Morvargh Sailing Project, a Cornish Sail Training organisation based in Fowey, will mark the 40th anniversary of its vessel Helen Mary R with ASPIRE40, a 40-day youth expedition around the English Channel in 2026.
The 57-foot Bowman yacht, built by the Rona Sailing Project in 1986, will undertake a continuous 40-day voyage with the same eight young people aboard throughout. The crew will circumnavigate the English Channel, sailing to France, the Channel Islands, Southern England, and London, learning to navigate, steer through the night, and live as a close-knit team.
Over the course of 40 days, the crew will live and work together in all conditions, standing night watches, cooking at sea and navigating between nations. From tidal crossings to open-water passages, the expedition will combine challenge, learning and adventure, giving each young person a true sense of life at sea and the achievement of reaching new shores under their own effort.
ASPIRE40 will be one of the longest continuous youth Sail Training expeditions undertaken in UK waters, designed to challenge and inspire through real responsibility and shared purpose.
Alex, a previous young person who sailed on their last expedition, summed up their experience; “Sailing with Morvargh has changed my life for the better and has got to be the best experience of my life.”
“Forty years on, Helen Mary R still changes lives at sea,” said Matt Barraud, Director of Morvargh Sailing Project. “6,000 young people have stood on her deck since 1986, discovering resilience, purpose, and self-belief. ASPIRE40 is both a celebration of her legacy and a chance for a new generation to take the helm.”
During the expedition, Helen Mary R will return to her roots on the River Hamble to reunite with the Rona Sailing Project, the organisation that first built her, for a special Round the Island Pursuit. The event will see Helen Mary R sail alongside Rona’s four training yachts, crewed by volunteers who first went to sea, many as 14-year-olds aboard Helen Mary R, and now give back as mentors.
Sarah Woodman, Project Director for Rona Sailing Project, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating this milestone with Helen Mary R and Morvagh Sailing Project. It will be wonderful for the Rona Sailing Project volunteers, many of whom sailed on HMR many years ago, to be able to sail alongside her once more, blending celebration with challenge, reflection with adventure.”
Originally an empty hull fitted out entirely by volunteers, Helen Mary R has always embodied the spirit of community. That same ethos continues today; across four decades, she has been maintained, refitted and sailed by people who freely give their time to help young people experience life at sea.
Founded in 2010, Morvargh Sailing Project is a Community Interest Company that uses Sail Training to inspire, challenge and empower young people. Through school partnerships and bursary schemes, the organisation ensures that cost is never a barrier to participation. Families have reduced personal fees by over 80 per cent through group fundraising, sponsorship and grants.
The anniversary programme also supports Morvargh’s ‘Preserve the Legacy; Protect the Future’ appeal, funding the ongoing refit and renewal of Helen Mary R so she can continue serving young people for decades to come.
Places are now open for young people aged 14–17 to apply for the ASPIRE40 expedition. ASPIRE40 is scheduled to depart on 1 April and return on 10 May 2026, with planned calls at Fowey, Roscoff, Binnic, St Malo, Guernsey, Alderney, Cherbourg, Le Havre, London, Dover, Portsmouth, Southampton, Weymouth, Salcombe, and back to Fowey. The final routing is weather-dependent.
No prior sailing experience is required; only enthusiasm, teamwork and a sense of adventure are needed.
Apply online: https://sailadventure.co.uk/voyages/voyage/aspire40
