In this Bulletin
Sections which have changed since last time marked *
- 2025 individual voyage available – LAST place for a young person this year!
- * AGM and curry night 8th November – ELEVEN DAYS to curry booking deadline!
- * Winter refit – help needed to clear the boat 8th & 9th November
- Goodwood House event on 6th November with Libby Purves – get your tickets NOW!
- * Voyage news
- Shorebased training weekend February 2026 – bookings open
- 2026 voyages – bookings open for groups and individuals
- 2026 adult voyages
- Vessel tracking – see where Prolific is sailing!
- Chris Ellis Award – win £££s of the price of your next voyage
- * Financial appeal
- Michael Campbell – thanksgiving service details 17th November
- Raise funds for OYT South if you’re shopping online – we’ve made over £2,700 through Easyfundraising! Are you aware of the size of donations available?
- OYT South social media – please share as well as liking! NB we are now on Bluesky instead of Twitter/X
- New readers’ welcome and introduction
- Receiving this newsletter by email
2025 individual voyage available – LAST place for a young person this year!
Our 2025 programme still has ONE remaining voyage with a space – please spread the word!
29 Oct – 2 Nov, Southampton, 4 nights, age 11-25, £545 per person – half term – 1 last place left!.
Email voyageadmin@oytsouth.org to ask about individual bookings.
AGM and curry night 8th November – ELEVEN DAYS to curry booking deadline!
If you want to join the curry after the AGM, please note that you MUST book and pay in advance – deadline 9am on Wednesday 5th November!
The mailing with the formal notice of the AGM, with the agenda, candidates for election and so on, has now gone out. If you are eligible to vote at the AGM then you should have received it – contact the office if you haven’t got it but think you should have been on the list.
It’s not too late to join and become a voting member if you are not already. You can pay your membership fee here – either as a non-sailing membership, or as part of your annual mates’ fee for sailing volunteers. There are reduced rates for under-25s, and sailing volunteers of any age who can’t afford to pay their annual fee can talk to us about bursary support – no-one should be deterred from sailing as a watchleader or bosun by the cost. But anyone who is regularly involved with the charity ought to be a member, able to have a say at the AGM, elect the Trustees and influence the future direction of the charity.
The AGM is open to anyone (though only members can vote) – all welcome. It’s in Southampton on 8th November – you can see the details (and book your curry) here.
Winter refit – help needed to clear the boat 8th & 9th November
Dates for your diary! We’ll be looking for help on refit weekdays but for those of you who can only come at weekends, these are the dates when we’re currently planning for the team to be working and needing loads of support:
8th and 9th November (AGM weekend) – lots of volunteers needed to clear the boat for refit, get sails off and so on.
29th and 30th November – aiming for this to be topside painting and capping rail repairs
17th and 18th January – no specific jobs list yet… watch this space!
7th and 8th March – post-refit clean, and sails and kit back on board
There won’t be a refit weekend in February because we have the training weekend.
Email refit@oytsouth.org if you can help. Refit volunteers should generally be aged 18+ but if you are 16 or 17 and have already received a recommendation to come back and train as a volunteer, it’s always worth asking as we may be able to include you.
No experience needed – plenty of unskilled jobs and plenty of skilled jobs which we can teach you!
Goodwood House event on 6th November with Libby Purves – get your tickets NOW!
Come and join us on 6th November at 7pm for this amazing event – BOOK NOW and please spread the word. We want to sell lots of tickets!
Goodwood is the seat of the Dukes of Richmond whose family art collection is one of the greatest in any English country house. You will be able to enjoy drinks and canapes, and visit the State Apartments as well as enjoying a talk by renowned journalist, broadcaster and author Libby Purves. If you saw Libby’s recent article in the Times about us, you will know that she is passionate about sail training. But there is a special reason why Libby is speaking at this event.
The entire evening has been set up by our great friends at Ned’s Fund, who have made many generous contributions towards the cost of voyages for young people who couldn’t otherwise afford to sail. They support a number of different charities but this year’s Goodwood event is all for OYT South. Ned’s Fund was set up in memory of a brilliant young man who took his own life in 2017. Libby also lost her son, Nicholas, to suicide in 2006, when he was 23. Nick was a lovely and talented person and a great sailor who had done a voyage with OYT South in our previous boat, John Laing.
