Talk about a trip of a lifetime! Twelve 18- to 30-year-old men and women will embark on such a voyage this month when they cast off on a 2,700 nautical mile transatlantic passage as part of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). The young crew, selected from the ARC’s departure and arrival destinations of Gran Canaria and St. Lucia as well as the UK, will sail onboard a Tall Ships Youth Trust 72-foot Challenger yacht supported by a professional skipper, mate and experienced watch leaders. Funding for the initiative comes from the Tall Ships Youth Trust, the UK’s oldest sail-training charity. Charity members are specialists in bringing young people together for a unique, physically and mentally challenging residential experience on an ocean sailing vessel.
“We are incredibly excited to be part of this project,” says Richard Leaman-Grey, the Trust’s chief executive officer. “Tall Ships have been taking part in the ARC for over 10 years, but we have never entered such a young crew. This will be a really challenging voyage for our young people but will undoubtedly be an unforgettable life-changing experience for all on board. This is exactly what the Tall Ships Youth Trust are all about.”
The ARC Youth Team will depart from Las Palmas on Sunday November 24, alongside over 200 other yachts representing more than 30 nationalities, and sail as part of the Racing Division. The voyage is anticipated to take 13 to 18 days.
Members of the ARC Youth Team from St. Lucia are: Gabie Chreiki, Adonai Modeste, Krishna Joseph, Neil Melius, Chrisanki Flood and Tyrus Antoine. www.worldcruising.com
