A new boat for a new generation
Help us to build a boat for the future
New boat leaflet - print and circulate!
Why do we need a new boat?
Vessel design
Vessel details
Improved features
How you can help
Appeal target
YouTube video
A new boat for a new generation
Generations of young people have enjoyed Adventure Under Sail with the Ocean Youth Club or Ocean Youth Trust.
The boats they have sailed have evolved over half a century. In every era, the OYC and OYT have sought to provide vessels that are strong and seaworthy; capable of being sailed by young people of different ages and abilities; and suited to developing the life skills which are a core part of the OYC / OYT experience.
Since 1970, the Club has commissioned a number of purpose-built sail training vessels, incorporating the best of each generation’s experience of sail training and yacht design.
OYT South’s current vessel, John Laing, has been in continuous service for twenty years.
It is time to think of the next generation.
OYT South has had a vessel specially designed to provide an outstanding sail training experience to young people over the next thirty years.
Please help us to build her.
OYT South’s new boat comes from Owen Clarke Design: world leaders in yacht design, having produced record-breaking boats for internationally-renowned sailors such as Ellen MacArthur and Mike Golding. Merfyn Owen sailed with the Ocean Youth Club at the age of sixteen, and went on to skipper for the club – so he has a real understanding of and commitment to sail training with young people.
Owen Clarke Design has used all their experience of designing low-maintenance, ultra-strong, safe yet exciting and innovative vessels, and has worked with OYT South to adapt these ideas to crew members as young as twelve, or those with disabilities. The design they have produced is for a vessel which could set the standards in sail training for years to come.
Vessel details
Length overall: 23.95m
Beam: 5.93m
Draught: 3.0m
Upwind sail area: 290m2
Downwind sail area: 485m2
Displacement: 42.1 tonnes
Engine: 130 HP
Sleeps: 20 people
Construction: Multi-axial glass and Corecell foam sandwich
Improved features for the new boat
- Low maintenance: John Laing’s maintenance is increasingly a burden on the charity’s time and money.
- A shorter refit means a longer season and more voyages for young people.
- Improved accommodation: meeting the needs of clients, giving the option to screen off a group leaders’ cabin – or to create privacy for crew members if required.
- Larger navigation area: space for crew members to be around and involved in navigation.
- Better traffic flow: avoiding the congestion that currently occurs at watch changes.
- Everything from boom height to the light switch height designed with young crew members in mind.
- Better sailing performance, especially in light winds – more sailing, less motoring.
The new boat will also retain many of the features which have made John Laing such a popular and successful sail training boat for 20 years:
- Large, light saloon with a table which can seat the whole crew for meals, games and training sessions.
- Sail plan which allows three watches to be actively involved.
- Safe, strong and thoroughly reliable.
- Make a one-off donation or regular gift: print and return the Appeal Form
- Remember Ocean Youth Trust South in your will
- Spread the word – do you know an individual, company, club or charitable trust which might want to support OYT South’s new boat?
Donors and sponsors will have opportunities to sail in the new boat and to see how our work helps young people. The major sponsor will have the chance to give the boat a name - an opportunity which could create a thirty-year association with a good cause and will help over 15,000 young people.
Appeal Target
We are in the process of getting much more detailed costings for the new boat; but the Appeal will aim to raise the money to build the boat, including associated staff time, as well as covering the first few years' operating costs.
Please support a New Boat for a New Generation.
Thank you.