So the combination of Ned’s Fund, Libby Purves and OYT South will make for a very special and unmissable evening. Tickets now available for £45 per person!
Thanks to those who have volunteered to help at this event – at the moment we have enough volunteers but if you really want to come and can’t afford a ticket, email caroline.white@oytsouth.org and we can see what might be possible.
* Voyage news
The last newsletter left our crew of girls from Greig City Academy having spent a night at anchor in Stokes Bay with everyone taking turns at a 2-hour anchor watch. They had a slightly later start next morning as a result and after getting some fresh air on deck and cleaning the boat, they settled down to some theory training for their RYA qualifications – weather, knots, points of sail and flares.
Then it was time for biscuits, raising the anchor and hoisting the sails – and a sail out towards the Nab Tower.
They turned back into the Solent at the Nab, and got to Cowes in the late afternoon, and went ashore for showers. Then dinner and extreme washing up! They ended the day by filling out their logbooks and playing a game of wink murder.
On Saturday they did a speedy happy hour with the incentive of going ashore at the end of it. They went out to explore Cowes and did a photo treasure hunt where they had to take pictures of different items to spell out PROLIFIC.
Once back they split into two watches to plan the pilotage up from Cowes to Southampton. After deck preps, they paused to make pizza wraps:
Once those were in the oven the team went back on deck and waved Cowes goodbye. The more experienced members of the school group led some sail hoists and then they headed back to Southampton, using their pilotage plans to take charge on the way:
Once the boat was secure and tidy they had an early Hallowe’en party with pumpkin carving, decorating the boat with cobwebs, making spooky biscuits and more! After dinner they filled out personal logbooks and then reviewed the pictures and videos they had taken in Cowes on the big projector.
The crew left on Sunday after 141 nautical miles – you can see their voyage track here. Nine crew members earned RYA Start Yachting Certificates and the four most experienced earned RYA Competent Crew qualifications.
As last week’s newsletter noted, one of the Greig City crew – 18-year-old Loreto Rodriguez – has been shortlisted for the Yachting Journalists’ Association 2025 YJA Young Journalist of the Year Award. We included her midweek impressions in the previous newsletter but she kindly wrote a final verdict for us:
“As the voyage comes to an end, I can say that it has been in line with our expectations and has been an amazing opportunity for the girls to be exposed to different environments in which they hadn’t been in before.
In terms of sailing I think everyone has learnt a significant range of skills which will be helpful in the future. I am very pleased as everyone got their start yachting/competent crew certificates.
On the other hand, the transferable skills they developed has been impressive, from seeing them hoisting the sails in day 2 compared to day 5 with enhanced communication and teamwork was great to see.
We saw some nice sunrise/set and dolphins which made the trip even more exciting. It has been a successful week, and I am pleased that I was able to see the progress made by everyone!”
Big thanks to sea staff Andy Brown, Sara, Josh, Unity Bowns, Lucinda Neall, Iori Kent and Harry Lack.
Crew feedback included:
“It was the best trip I’ve ever had in my whole entire life. I will never ever forget anything that happened in this trip. All of the staff were so nice, supportive, kind and the best. All of you are living in my heart now (and Prolific) … Please don’t forget me. Thank you so so so much for everything you are the best!! It’s really hard to leave.”
“It’s been so incredible on Prolific. I’ve loved it soooo much!!! I can’t give the crew enough praise, we’ve all had so much fun and memories. Thanks so much to all the sea staff xx!”
“Best bit: leading some of the hoists. Most lasting memory: seeing the dolphins and going on the bowsprit and then the Halloween night that the crew did for us.”
“Was the funnest week ever! The crew is the best, sunny, supportive and always there to help! I learned so much and would definitely do it again!”
“Really enjoyed this voyage with you all, wouldn’t have been as fun without all the sea staff, hope you all continue sailing going forward!!!”
