Crew needed for sailing adventure

Young people in the North West can be nominated for one of 10 free places to join a yachting adventure on the Irish Sea. Winners will join the Ocean Youth Trust (OYT) North on-board James Cook, its 70-foot purpose built sail training yacht, during August, for its Irish Sea Adventure Challenge. Now the charity wants to hear from schools, colleges and youth work agencies in the North West to nominate deserving young people, aged 12 to 19, to win a spot on the voyages. No previous sailing experience is required and all equipment will be provided. 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 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." The competition is part of a drive to re-establish sail training opportunities for young people in the North West of England, including Cumbria, following the closure of Ocean Youth Trust Northwest, a trust which provided sail training on the Greater Manchester Challenge yacht. 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 on a boat before sailing with OYT North as an 18-year-old in 2003 and became the youngest skipper in the UK sail training fleet when she took command of James Cook in 2008. Grace said: "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." Young people sailing aboard James Cook learn how to navigate, set sails and take the helm. To nominate a young person send an email stating - in fewer than 200 words - why the nominee deserves a place, to Rob Browell, at office@oytnorth.org.uk. Nominators must include their name, address, telephone number and contact details for the organisation they represent. Entries close at midnight on August 1. Individuals can book a voyage with OYT North by contacting Rob directly.