Clipper yacht training for young people based in Oban
This summer will see Oban used as a home port for a project that could well see a local young person securing a berth for one of sport’s most famous challenges – the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, writes Mark Entwistle.
The new campaign Our Isles and Oceans was launched in Scotland last month, with funded programmes for young people affected by the Covid pandemic and lockdown.
The cornerstone of the project is a partnership with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
Through this partnership, Our Isles and Oceans and the Clipper Race will be providing funded sailing programmes for young people to learn to sail on the west coast of Scotland.
Our Isles and Oceans is now calling for 18- to 35-year-olds to apply to its initiative, as the pandemic has had a negative impact on this age group’s education and employment opportunities over the last 15 months.
The organisation plans on basing its 68ft Dubois-designed racing yacht in Oban for three five-week blocks over the next 18 months.
The yacht will be used to train and qualify 120 young people with two sailing qualifications.
The Clipper Race is the only event of its kind which offers everyday people the opportunity to train to become ocean racing sailors.
The confidence built and the skills learned through the sport of sailing can be transferred from on deck to the workplace which is why the first Our Isles and Oceans programme to launch will take place on a Clipper Race yacht.
Under the guidance of a Clipper Race training skipper, each group of recruits will be challenged to learn new practical skills, develop their self-belief and work as a team.
In addition, 10 of these recruits will then be offered the opportunity to apply for an additional four weeks of intensive ocean racing training to be held at the Clipper Race Training HQ in Gosport, Hampshire.
If successful, they would receive a funded place on board the 70-foot, Our Isles and Oceans team entry which will be competing in the Clipper 2023-24 Race.
Each recruit would complete one leg of the Clipper Race circumnavigation.
With young people being particularly impacted this past year, Sir Robin KnoxJohnston, record-breaking sailor and co-founder of the Clipper Race, hopes this new programme will make a positive change in the successful candidates’ lives.
Sir Robin says the skills and confidence built during sailing can be transferred to other aspects of life.
‘Sailing is so much more than just a sport or pastime as it gives you experience that is as useful in the workplace as it is on board a yacht,’ he said.
‘The sport develops self-confidence andself-esteem which is so important to restore following the pandemic.’
Recruitment for the Our Isles and Oceans campaign is now open and applicants aged 18-35 can apply through www. ourislesandoceans.co.uk