Marine Academy students from Plymouth in the UK are riding high on the crest of a wave - taking part in the 2011 Tall Ships Race.
Eighteen of the St Budeaux School's 14-19 year olds are involved in the international event which started in Waterford, Ireland and includes ports of call at Greenock, Scotland, Lerwick in the Shetland Isles and Stavanger in Norway before finally dropping anchor at Halmstad in Sweden at the beginning of August.
The 18 students successfully completed a rigorous selection procedure, which included an interview with Cremyll Sailing crew and a member of the marine science department at Plymouth University.
They were also given an insight into the realities of sailing by local round-the-world yachtsman Conrad Humphreys and had to demonstrate their enthusiasm and commitment on a three-day sail-training course during their last school holiday before finally becoming crew for a section of the race on the tall ship Moosk.
The first six sailed from Plymouth to Waterford where six more Marine Academy students will take over and race in the first leg from Waterford to Greenock. Once in Greenock, the crew will change again and the final six students will sail to Lerwick.
They join hundreds of other young people crewing ships from Russia, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Lithuania, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Colombia, Spain and France.
The event tests the students' endurance and new found sailing skills. But it's not all hard work, they also have the chance to join in crew parties and parades through each of the host towns.
Judging by the young sailors messages on Facebook they're having a swell time. One Marine Academy student, Jack Howells, aged 14, from Beacon Park posted: "I just want to thank Cremyll Sailing for the opportunity of a life time, Waterford was amazing."
And student Lewis Harrison, aged 15, from Keyham (actually on board Moosk) said: "It's absolutely amazing! Breathtaking! We are sitting on the boat and there are thousands of people here - fireworks, horns tooting and bands playing. We are all much better mates than when we started out and even though most of us were sick through the Celtic Sea, the best bit has definitely been the sailing. There are ships from Spain and Norway next to us."
Peter Morris, manager, Cremyll Sailing said: "The Tall Ships is a great adventure. The atmosphere is electric and completely orientated to young people."
Helen Mathieson, academy principal, is delighted. She said: "The Tall Ships event is about 360 degree education - personal, social and leadership. It is empowering in its ethos and experience. The participation of our students demonstrates our commitment to the marine specialism - which is about understanding the vast range of careers, which make up this large and diverse sector, locally, nationally and internationally. "
Conrad Humphreys added: "I'm really pleased that together with the Marine Academy Plymouth we managed to secure these bursary places for these young people to have the chance to take part in the Tall Ships Race. This opportunity will provide them with a very rich experience on the sea, where they will develop team skills, confidence and trusting friendships. Our hope is that they become ocean ambassadors for the city of Plymouth and inspire others to take on the challenge."
Progress of Moosk and further information about the Tall Ships event can be found HERE
