Gipsy Moth trophy
OYT South Young Volunteer of the Year
In 2022, Ocean Youth Trust South received a generous grant from the Gipsy Moth Trust which they asked us to spend on training and supporting young people who excel on an initial youth voyage and are working towards becoming the bosuns and watchleaders of the future.
Along with the grant came a trophy: a mounted section of the mizzen mast from Gipsy Moth IV, which after her epic 1967 voyage held the records for the fastest voyage around the world by any small vessel; the longest non-stop passage that had been made by a small sailing vessel (15,000 miles (24,000 km)); and more than twice the distance of the previous longest passage by a singlehanded sailor. These days we regularly hear of record-breaking single-handed non-stop voyages round the world, but in 1967 to see Francis Chichester circle the globe alone with only one stop was truly remarkable.
So we now have a trophy which we can award annually to a volunteer aged 16-25 who has successfully made the step up from youth crew to sea staff and is excelling as a young volunteer.
The current holder is Jack Thompson – announced at our training event in February 2026.
Jack has been sailing with us since the age of 17, on a voyage skippered by Nic Crawford who is notoriously hard to impress, but who described him as “A very strong member of the crew, potential sea staff. Always helpful and volunteering for jobs. Initially quite quiet but came out of his shell and was very self-motivated. He lead main and staysail hoists at the end of the voyage with minimal supervision from staff.” He did some staff training in crew berths, during which Holly as skipper said he was “Super keen and strove to tick off things from his bosun assessment, enjoying the chance to be lowered over the side in an MOB drill. He has a very calm and empathetic manner which will make him a good fit for working with young people.” As soon as he started sailing in a staff berth, two more skippers signed off his bosun assessment and third mate assessments in successive weeks! And it’s not just skippers who have been impressed: when Josh our Staff Engineer is on relief, the list of people in whose care he is truly happy to leave his engine and generator is not a long one, but Jack is definitely on Josh’s trusted list. This year he became the undoubted winner by joining the core refit team as a full-time volunteer for the whole winter and proving so valuable but that all the team say it has been more like having an extra member of staff than another volunteer. Jack is enthusiastic, reliable, skilled, trustworthy and a very popular and lovely person to have on the team!
The runner-up this year is Keri Hammond, aged 21, an exceptionally talented young sailor who became a third mate in 2024 and then a second mate at the start of last season. By the middle of the year, the Staff Skipper was already flagging her up as someone he thought should be moving towards first mate training. We encouraged her to apply for a Trinity House bursary to get her qualifications and she’s definitely a talent to watch for the future!
The 2025 winnner was Caitlin Neall-Johnston. Caitlin was the core team volunteer for the winter refit 2023-24 and worked tirelessly through the whole winter, supporting the staff team (including a period when we were between skippers). She made a huge difference in getting Prolific ready for the 2024 season: all the successes of the year and the fantastic feedback were built on having the boat in good condition and ready on time, and we couldn’t have done it without her! Once the season started, Caitlin quickly passed her third mate assessment and clearly has the potential to go further, when she can fit in sailing around attending university overseas.
Staff mate Lauren Mackenzie said: “Caitlin was a great asset to our refit team. She has incredible leadership skills and once familiar with the routine of refit, was a great help supporting new or occasional volunteers. She was a lot of fun and introduced us to lots of Thai dishes and musical theatre. As the only full-time volunteer, she worked incredibly hard – especially somewhere so cold and far away from home. She showed impressive commitment and dedication throughout refit and I’m so excited for her next adventures around the world! I hope she continues to sail and we see her again some day”.
In 2025, the runner-up was Jack Thompson, a young volunteer who sails as a watchleader and bosun and has hugely impressed the team with his enthusiasm and commitment. [Jack went on to win the award in the following year].
The 2024 winner was Unity Bowns, pictured here receiving the trophy from previous winner Tom Knight:
Unity first sailed as youth crew in 2021, and skipper Andy Viney phoned the office midweek and said “I think I’ve got a future skipper on board”. He gave Unity a sea staff recommendation at the end of the week, writing: “Already able to function as a watch leader with their sailing and interpersonal skills. Initially nervous of translating their small boat experience on to sailing a larger vessel but was delighted when they found so much of their knowledge was transferrable. Always had a smile and was great at supporting other crew and the sea staff. A natural born leader who does it with grace and ease. Would be an asset to OYT South.”
