in exciting maritime adventures while learning the skills to plan, execute, and review a voyage
Explore innovative ways for maritime professionals to protect and preserve the ocean environment

Are you motivated to enhance your skills as a leader and develop your understanding of how effective teams communicate and perform? 

Then join us for this Voyage of Leadership aboard our ocean going 72ft Challenger yachts.  

Our Leadership Voyages promise an intense, adventurous journey that includes navigation, passage planning, watch leadership, and encounters with potentially demanding offshore and overnight sailing conditions. 

Due to the rigorous nature of these voyages, this challenging passage is perfect for experienced young sailors aged 14 to 25; individuals who have completed the previous phases of our three-voyage journey or the RYA Competent Crew course and looking to elevate their skills and emerge as true leaders.  

With a strong focus on personal growth and development, you’ll earn the art of planning, executing, and reviewing a sail training voyage.  

Imagine navigating the open sea, leading a team, and making critical decisions in real-time. This is not just any other voyage; it’s an opportunity that will push your boundaries, enhance your leadership abilities, and instil a deep sense of camaraderie as you work alongside peers who share your passion for sailing.  

To participate in this experience, prior participation in a TSYT Voyage of Empowerment or a similar rigorous outdoor learning programme is required.   

If you already hold a RYA Competent Crew certificate, you’ll have the chance to work towards elements of the RYA Watch Leader certificate and develop RYA Day Skipper theory level skills. 

If you have relevant skills and experience but have not yet completed a RYA Competent Crew course, there will be the opportunity to have this certificate awarded on the voyage.  

Places you could visit

The choice is entirely up to you (under the guidance of your skipper and mate). On Leadership voyages, you are responsible for planning the passages. You can choose to port-hop along the south coast, visiting places like Cowes, Yarmouth, or Poole, or you could attempt a channel crossing to locations such as Alderney, Sark, or Guernsey.

Takeaways from your sailing adventure 

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 under the expert tutelage of the TSYT Skipper & Mate. 

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.  

RYA 

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).  

Duke of Edinburgh 

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. 

Further information 

The Skipper will determine the final route depending on weather and other variables. 

Your Skipper can alsorecommend 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. 

Passports

While passports are not required for this voyage, we encourage you to bring them along. If all the crew have a passport, you then have the opportunity to sail across the channel and explore ashore if that is desired. We want to ensure that all young people have access to this voyage, but also that all crew members have the best experience possible.

Financial Support & Payment Plans

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) we have funding available to support you. Please apply to see if you qualify. 

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. 
TS Challenger Current Navy 1

Vessel:

Challenger

Vessel Details

handbook challenger

Handbook:

Challenger Handbook

Download

Book this voyage

£990