The summer yacht trips come to an end - Skandia Cowes Week and a EMT dinghy sailing week to go
Due to the amazing fundraising efforts in 2007, the Trust has been able to expand it's sailing programme,taking double the amount of children sailing, establishing a residentialsailing course and working with four new hospitals. The trips are designedto provide a unique experience for the children that join them. Each childis encouraged to work as part of a team and become involved on every levelof the trip, from helping to sail the yachts, through to the cooking andcleaning for their fellow crew on board. Each voyage is lead by experienced,professional sailors who are used to working with children.
The first day and evening is spent at The United Kingdom Sailing Academy
(UKSA) in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, which is The Trust's operational base
throughout July. The children are introduced to their new home for the next
few days and take part in some teambuilding exercises to get to know each
other and prepare for the trip ahead.
“It is important that the children are comfortable with their new
surroundings before we set sail, we talk them through the safety checks and
show them around their boats, with the first night cooking and sleeping
onboard whilst we are still at the sailing base.” Andy Dare EMT Skipper
Day two and The Trust boats set off from UKSA, heading out into the Solent
for a days sailing, eventually mooring up in Yarmouth Harbour on the Isle of
Wight and sleeping onboard the boats that evening. Trust patron Ellen
MacArthur joins the children on day three, as Solent Rib Charter
provide a rib ride up to the needles The day was rounded off which is
followed bya short sail towards Newtown Creek (on the north west coast
of theIsland), a nature reserve and beach that soon became the
temporary home for an EMT barbeque and some beach cricket. The crews
spent a final night onboard their boat before returning to UKSA the
following morning for a wrap
up, tidy up and a chance to say goodbye.
Lucy from Upminster, Essex wrote:
“I don’t think I have laughed so much in four days as I did on the trip, and
that is all down to you and The Trust for making every experience one that
is never forgotten. I think this smile will last a long time; you are making
teenagers lives full off new experiences and inspiring them on every trip.
Thank you!”
The internationally renowned sailor Ellen MacArthur launched the Trust on
2nd January 2003. In Ellen’s words: “These children are truly amazing. They
face experiences that no child should ever have to go through, and yet they
do it with the biggest smile on their faces, they are truly inspiring. If
these trips can make a small difference to the children that join us then it
is worth every penny. Thank you to all our supporters, we couldn’t do it
without you.”
The Trust starts it's second year as the Official Charity for Skandia
tommorow before heading to Bradwell Outdoor Education centre in late
August for a residential dinghy week
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