Six deserving young people who won a place on this year’s MDL Sail Training Awards voyage were officially presented with their trophies by Lord Iliffe, Chairman of MDL’s parent company at PSP Southampton Boat Show yesterday. The youngsters returned from their trip earlier this year after spending six days at sea with the Ocean Youth Trust South.
The MDL-sponsored awards, which have been running for over 20 years, offer admirable young people – carefully selected due to their exceptional accomplishments, or for overcoming adverse personal circumstances – the opportunity of a lifetime aboard the training yacht.
Joining a team on board the ketch ‘John Laing’ were Callum Archibald, 14 from Basingstoke, 13-year-old John Bratherton, from Fordingbridge, Erin Sutton, 14, and Jodie Beckham, 13, both from Totton, Oscar Perkins, 13, from Brixham and 15-year-old Robert Jelley from Romsey.
The week-long round trip, from Ocean Village Marina in Southampton, saw them plotting their intended course and getting involved with all elements of sailing. During the voyage the participants also had the opportunity to obtain the Competent Crew certificate, an RYA recognised qualification.
Eamonn Feeney, Managing Director at MDL Marinas, commented: “Our Sail Training Awards are a very important initiative for us and we have so far helped well over a hundred young people to experience something truly exceptional. We are big supporters of the work of Ocean Youth Trust South and it’s fantastic that they can reward these youngsters with such a brilliant adventure that really does give them skills for life.”
For more information, please visit www.sailtrainingawards.co.uk
