Caerphilly Adventurers Set Sail

Richard Batten and Jake Siddall, from Caerphilly Adventurers, travelled with eight young people from the Caerphilly Borough to participate in a 320 mile sailing race from Portugal to Spain as part of the Duke of Edinburgh programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The young people, consisting of 5 girls and 3 boys from Heolddu Comprehensive, St Martins Comprehensive, Crosskeys College and Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni had the opportunity to experience The Tall Ships Race, involving over 50 boats, thousands of crew and tens of thousands of spectators, making this event an once-in-a-lifetime experience. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The seven day voyage saw them sail with Challenge Wales, a Sail Training charity who owns the boat of the same name, from Lisbon to Cadiz. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sail Training helps those who step aboard to develop their personal and social skills, giving people the opportunity to experience what goes in to sailing, this included setting sails, helming, navigating, overnight watches and cooking and living on board at sea. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The participants were also lucky enough to experience the culture, food and sights of Lisbon, Rota and Cadiz. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard Batten, Duke of Edinburgh Development Officer said, “Caerphilly Adventures has had a sail training programme since 2006 and have used a number of sail training organisations. We have visited the coasts of Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, South coast of England, Channel Islands and France. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He continues, “We have been involved in events such as the Glasgow Common Wealth games opening ceremony flotilla and meeting the Clipper around the world race fleet in Deri/London Deri. In that time we have introduced over 100 young people from Caerphilly Borough to the adventures of sailing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The benefits I see from the voyages alongside the sailing skills learnt are the personal achievements. I see young people stepping on board as individuals but leaving as part of a team. Their confidence, self-esteem, ability and respect all shine through helping them to make lifelong friendships, which is a real bonus when delivering this programme.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Nigel George, cabinet member for community and leisure services said, “What a fantastic opportunity for young people, I would like to thank Caerphilly Adventurers for being able to provide this experience as without them things like this, just, could not happen. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a great way to develop a person’s skills and I hope to hear more of these outstanding stories from the programme in the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​