November 2011
Setting sail for success
Fairbridge’s training ship, Spirit of
Fairbridge, took part in this summer’s Tall Ships races – sailing
from Southampton to Ireland and then racing on to Greenock.
Thousands of people, including supporters
of The Prince’s Trust and members of the public, came to James Watt
Dock in Greenock to see the ship and hear about the work Fairbridge
programme does with young people.
Spirit sails 30 times a year, typically for between
four and seven days, with a dozen young people on board under the
supervision of a crew of six. The young people, who often
have never left their home urban environments before, have to work
together with others from all over the UK. They share
responsibility for checking weather and sailing conditions before
setting a course, setting and hoisting the sails, steering, keeping
watch, cleaning, cooking and all the responsibilities involved
in keeping a 92 foot gaff pilot schooner afloat and safe.
The ship won an award for being the safest
vessel in the Tall Ships races. The Skipper, Campbell Greer,
formerly a young person supported by Fairbridge, won the “Young
Person Full Potential Award” from the Private Equity Foundation,
and at only 22 years old was the youngest captain in the
race.
In addition, Kieran Maxwell, a Fairbridge
programme participant beat 8,000 others to claim the Torbay Cup,
which recognises outstanding individual achievement and personal
effort.
Spirit manager Mike Strang, said,
It’s nice to get recognition for the team’s
work and achievements. But the best accolade we can receive
is every young person who makes a positive change in their own
lives because of their experience on board.