Using Sail Training to Inspire & Change Lives

Recognition of shared effort

Morvargh Sailing Project exists to give young people opportunities to grow through Sail Training. Awards are not the purpose of our work; the real measure of success is the confidence, resilience, and self-belief young people carry with them after a voyage. From time to time, the wider maritime and community sectors recognise the work taking place aboard Helen Mary R. When that happens, it offers encouragement and reassurance that the effort of our volunteers, trainees, and supporters is making a difference.

These awards reflect the collective effort behind every voyage: the volunteers who give their time, the young people who step forward to take responsibility, and the community that believes in the value of Sail Training. They are moments of recognition, but the real achievement lies in the young people whose confidence and capability grow over time at sea.

These awards recognise moments, but the work behind them happens quietly every season. They represent:

The thousands of volunteer hours aboard and ashore
Young people stepping forward to take responsibility
The careful maintenance and operation of Helen Mary R
The support of families, schools, and local partners

Above all, they reflect the belief that Sail Training matters.

Thank you.

MCA / ASTO Sail Training Vessel of the Year

MARITIME & COASTGUARD AGENCY / ASTO SAIL TRAINING VESSEL OF THE YEAR

In 2026, Helen Mary R was named Sail Training Vessel of the Year by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and the Association of Sail Training Organisations.

The award came in a particularly special year, as Helen Mary R celebrated her 40th anniversary afloat. For four decades, she has carried young people to sea, offering challenge, responsibility, and opportunity. Receiving this recognition in her fortieth year felt both meaningful and symbolic; a reminder that the vessel continues to fulfil the purpose for which she was built.

The award is made across the UK Sail Training sector and recognises organisations delivering outstanding Sail Training experiences. In 2026, Morvargh Sailing Project was nominated and recognised among a community of more than thirty Sail Training organisations and over fifty vessels operating across the country.

For a small, volunteer-led organisation, this recognition means a great deal. It reflects the care taken in operating and maintaining Helen Mary R, the commitment of the Afterguard, and the effort of the young people who step aboard ready to learn and contribute.

Most of all, it recognises the shared belief among our volunteers, supporters, and community that Sail Training continues to change lives. As our wider work explains, these experiences help young people build confidence, resilience, and self-belief through real responsibility and shared endeavour at sea.

FOWEY MAYORS CUP

In 2025, Morvargh Sailing Project received the Fowey Mayor’s Cup in recognition of our role in organising and promoting the Sail Training Class at the Fowey Royal Regatta. The regatta is an important part of Fowey’s maritime life. Supporting a Sail Training class allows young people to experience yacht racing within a welcoming and community-focused environment.

Receiving this award from our home port meant a great deal to us. It reflected the Fowey community's support and the shared belief that young people should have opportunities to experience the sea.

ASTO ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS AWARD

In 2024, Morvargh received the ASTO Environmental Progress Award.

This national award recognised the steps we have taken to reduce environmental impact while also strengthening educational outcomes aboard Helen Mary R. Central to this work was the installation of solar panels on the vessel, which helped reduce reliance on engine-generated power and demonstrated how renewable energy can support life at sea.

Alongside this, we developed an innovative approach to using the vessel’s ship’s logs as a learning tool. Young people record voyage data such as weather conditions, distances sailed, navigation decisions, and onboard systems performance. These records provide a practical way to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in a real working environment.

The result is a form of learning that is immediate and meaningful. Young people see how energy, navigation, weather, and engineering interact in practice rather than in theory. Receiving the Environmental Progress Award recognised not only a technical improvement to the vessel, but also our commitment to helping young people understand their relationship with the natural world and the technologies that shape it.