A Sail Training adventure from Plymouth for home-educated young people, building confidence, friendships and skills at sea.
Join us aboard Helen Mary R in Plymouth for a Sail Training voyage created especially for home-educated young people. The voyage starts and finishes at Plymouth Yacht Haven, making joining and collection straightforward for families.
Over a week aboard our 57-foot sailing vessel, young people will become part of the crew. They’ll learn to sail, navigate, steer, handle ropes, prepare meals and help look after the boat, working together and gradually taking on more responsibility as their confidence grows.
No previous sailing experience is needed. Sail Training is about far more than learning to sail. Life aboard creates a unique environment where young people learn through experience, solve real problems and see the immediate value of working together.
What will young people gain?
For home-educated young people, the voyage offers an opportunity to learn alongside others of a similar age while sharing an adventure with a clear common purpose.
Young people will have opportunities to:
There’s also plenty of fun. Living aboard, exploring the coast, sailing together and sharing meals creates a very different learning environment from anything available ashore.
A voyage with a big finish
The adventure culminates on our final day when Helen Mary R and her young crew take part in the Eddystone Charity Pursuit, one of Plymouth’s annual sailing events.
Rather than simply watching from the sidelines, our young people will be part of Helen Mary R’s crew. They’ll put the skills they’ve developed during the voyage into practice as we join other yachts for a day on the water in support of local charities.
It gives the voyage a goal to work towards and a memorable way to finish several days of learning and adventure together.
Who is it for?
The voyage is designed for home-educated young people who’d like an adventure, want to try something different and are ready to become part of a crew.
You don’t need to be sporty, confident or an experienced sailor. We understand that young people arrive with different personalities, experiences and levels of confidence. Our experienced volunteer Afterguard support each young person to participate, develop and take on challenges at a pace appropriate to them.
For some, the biggest achievement might be helming a 57-foot sailing vessel. For another, it could be navigating us towards our destination, speaking up within a new group, cooking dinner for the crew or discovering that they can manage several days away from home.
Come aboard, find your place in the crew and discover where sailing can take you.
As a recognised training centre of the Royal Yachting Association, we offer young people the opportunity to work towards nationally recognised qualifications during selected voyages.
Participants can progress through:
These qualifications are not delivered in a classroom setting; they are earned through real experience at sea. Every task, from helming and sail handling to navigation and teamwork, contributes towards progression. For many young people, this provides both a clear sense of achievement and a recognised pathway within Sail Training. It strengthens confidence, builds practical skills, and offers a tangible outcome from their time on board.
We strive to create the most exciting and enriching itineraries and embrace the unpredictability of nature as part of our adventures.
Our voyages offer a unique opportunity to connect with the elements and experience the thrill of sailing offshore. While weather conditions can occasionally alter our plans, these moments of adaptability only add to the journey and lead to the most remarkable discoveries.
Come aboard with an open mind and an adventurous spirit, and let's set sail together on an extraordinary journey filled with exciting possibilities.
We run a number of open voyages from April to October each year, the next four are shown below. Alternatively, view all voyages.
