Morvargh Sailing Project is a small, volunteer-led Sail Training organisation built around a strong “boat family”. Our voyages are shaped by trust, shared responsibility, and a belief that young people grow most when they feel supported, challenged, and part of something real. Guided by Matt and Vicky Barraud and a committed volunteer Afterguard, we use the sea to help young people discover confidence, resilience, and a sense of what they can achieve.
Loved it, felt a sense of community and comfort within the boat, the crew feeling almost like family, and the new sailing and social skills I learnt are invaluable
Charlie, Trainee
At the heart of Morvargh Sailing Project is a strong and supportive “boat family”. Sailing itself is a powerful microcosm of family life; it brings people together in a shared space where cooperation, trust, and communication are essential, and where everyone has a role in moving forward. We believe that the quality of a Sail Training experience is shaped as much by the people aboard as by the voyage itself.
Our approach is simple. We create a close-knit community on board where young people are known, supported, and encouraged even after the voyage ends.
Volunteers and trainees work together with a shared purpose and mutual respect, learning to navigate both calm moments and challenges. This sense of belonging is central to everything we do and underpins the trust families and partner organisations place in us.
Morvargh Sailing Project is volunteer-led. We could not operate without the dedication, belief, and generosity of a small committed team of volunteer afterguard who give their time to support young people at sea.
Our volunteers range from young Watch Leaders, who have been invited back after showing potential, to experienced Skippers. All share a passion for sailing and a genuine commitment to helping those aboard do their best. Safeguarding and professionalism are non-negotiable; all volunteers are DBS-checked on a rolling basis, undertake annual training aboard Helen Mary R, and are either qualified in or working towards relevant RYA certifications, depending on the requirements of their role aboard.
This consistency ensures that young people are supported by competent, accountable, and invested adults.
Morvargh Sailing Project is a small organisation shaped by years of effort, challenge, and perseverance. Running Sail Training well brings pressures that are often unseen: financial uncertainty, responsibility for a complex vessel, and the constant need to balance care, safety, and sustainability. Alongside leading the Project, Matt and Vicky both work in professional roles ashore. This has not been the easy option, but it has allowed Morvargh to survive, adapt, and continue offering life-changing experiences to young people. What has sustained the Project through that journey is a shared belief in its purpose and the difference Sail Training can make.
Running a Sail Training organisation is demanding. It involves maintaining and operating a complex vessel, coordinating and supporting volunteers, meeting safeguarding responsibilities, and managing financial pressures that ebb and flow from year to year. There are moments of strain, but they are consistently outweighed by the work's meaning and the impact on young people who step aboard unsure and leave with confidence and pride.
We are open about our scale and realistic about what it takes to sustain this work. Being small does bring challenges, but it also brings strengths. It allows us to know young people as individuals, respond personally to the needs of parents and their children, and remain flexible and inclusive rather than driven by targets, growth for its own sake, or organisational distance.
You guys are amazing. Keeping something like this going is a testament to your massive dedication to Sail Training and Youth Development. Long may it continue and grow.
Drew
Our values guide every decision we make. They are shaped not by convenience, but by experience; by what we have learned over time about what young people need, what volunteers give, and what it takes to keep Sail Training honest, safe, and meaningful.
While Matt and Vicky lead the Project operationally, Morvargh has always been shaped by family. The Project began in 2010 with Matt and his mum, Linda, working together to get it off the ground. Linda continues to quietly support Morvargh behind the scenes, as an additional Director, keeping the accounts in order, and providing the steady, practical care that allows everything else to happen.
Morvargh is led day-to-day by Matt and Vicky Barraud, who bring continuity, care, and experience to the organisation. Their leadership reflects the same values that shape life aboard: responsibility, trust, and shared endeavour. Our shared aim is simple: to use the sea as a place where young people can discover resilience, confidence, teamwork, and a sense of what they are capable of achieving.
Matt is the Director and Skipper, responsible for vessel safety, seamanship, and the delivery of Sail Training at sea. With extensive offshore sailing experience, he sets high standards while creating an environment that is approachable, supportive, and often full of humour. His ability to connect with young people through conversation, shared challenge, and everyday moments helps build trust and confidence quickly. Beyond the deck, Matt also leads the long-term development of the organisation; shaping new expeditions, strengthening partnerships across the Sail Training community, and ensuring that Helen Mary R continues to provide meaningful opportunities for young people at sea.
Vicky leads operations, social media, crew coordination, and logistics. She ensures that voyages are well planned and well supported. Her focus on organisation, communication, and capturing the real human moments of each voyage helps ensure that the experience remains centred on young people rather than processes. Vicky also plays a central role in building the Morvargh community by supporting volunteers, maintaining relationships with families and partners, and sharing stories that show how powerful Sail Training can be in changing confidence, outlook, and opportunity for the young people who step aboard
Discover your next adventure at sea. Join one of our life-changing Sail Training voyages and unlock confidence, teamwork, and resilience through real experience.
Follow Helen Mary R in near real time as she sails around the coast. See where we are now and be part of the journey from wherever you are.
Every donation helps keep our sails full and our programmes accessible. Help us inspire the next generation through the power of the sea.
Bring your skills aboard or ashore. From sailing staff to shore-based champions, volunteering changes lives — including your own.