“I LOVED ITTT! It was so fun and the crew was so funny and friendly. I would so come back because it was so amazing overall.”
“It was lovely to be here on this journey and I couldn’t believe how friendly the sea staff were! It felt like we were all a family (with a bit too many siblings). It made me love sailing even more. Best bit: learning how to sail a bit better and going to the helm and trying to steer us the right way and not crash. Most lasting memory: Going on the bowsprit or seeing the dolphins or 2-6-heave and then all of us falling down.”
“AAA! It was so great, everyone is so welcoming and warm – it really is such a great experience and I would recommend it any day.”
“It was soooooooo fun. I really enjoyed being on the boat. It was an amazing experience. I know way more about sailing and the sea staff were so kind and funny. I had the best time”
“Such a fun experience! I learnt many new skills that inspired me to properly start sailing! Definitely want to do it again! Best bit: connecting with everyone and like strengthening my friendships.”
This week we were delighted to have Costello School back on board – although the weather has not been as kind as we would have liked, with Storm Benjamin not too far away. However, they joined on Monday – and Tuesday saw some great conditions for sailing along the Eastern Solent, with the crew involved in managing the sails, steering and navigating through the busy shipping channels.
While the weather was sunny, they stopped off for some tea and cake at anchor. Before arriving in Cowes, they had man overboard recovery drills, with all of the crew participating actively to bring Bob the fender back on board safe and well!
On Wednesday, the crew got the chance to explore Cowes, most having never visited the island before. They set off and anchored in Osborne Bay to eat their pasty lunch in the light winds and sunshine.
Once they were set for sea, they had a full main and jib up as they sailed along Southampton Water before the forecasted poor weather arrived. Everyone managed to get a chance to steer as well as get out onto the bowsprit before arriving back in Ocean Village.
On Thursday, they expected very high winds so prudently stayed in port. The crew were challenged with key principles of sailing including weather, emergency safety systems, knots, engine systems, parts of the boat, passage planning and nautical customs.
To break things up, they threw in some fun too with a scavenger hunt around the marina, an environmental energy project – and some pumpkin carving.
To end the day, the crew were treated to a movie night with hot chocolate and popcorn.
It was amazing how much they managed to fit in to the voyage! They left the boat this morning and we will include their feedback in the next issue, but you can see their voyage track here.
Big thanks to sea staff Constantinos, Andrew Wilkes, Nige Bush, Andrew Page, Iori Kent, Aoife Harrington and Anna Owen.
Shorebased training weekend February 2026 – bookings open
Next year’s OYT South training weekend for staff and volunteers will run from 7pm on Friday 6th February to 4.30pm on Sunday 8th February at a new venue, Foxlease Park, Clay Hill, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, SO43 7DE. As last year, all accommodation and meals will be available on site. Accommodation will be in bunk rooms.
This weekend is open to current staff and volunteers as well as new volunteers who have started the process of getting involved with us and are hoping to sail on our voyages next year.
See here for details and booking form.
Saturday 7th February
0900 – Welcome / housekeeping
0930 – Youth Mental Health First Aid Awareness
1230 – Lunch
1330 – Behaviour Buddy – strategies for managing behaviour
1430 – Office update (Booking system/ membership consultation)
1530 – Tea/coffee Break
1600 – Safeguarding
1700 – Free time
Sunday 8th February
0900 – First Aid OR Sail Repair (these are both full-day courses)
1230 – Lunch
1330 – First Aid OR Sail Repair continued
1630 – Finish
Time TBC – GMDSS
GMDSS involves an online course which MUST be completed in advance, followed by a short practical session and exam on the day, to get your radio licence.
Price list
This year we have simplified things – instead of a separate price for every course, meal and overnight stay, we can offer all-inclusive prices as well as some separate options. The booking form is available here, but prices are shown below for information.
Whole weekend including sail repairs – £120
Whole weekend including first aid – £150
Day rate (including lunch) – £50
Day rate plus dinner and evening – £65
Just First Aid (including lunch) – £80
GMDSS – £40 course fee plus separate exam fee (cost tbc – currently £76 but it may increase in January) payable to the RYA
Optional add-ons
Bedding and towels – £7
Friday evening meal – £5
2026 voyages – bookings open for groups and individuals
Do you know a school or youth club or another organisation which might like an exclusive booking for 12-15 people? Are you looking for an individuals’ voyage in the summer holidays?
