Young people with special needs are being offered the opportunity to take part in specially organised sailing expeditions run by the Tall Ships Youth Trust. The charity is planning a number of two, three and four night voyages on their 72-foot ocean-going Challenger yachts and the Tall Ships Cat, a 62 foot catamaran.
No previous sailing experience is necessary and the Trust is keen to stress that the voyages are appropriate for crew members whose special needs include a degree of learning difficulty, attention control, fine motor co-ordination problems, mild visual or hearing impairments and social interaction problems.
The Voyages “will be fun, challenging, stimulating and offer a supportive and unique residential maritime environment in which young people with special needs can enhance their skills for independence,” said a Trust spokesperson.
There are two age groups, fourteen to fifteen-year-olds and sixteen to 25-year-olds, and the voyages will take place in May, July, August and September this year.
To mark the start of these voyages, The Tall Ships Youth Trust is holding a special needs focused Fleet Open Day at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth on 14 May 2010. Visitors will be able to look round the ships and crew will be on hand to demonstrate how the boats can accommodate young people with special needs.
