Price
£1250
Nights
Nine
Age range
16-25
Start port
Portsmouth
End port
Belfast
Passport
Yes
DofE
Yes
RYA
Watch Leader
Voyage code
EV056
Bursary
Available
Voyage highlights
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 leadership voyage aboard one of 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 seasoned sailors aged 16 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 have the chance to work towards elements of the RYA Watch Leader certificate and develop Day Skipper theory level skills, learning 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 a voyage; it’s an adventure 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 outdoor learning programme is required.
If you already hold a RYA Competent Crew certificate, you will be able to start working towards completing the RYA Watch Leader course and get an introduction to navigation and passage planning skills at RYA Day Skipper theory level.
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.
There will be time for a couple of stop-offs on this passage making voyage. After a sail down the south coast, you make take a break in Falmouth, which has long been a setting off point for maritime adventures.
Weather is everything on an offshore passage and wind direction will determine whether your sail north takes you along the Irish coast, with the possibility of a stopover in Dublin or past Milford Haven and the islands off the Pembrokeshire coast, potentially breaking the journey in Holyhead, on Alglesey.
On a clear day, you could also spot several historic lighthouses including Start Point, the Eddystone and Bishop’s Rock off the Isles of Scilly.
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.
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 full voyage cost is £1250; 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.
Additionally, you may have the option to pay a deposit when you book on early and the balance 8 weeks before the voyage starts.
For details on all of this, please contact our Reservations Team.
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.
