A group of Caerphilly County Borough youngsters got a taste of the high seas recently when they completed a Duke of Edinburgh Sail Training voyage.
The team of 11 and two staff set sail aboard the acclaimed ‘Challenge Wales’ vessel – a 72ft yacht which has twice successfully raced around the world.
Setting off from Neyland, Milford Haven, the crew sailed all day and night across the Irish Sea to their first port of call in Bangor, Northern Ireland.
Accompanied by an array of marine wildlife, including dolphins, pilot whales, seals and porpoises, the crew ventured past the Giant’s Causeway towards Londonderry where they met with the Round the World Clipper Race fleet.
The race itself consists of around 450 people from all over the world facing the challenge of a lifetime as they compete across 40,000 miles of ocean. Visiting 15 ports of call on six continents, the fleet’s visit to Londonderry was a special opportunity for the team from Caerphilly to greet them and experience life aboard the Clipper yachts.
Richard Batten, Duke of Edinburgh Development Officer at the council, said: “This trip has been an incredible experience for all involved, forging memories that will last a lifetime. The feeling as we followed the fleet out of the River Foyle during the official farewell, with thousands of people lining the banks to wave the boats off, is indescribable. The young people, who began as individuals, ended as an efficient and competent team, each gaining a Royal Yachting Association’s ‘Competent Crew’ qualification.”
The team received a personal tour of the ‘New York’ Clipper yacht, whose crew of 44 people represent six countries. Young people were given the opportunity to meet the crew, pose questions and see the living conditions on board, where crew members spend 51 weeks sailing the oceans in sometimes hostile conditions.
After departing from Londonderry, the six-night trip concluded in Milford Haven. Having travelled 585 miles at sea, and logging ten-night hour shifts each, morale was high as the young people came away with both qualifications and experiences to last a lifetime.