Young sailing crews to race across Channel

 

More than 130 young people will be taking part in a sailing race between Guernsey and Dorset.

The sailors will race from St Peter Port to Poole starting at 14:00 on Tuesday.

The Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO), a group of sailing charities that is organising the race, said the race was expected to take two days to complete.

It said the race was part of celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the RNLI.

At least half the crew on each boat will be aged 25 or under, organisers said.

All the boats taking part are from ASTO's sail training programme, which offers young people the chance to learn both sailing and team-building skills.

Kerry McMillan, ASTO's chief executive, said: "This race was inspired by the RNLI's 200th anniversary with the aim of raising awareness of the impact on, and value to, young people of sail training and adventure afloat generally."