Unity has definitely become the asset that Andy predicted, having qualified as a third mate in 2022 and being upgraded to second mate last year, sailing as often as possible and reliably stepping in to help us with unexpected sea staff vacancies. Last year’s Staff Skipper Diggory said: “Awarded for utter dedication, covered in oil or in the rain … Nothing they won’t do, nothing they won’t attempt, often in the face of specific circumstances that make things especially challenging.” Staff Mate Lauren added: “Loved by so many for bringing a sense of friendship and fun to the boat. Strong watchleader and has given us a lot of time at last winter’s refit and all last season. Performed a few pranks …”
In November 2024 Unity joined OYT South’s Board as Youth Trustee.
In 2024, there was also an honourable mention for Harry Lack, a young volunteer who has done some fantastic fundraising for the charity.
The 2023 winner was Tom Knight.
Here’s Tom receiving his trophy from the previous winner Sara Abdur:
Tom’s award citation in 2023 said:
Although Tom is still aged under 25, he is one of our more experienced volunteers, with several years under his belt as bosun, 3M and 2M. He originally came to us on a youth group voyage in 2016 when his report from the skipper was “Wow, how keen. A really enthusiastic young man. He took the lead where he could and encouraged and praised the others. Reliable doing all asked of him and more, a proactive young man. He also took pride and responsibility in the boat. He was thorough during clean up. He was keen to learn reading the almanac when he had a spare moment. He conned the boat into Portsmouth and he relished the opportunity and did very well. Another who earned a sea staff recommendation and would be enthusiastic to rise through the ranks.”
Tom has fulfilled that early promise and along the way he has become a really popular watchleader, with excellent skills in working with young people which he has carried forward into his career. Everyone who sails with Tom speaks of him with genuine warmth, appreciation and affection; and his bedtime stories on board are the stuff of legend. However, something that helped to tip the balance in Tom’s favour when we came to select the 2023 Gipsy Moth winner was the effort he has put into gaining RYA qualifications and building his experience. One of the main things that can keep good volunteers at second mate level without the chance of trying for first mate and beyond is the lack of RYA theory and practical qualifications, including time spent in smaller vessels where they can practice things like boat handling, and gain command experience. We have been trying to support and encourage people with the potential to climb through the ranks, and Tom is a great example of someone who has been really proactive in doing courses and gaining experience with other boats and in different sailing areas. At the time he won the award, he had a coastal skipper qualification and was thinking about the 60-mile passages he needs to complete as skipper before he can go for the Yachtmaster exam.
Tom continued to work hard on his qualifications and in 2024, he passed an assessment and qualified as a first mate.
The first award of the Gipsy Moth Trophy for OYT South’s Young Volunteer of the Year was made in February 2022, to Sara Abdur:
Sara was 19 and first sailed with us on a school voyage in 2019 – earning a recommendation to return for volunteer training in 2020 though of course that was cancelled by the pandemic. Nevertheless, Sara stayed in touch and took every opportunity to get involved and support the charity, both on board once voyages resumed and also at refit and training events. She became a qualified bosun in 2021, and after winning this award went on to become a third mate in 2022.
She was chosen as the winner for her potential, her enthusiasm and commitment – and even the office team commented that she makes their lives easier by sorting out paperwork and qualifications without needing to be chased!
OYT South’s Chief Executive Mark Todd said: “We are delighted to announce Sara as the winner of the Gipsy Moth Trophy for OYT South’s Young Volunteer of the Year. She has thoroughly deserved it for the effort and energy she has put in since she earned her recommendation to train as a volunteer, and she has shown immense potential for the future. By supporting young people who will be helping to deliver our voyages for years to come, we can ensure that the values of the Gipsy Moth Trust live on. I am very much looking forward to seeing how far Sara can go in sail training!”
Sara said: “Thank you so much for the award, I am truly honoured to be the first winner and can’t wait to see all the amazing people who will get it after me! Being a part of OYT, getting the chance to sail and meeting so many cool people these past few years has honestly helped me a lot and is something I definitely want to keep being involved with the charity so you’ll see a lot more of me in the coming years :))”
Sara temporarily ceased volunteering with the charity in June 2022 when she accepted a short-term contract to join our paid team on board until November 2022. After that she was elected to our Board of Trustees as our Youth Trustee, serving until November 2024 when she was appointed Staff Mate.
A new Young Volunteer of the Year will be announced in February each year.