Young sailor bursary

Young sailor Alanna Cameron has become the first recipient of a nautical bursary with its roots in the 1800s.

The Nottage Maritime Institute in Wivenhoe was founded in 1896 with a bequest from Captain Charles Nottage, a successful racing yacht owner who employed crews from the fishing and yachting communities alongside the river Colne in Essex. He wanted to create an institute “where yachtsmen and sailors could, if they desired, improve themselves in navigation primarily, or make up their deficient skills generally”.

The institute has newly created an annual Young Sailor’s Bursary in the form of 50 per cent oˆ any course within its curriculum. “We’ve been teaching courses in many marine subjects to thousands of people who sail the seas professionally or for pleasure for over 125 years,” said Nottage Chairman, Richard Barnard.

Alanna, became interested in professional sailing on the ketch Maybe before joining the Pioneer Sailing Trust in Brightlingsea, Essex. She plans to further her career in sail-training and has taken the RYA Yachtmaster course at the Nottage.

To apply for the bursary the applicant must be aged less than 26, and be working, or planning to work, in a marine environment. nottage.org.uk