Young Endeavour - an experience of a life time!

Young Endeavour - an experience of a life time!

Published on 12 November 2022

Hi, my name’s Hannah and as a former Young Endeavour sailor on board voyage 05/ 2019, I’m going to share with you a bit about my experience on the ship.

When my name was read out at the nomination night signifying that I’d secured a place on board I was thrilled but I didn’t really know what I was in for…

I hadn’t spent that much time on the water before, didn’t know much about tall ships and certainly hadn’t sailed one before!

If you too have heard of the Young Endeavour but don’t really know what it’s all about, then you’ve come to the right place because I am about to lay it all out for you!

Why should you nominate? Let’s start with the obvious.

It’s a once in a lifetime experience You’ll make amazing new friends

Don’t be fooled by the stories of seasickness and night watch. I promise you that your belly will be sore from laughter and you’ll be bonded to your fellow crew after this unforgettable experience!

It’s something I would recommend to anyone and everyone. It’s something for people of all skill levels, you don’t need to have any previous experience, you just need an open mind and to be ready to have the time of your life.

What else?

You will be challenged in ways you never have been before You’ll feel really awesome when you accomplish said challenges You’ll become a master in team work and hone in on your communication and leadership skills You’ll gain a whole new perspective

One of the best things about being thrown into a challenging environment is realising just how capable you are. It’s very fulfilling to learn new skills and achieve so much in such a short space of time with your new fellow crew.

It truly is a freeing and eye opening experience. It leaves you with a fresh perspective of yourself, your capabilities and the world around you.

It’s a rare chance to be able to set aside your ‘normal’ life and all the responsibilities that go along with it for 11 days. During the voyage you forget about everything else and just live in the moment, while you’re on board, nothing else really matters. That’s a powerful thing, it gives you a rare chance to be able to shift your focus and be clear on what matters to you.

There’s more…

You’ll get to see LOTS of dolphins….like LOTS Visit beautiful new places Jumping off rope swings Sailing day and night through the Ocean

It’s more than just hard work and laughs. It’s exploring, seeing new places, sailing the ocean in places many people will NEVER get the opportunity to do.

There will be dolphins, not a few here or there that you need to squint to see, I’m talking pods of dolphins swimming alongside the boat. Swimming off a rope swing into the water! Shore visits to BEAUTIFUL places you’ve never seen and of course sailing along the ocean. Sometimes smooth, sometimes bumpy but always lots of fun.

 

Other stuff you might be curious about.

Where do I sleep?

You’ll be allocated a bunk on arrival which will be yours for the length of the voyage. You’ll also be allocated a cupboard where you can unpack your belonging. You’ll be sharing a room with multiple other sailors but the bunk is a reasonable size. Boys and girls have separate rooms.

Do I get to shower?

You can absolutely shower on board, there are female and male bathrooms on board with toilets and showers.

Will I have to eat canned tuna for every meal?

The food is actually really good. There’s a chef on board but all the youth sailors help out with cooking and preparing food in the galley on a rotating roster.

Can I bring my phone?

Phones are not allowed on board, you must hand them in to staff on day 1. This might seem a daunting concept for some but it gives you a chance to really live in the moment and honestly you’ll be so busy you won’t miss it anyway.

The Young Endeavour Voyage is an unforgettable experience. Everyone that has done it will tell you just how amazing it is. It’s one of the best things I have ever done in my life and I can’t recommend it enough. It is challenging in the best way and it is so so much fun!