The 2026 programme is now available on the website and there is an availability list here. If you are interested in a 2026 booking, please ask.
2026 adult voyages
2026 adult weekends are open for bookings:
24-26 April 2026, Southampton, 2 nights, age range 18+, £270 per person, adult weekend voyage (Friday evening to Sunday evening)
9-11 Oct 2026, Southampton, 2 nights, age range 18+, £270 per person, adult weekend voyage (Friday evening to Sunday evening)
These weekends are ideal for people who want to find out more about the possibility of volunteering with us – but you are also welcome if you simply want to come along and enjoy a sail on board Prolific!
Vessel tracking – see where Prolific is sailing !
You can always have a look and see what we’re up to. This site updates every six hours so don’t worry if the vessel doesn’t appear to be moving! There are other sites (like Marine Traffic) which update more often; but especially for families of a young person on board, the tracking on our site allows you to have a look two or three times a day and see what’s going on.
Chris Ellis Award – win £££s of the price of your next voyage
Open for 2025 entries.
If you have enjoyed a voyage with OYT South and want to come again (and are aged 11-25), please think about entering for this award. You can win up to £500 off the price of another voyage, by sending in an account of a voyage you have already done with us. It can be a logbook, diary, story, pictures, video – anything which gives the judges an idea of why you had a good time and would like to come again. The prize is judged at the end of each season and the award can be spent on a voyage the following year. Entries should be emailed to webmaster1@oytsouth.org or posted to the office. See here for more details of this award, which was set up in memory of one of the charity’s founders. You can also see some previous winning entries.
* Financial appeal
Big thanks this week to the Lambert Charitable Trust, to a parent of a young person on a recent voyage, and to all the people contributing in memory of Kit Power, for some very kind donations.
We need a regular flow of funds to cover at least three major areas: bursaries for young people who could not otherwise afford to sail; vessel maintenance and equipment; and staff salaries – please help, or pass on our details to anyone you come across who might make a grant, large or small.
See here for how to make a donation – you can contribute by cheque, bank transfer or PayPal, but please do something if you possibly can. Don’t forget that if you complete and return a Gift Aid form we can claim back tax on your donation.
Michael Campbell – thanksgiving service 17th November
We recently reported the death of our lovely vice patron Michael Campbell. There will be a Thanksgiving Service for Michael’s life in Winchester Cathedral at 11am on Monday 17th November. All OYT / OYC people very welcome but his office is trying to keep a track of numbers so if you wish to attend, please confirm to office@elliscampbell.co.uk.
Raise funds for OYT South if you’re shopping online – we’ve made over £2,700 through Easyfundraising! Are you aware of the size of donations available?
We mention Easyfundraising in the newsletter each week and we’re really grateful to those people who are using it regularly, but there must be people who haven’t looked at it, or often don’t remember to do it.
Here’s what it DOESN’T do:
- Require you to buy from sources you wouldn’t normally use
- Take lots of time
- Ask you to do anything complicated at all!
- Produce donations so small you would barely notice
- Cost you a penny!
You simply have to buy whatever you already planned to buy online, from whoever you choose to shop with – but having signed up with Easyfundraising, just click to accept a donation if it’s offered when you shop. It’s often a percentage, which means the donations can be really significant for bigger items – a holiday, a flight, an expensive train ticket etc. For example, one volunteer got a £17 donation when renewing their home insurance. Someone else earned nearly £10 from a VistaPrint order. A few donations like that from a hundred supporters and it starts looking like a really significant total each year.
Do tell us if you’ve got a really good donation from something you bought – these stories help to inspire others. Maybe you even order things online for business purposes and your employer would agree to donate to us like this – at no cost to them but a way to feel good every time they need new boxes of business cards or train tickets to get staff to a conference!
