Clipper Race Partners to Support youth affected by pandemic

June 25, 2021 

British sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's Clipper Race has partnered with Scotland-based youth development platform, Our Isles and Oceans, to use sailing to support young people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. Our Isles and Oceans, which brings people together through sport and sustainability, has organised a funded sailing programme that will help youth build up their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Our Isles and Oceans works to build a better future for young people by creating professional development programmes, bringing awareness to the plight of the oceans and promoting sustainable livelihoods. Organisers say that they want the youth to “apply their initiative, as the pandemic has had a negative impact on the age group’s education and employment opportunities over the last 15 months.” 

The programme - being held along the west coast of Scotland - will see up to 50 successful candidates take part this summer aboard a 68ft Clipper Race training yacht. Each group, aged 18-35, will come from across the UK and are being challenged to learn new practical skills, develop their self-belief and work as a team under the guidance of a Clipper Race Training Skipper. 

Another 10 of the 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 headquarters in Gosport, Hampshire. 

If successful, they would receive a funded place on board the 70ft 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. "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 learnt 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," the group said. 

The charity, Young Minds, ran surveys earlier this year and found that 67% of young people believe that the pandemic will have a long-term negative effect on their mental health. The Isles and Oceans initiative hopes to provide positive experiences for these young people.

"Through the programmes, businesses will work with young people to provide opportunities for professional development and will focus on building confidence and promoting sustainable livelihoods. This will be a training atmosphere where individuals will gain life experiences and will be fun, exciting and unique." 

In 1969, Knox-Johnston became the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world. “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 onboard a yacht. The sport develops self-confidence and self-esteem which is so important to restore following the pandemic," he stated. 

The Clipper Race is described as "one of the biggest challenges of the natural world and an endurance test like no other." It’s a record-breaking 40,000 nautical mile race around the world on a 70-foot ocean racing yacht with no previous sailing experience necessary.

“Problem solving is key to sail training, as is leadership and teamwork. You’ll often find young people are judged too early. Putting them on a yacht, with a team, is a great equaliser. You’ll see things are picked up quickly and as each challenge is overcome, confidence grows, with a new belief in themselves that they can achieve anything,” Knox-Johnston also noted.

Our Isles and Oceans stated that recruitment is not based on past job or work experience, but rather on an applicant’s ambition to take part. The campaign's first series of sailing programmes begins July 2021. Applications are being accepted and open until July 19. 

Source: The Herald Scotland