Young crew sought for Irish Sea Adventure Challenge

OYT North has launched a competition to find ten young people from the North West and Cumbria to take part in an adventure sailing challenge in the Irish Sea.

OYT North is leading a series of voyages called the Irish Sea Adventure Challenge, sailing from Whitehaven in Cumbria on-board James Cook, its 70-foot purpose built sail training yacht, during August.

Appeal for nominations

The charity is appealing for schools, colleges and youth work agencies in the North West and Cumbria to nominate deserving young people, aged 12-19, to win one of ten free crew places on the voyages. No previous sailing experience is required and all equipment will be provided. Terms and Conditions

Steve Lennon, general manager OYT North, said: “The Irish Sea Adventure Challenge is an exciting new project aimed at providing opportunity for young people in the North West and Cumbria to experience Adventure under Sail first hand.
If you know someone who loves adventure and deserves to have a fantastic time then we’d like you to nominate them to join our crews this summer.”

Relaunching sail training in North West England
The competition is part of a drive to re-establish sail training opportunities for young people in the North West of England and Cumbria following the closure of Ocean Youth Trust Northwest, a smaller regional trust which provided sail training on the Greater Manchester Challenge yacht.

OYT North has taught life skills and provided valuable personal development opportunities through sail training to over 10,000 young people across the North of England over the past 25 years.

The charity welcomes a diverse range of young people to sail on-board James Cook, including schools, colleges, Scouts and Guides, groups with special educational needs, visual impairment and young offenders.
OYT North is committed to expanding its operations in the North West and will base James Cook between Whitehaven and Barrow-in-Furness for three weeks in August.

The trust will run the Irish Sea Adventure Challenge voyages and hold a series of Open Days for schools, colleges and organisations interested in finding out more about the charity’s work with young people.
The winners of the competition will have the chance to learn from Grace Metcalfe, skipper of James Cook and winner of the 2013 International Young Sail Trainer of the Year award from Sail Training International.
Grace, from Garsdale in Cumbria, had never set foot at sea before sailing with OYT North as an 18-year-old in 2003 and is now the youngest ever skipper in the UK sail training fleet.

“Coming on an OYT North voyage is about much more than just learning to tie knots or taking the wheel for a short time, it’s about stepping out of your comfort zone and pushing yourself a little. It’s also about making great friends and seeing incredible sights like dolphins riding the bow wave and the sun setting over the sea,” said Grace.
Young people sailing aboard James Cook learn how to navigate, set sails, take the helm while at the same time gaining valuable life skills such as taking on responsibility and including cooking and cleaning. They also develop team work, leadership, communication and problem solving skills.

To nominate a young person for one of the ten crew spaces on the Irish Sea Adventure Challenge, simply send an email stating – in less than 200 words – why the nominee deserves a place, and send it to Rob Browell, at office@oytnorth.org.uk
Please include your name, address, telephone number and contact details for the organisation you represent. Entries to the Irish Sea Adventure Challenge competition close at midnight on August 1, 2013.

**The contest is not open to individual parents and nominations must come from a school, college, community or youth work organisation in the North West and Cumbria.  Individuals are welcome to book a voyage directly with OYT North by contacting Rob directly.
Terms and Conditions

KEY DATES
Sunday 4th August          James Cook arrives in Whitehaven
Sunday 11th August        Open day in Whitehaven
Saturday 24th August       JC arrives in Barrow in Furness
Sunday 25th August         Open day in Barrow in

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