In a milestone moment for youth development and outdoor learning charity, Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT), all five of its iconic Challenger yachts have sailed together for the first time, carrying 50 young cadets from different Army and Combined Cadet Forces (CCF) from various parts of London.
For JFS, the main organiser, the four-night voyage, named Expedition Leviathan, marked the school’s fourth voyage with TSYT, and the first time it has brought a group of this size together across all five vessels.
Departing together from Gunwharf Quays, the fleet comprised of 80 people – including 50 young cadets aged 13 to 17 and their leaders alongside TSYT’s experienced crew. The young voyagers set sail on a transformational five-day journey designed to build lifelong skills in leadership, resilience, and teamwork. The sight of all five 72-foot Challenger yachts cutting through the Solent together marks the first moment of its kind for TSYT, capturing the spirit of youth empowerment at scale.
Speaking of the simultaneous five-boat voyage John Farndell, Head of Operations at TSYT said “It was great to see all five Challengers out on the same voyage for the first time, and particularly satisfying to coordinate them exiting Portsmouth harbour together in line astern. As with every voyage, thorough preparation behind the scenes ensures everything runs smoothly. For me, the real reward comes at the final debriefs – hearing a young person recognise something new in themselves that they can carry into their future.”
Life On Board & Beyond Sailing
Beyond learning to sail – from safety drills and tacking exercises in the Solent to a friendly mainsail hoist race and pole climbing – the trip tested the young participants in every aspect of life at sea, including navigating some choppy waters over two days. For five days, the cadets lived in close quarters with each other taking turns cooking meals below deck, keeping things clean, and learning to pull together as a team. The shared experience helped them build friendships and trust in one another. There was plenty of fun off the boats, too, including a lively ‘Beach Olympics’ in Weymouth where all five crews met on the sand to chat, compete, and celebrate their progress together.
The voyage culminated in a tactical sail around the back of the Isle of Wight, anchoring off Sandown before completing a night-navigation passage competitively back into Portsmouth ahead of a final fleet prize-giving ceremony.
Building Confidence at Sea
For some of the cadets, this was the first time they had sailed, whilst for other this was their third voyage with TSYT. The trip provided a powerful opportunity to push outside their comfort zones, overcome personal challenges, and make lasting memories.
“The highlight for me was taking on challenges like pole climbing over the water,” shared Mia, aged 16 one of the participating cadets. “Whether we made it to the top or not, it was all about supporting each other, laughing, and making memories.”
Reflecting on the progress made on board, Captain James Whitney, Cadet Leader from Greater London SE Sector ACF, praised both the young participants and the onboard staff: “Over the last four nights, the cadets have really pushed themselves outside their comfort zones to master sailing and complete tasks they never thought they could. The TSYT crew have been fantastic – not only in delivering the sailing package, but in being so enthusiastic and supportive, especially with the young people who needed that extra bit of encouragement to come out of their shell.”
To mark this historic departure, TSYT worked with professional media team at Creation DMC to capture aerial drone footage of the five-strong fleet as they navigated out of Portsmouth harbour together and interviewed the crew upon their return.