It takes a minute or two to sign up to Easyfundraising: you can do it on a desktop, tablet and/or phone, and you can install a widget that flags up when a donation is available. Once that’s done, imagine you’re looking to buy – say – a rainbow unicorn: just put “rainbow unicorn” in your usual search box, and the list of results shows you which sites come with donations, and how much. It’s up to you what to pick and whether to accept the donation from the site, but a huge choice of sites will offer a donation, often including the site you would normally choose to use for all your rainbow unicorn requirements – and it doesn’t cost you anything, you pay the same price you would pay anyway.
PLEASE click the link now and sign up!
We have already raised over £2,700 through Easyfundraising – huge thanks to everyone who has used it!
OYT South social media – please share as well as liking! NB we are now on Bluesky instead of Twitter/X
If you look at the top left of any page on our website, you can click on icons for Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. We are also on TikTok.
We have now updated the social media links on our website, replacing Twitter/X with Bluesky – please come and join us there!
Please share our social media posts as widely as you can – with the help of all our supporters, this charity is doing some amazing work and we need more people to hear about it. You don’t need to do anything more than share a post, or perhaps add a comment which could be as simple as “I’ve sailed with this charity!” or “I volunteer for this charity!”.
Please note that OYT South has a policy that our adult staff and volunteers should not make or accept personal online connections with crew members aged under 18, or vulnerable adults. Crew members can use the sites to stay in touch with the boat and with each other, but not with individual staff and volunteers.
New readers’ welcome and introduction
If you have recently registered your interest in OYT South, welcome to our newsletter, which is sent out almost every week, normally on a Friday, and is also copied onto the website.
If you have just started receiving this newsletter by email, it is because we believe you have signed up and consented to receive it – perhaps by emailing us to ask for it, completing a form on our website, or adding your email address to the book on board where people can sign up to receive news, as well as leaving comments. If this was a mistake or you simply decide you want to stop receiving the newsletter, just press “reply” to the email and write UNSUBSCRIBE at the top, or email webmaster1@oytsouth.org asking to unsubscribe.
Each week the newsletter includes a wide range of news from the boat and from the charity, including details of voyages available for young people; adult voyages; opportunities for adult volunteers both ashore and afloat, and much more. We find that while some people read the bulletin almost every week, many others dip in and out, and read it when it’s convenient – which is why some items are repeated. New items are marked with an asterisk * so that if you did read it last week, you can see which sections you can safely skip.
Please feel free to join in any OYT South activities – nothing here is restricted to long-standing members or people who already know one another. New people are always very welcome!
If you need an introduction to the work of OYT South, you should find a lot of useful information on our website. But essentially, we are a registered charity (no. 1079959) which exists to offer adventure under sail as a personal development opportunity for young people aged 11-25, from the widest possible range of backgrounds. A high proportion of our young crew members are disadvantaged or deserving in some way: many of these sail in groups organised by other charities, youth clubs, special schools and so on, and will fill the bulk of our term-time voyages. But those from more fortunate backgrounds are also welcome to sail, either in groups or by coming as individuals on a mixed voyage. Every year we run a variety of shorter local voyages plus longer adventure trips – sometimes including Tall Ships races during the summer holidays. If you are aged 11-25 and hoping to sail as a crew member, take a look here – and this section is also useful for adults who are thinking of organising a voyage for a young person. Adults planning to organise a full group voyage should also see here. Adults who want to sail themselves should see here.
We have a professional staff skipper, mate and engineer, but our watch leaders are normally all volunteers, who combine sailing skills with an interest in working with young people. You can find more information here – how the system works, how to join, and profiles of existing staff and volunteers.
To volunteer for OYT South ashore, please see here. To help with the vessel’s annual refit, see here.
It is a very expensive business maintaining a boat, running an office and employing staff. If you want to help us, please become a member of OYT South. Or see here for information on making a donation.
If you have any questions, please do email – or contact the office.
Receiving this newsletter by email
Many thanks to all those who have given consent to receiving this newsletter by email. If you are not currently getting it by email and would like to, please just click here Newsletter Subscribe and press “send”, or email webmaster1@oytsouth.org.