Sent to sail

 3 October 2008

Four girls took part in a bold experiment by the County Council to take a life changing sailing journey around the East Anglia coast for a TV documentary.

Nikita, Courtney, Amy, and Suzie, chosen by the County’s Youth Offending Service and Youth Service, took up the challenge to take part in the Anglia ITV documentary. The ‘Sent to Sail’ film followed their progress over four days in May to sail the high seas in a 100 year old boat called the ‘Duet’, operated by the Essex based Cirdan Sailing Trust, from Wisbech to West Mercier. 

Sailing in sparse and cramped conditions with few home comforts, the girls’ challenge was to overcome personal issues and come together as a team. Far from being a holiday, the sailing adventure would expose them to take real responsibility and help them discover something about themselves. Under the watchful instruction of skipper Dawn Franklyn and her assistant, the girls went from street wise urban youth to a hard working crew pulling together to prove their worth. 

At the end of their trip, the Royal Yachting Association awarded them certificates to officially recognise as a competent crew.

Councillor David Reedman, Bedfordshire County Council’s Executive Member for Children and Young People, said: “It’s inspiring to see these girls accomplish a great feat. They gave it a go and they can rightly feel proud. They certainly learned a lot about themselves and had a life changing experience. It proves young people do have the capacity to overcome personal difficulties and can instead aspire to have renewed purpose and fresh ambition.”

Nikita, one of the girls who took part was inspired to volunteer with the Cirdan Sailing Trust after the trip was over, said: “If it can help me, I think it will benefit other young people as well.”

 ENDS