Port of Falmouth Sailing Association presents cheque to Roseland Youth Sailing Trust
by Jane Wright 1 Dec 2021 09:15 PST
Nigel Sharp, Chairman of POFSA presenting a cheque to Dina Wheatcroft, Chairman of RYST and Mark Osborn, Treasurer and Trustee of RYST © Jane Wright
The Port of Falmouth Sailing Association was able to present a cheque this week to the Roseland Youth Sailing Trust after raising funds throughout 2021 for the charity.
Competitors entering Falmouth Sailing Week 21 donated, as did the volunteers who helped run the regatta. An online auction for a sailing experience offered by Coastland at Mylor raised the rest. Each year the organisation partners with a local sailing charity.
The Roseland Youth Sailing Trust funds sailing lessons for children in over 20 primary and secondary schools in the Roseland and clay country. Over a 1000 youngsters have been introduced to sailing so far. This year the charity enabled eleven 16-18 year olds to get a chance of the attitudes, experience and skills needed for quality jobs in the maritime industries. Places were originally organised on the 24m gaff ketch Maybe to sail on the Falmouth to A Coruna leg of the Magellan-Elcano Tall Ships Race. Sadly, as we all know, this was cancelled but the RYST persevered and Maybe took the eleven venturers onboard, in August, for a solo 10 day expedition.
Local businesses, sailing clubs, and organisations really did work together to change the lives of these youngsters and helped each to find new practical and life skills. They came back exclaiming "it had been the best 10 days of our lives" Many are now keen to find careers in the maritime sectors.