The winners of MDL’s 2012 Sail Training Awards have been selected and the six deserving youngsters who won the opportunity to experience a life changing sailing trip will begin their voyage this weekend.

The winners have been carefully selected due to their exceptional accomplishments, or for overcoming adverse personal circumstances. The awards aim to give the youngsters recognition for their efforts and offer them the opportunity to do something extraordinary.  Charlie Linsell, aged 15, from Clopton in Suffolk, Jennifer Newrick, 13, from Torquay, Chloe Sharmen, 15, from Portsmouth, Connor Sherman, 13, from Southampton, Liam Rice, 12 from Totton and Emma Cope, 15, from Tadley in Hampshire are the chosen youngsters to go on this year’s trip.

The awards, which have been running for over 20 years, offer young people a week onboard the sailing boat, John Laing, operated by the Ocean Youth Trust South. At the beginning of the trip all the youngsters start by getting to grips with health and safety onboard, followed by getting the charts out and collectively plot their intended course themselves. They will be involved in all elements of sailing from trimming sails and navigation to duties such as scrubbing down, maintenance and cooking for the rest of the crew.

The boat will leave from MDL’s Queen Anne’s Battery in Plymouth on Sunday 22nd July, returning on Sunday 29th July. The winners will also attend the PSP Southampton Boat Show on 20th September, where they will be presented with a trophy by the owner of MDL Marinas, Lord Iliffe at MDL’s new look waterfront stand - E52.

MDL’s Chief Operating Officer, Jon Eads commented: “Our Sail Training Awards are a very important initiative for us and we have so far helped well over a hundred youngsters to experience something truly exceptional.”

Mark Todd, Chief Executive of Ocean Youth Trust South, said: “The MDL Sail Training Awards have brought some truly inspirational young people to sail with us, and we are very proud to be associated with the scheme. Many of the young people have been through very difficult experiences but have still made every effort to do well and to support others.

“We aim to reward them with a fun, adventurous voyage which they will remember all their lives – but also to help them develop skills and qualities such as confidence, team-working and the ability to cope with unfamiliar experiences, which will stand them in good stead for the future.”

For more information, please visit www.sailtrainingawards.co.uk

Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 July 2012 )