Falmouth Tall Ships Association Launches Competition with Falmouth and Penryn Community Colleges
‘Have you ever wanted to feel the exhilaration of a thrilling and fast-paced ocean adventure?” This is the question that will be asked to pupils attending Falmouth and Penryn Community Colleges, in a joint competition to be launched by the schools before Christmas to select four students to take part in the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta in September 2008.
Falmouth Tall Ships Association volunteer Sarah Newton is raising funds to enable four young people aged sixteen or older to participate in the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta that is leaving Falmouth on September 13th 2008 en route to Ilhavo in Portugal and then on to Funchal in Madeira, and has organised the competition in conjunction with Falmouth and Penryn Community Colleges. The competition winners will be youngsters who the judges feel will benefit the most from this amazing experience.
“Penryn Community College is very keen to be part of the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta. We appreciate the benefits for young people being involved in positive activities and are pleased and privileged to have been invited to run the competition to select students to take part in the event” said Paul Walker, Deputy Head Teacher at Penryn.
Sandra Critchley, Head Teacher at Falmouth Community College shared the sentiments expressed by her colleague and added “Falmouth is totally committed to involving students in this superb opportunity, and is keen to work with Penryn School on the selection process to give students the best possible sense of what they will be experiencing. In this way the challenges and benefits of working as a team will begin in the Spring term.”
Life aboard these magnificent Sail Training Tall Ships will be a lot of fun and potentially, a life changing experience. Students will have to overcome the fear of heights, cope with sea sickness and work as a team with a group of people from different countries and very different backgrounds, both on-board the ship and in the many team building and inter-ship competitions which are organised in each port taking part in the race.
“I believe that setting tough challenges and achieving them in your teens really helps to achieve your potential in life” said Sarah Newton, who sailed on a Tall Ship during her school days.
Participating in the first leg of the race will cost each around £1,000 per student. Each of the youngsters will raise £150 themselves as part of their personal challenge. Sarah is seeking funding from companies, organisations or individuals who would like to fund or part fund a student’ s expenses for the race. Further details can be obtained on 01326 374265.
The selection process to find four students to take part in the first leg of the race from Falmouth will be in four stages. Students will complete a written application, and a short list of ten will be drawn up. These students will then undergo a series of selection challenges during the Spring term, both land-based and at sea. Two students from each school will then be chosen to compete in the Funchal500 Tall Ships Regatta.
The eight students from each school not selected to take part in the race will still have the opportunity to gain their sea legs. Falmouth and Penryn Colleges organise trips for year seven students in the Summer term on the Falmouth Sail Training vessel the Hardiesse. The lucky sixteen will act as leaders for the duration of the trip.
An estimated fleet of around 30 Tall Ships with up of to 10 of the very large Class A square rigged ships will gather in Falmouth from 10th to 13th September next year as they prepare for the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta 2008. The Tall Ships will race from Falmouth on 13th September to the Port of Aveiro in Portugal before the second stage of the race to Funchal in Madeira.
A four day programme of festivities and celebrations will take place in Falmouth including day sails and onboard visits, street theatre, live music, town parade, children’s entertainment, markets, exhibitions, fireworks and the spectacular parade of sail and race start.
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