Sea staff
These are some of the people you might meet on board, helping to run our voyages. There will normally be around seven staff on board, including a skilled and experienced skipper and first mate; but we also have a lot of volunteers who sail a few times each year – and we train new volunteers every year, some of whom will be aged under 25 and were invited back after impressing the skipper when they sailed on a youth voyage.
Mark Todd – CEO and relief skipper
Previously a solicitor, Mark has been working in sail training since 1997, including nine years as OYT South’s Staff Skipper. He moved into a shore-based role in November 2009, and became Chief Executive in 2010. He is Chairman of the Association of Sail Training Organisations, an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, a Yachtmaster Examiner, and sits on the Yachtmaster Qualifications Panel. He was the inaugural winner in 2011 of the MCA/ASTO Award for Command Commitment to Sail Training, and is an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute.
Constantinos “Gotch” Jensen – Staff Skipper
Constantinos (aka Gotch) joined as Prolific’s Staff Skipper in January 2024. He’s a very experienced Yachtmaster Instructor who came to us after some years instructing at UKSA, who describe themselves as “the world’s leading provider of maritime training”. Constantinos had been skippering their Farr 65, running Yachtmaster training. He has 12 years’ experience in the sailing industry, including time spent as a sailmaker as well as training and coaching racing sailors in events from the Clipper round the world race through to the Fastnet Race. It was this last experience that sparked his interest in sail training. Many of you will know of our regular voyages with Greig City Academy in Haringey, which, through the Scaramouche sailing trust, has a remarkable reputation for giving sailing opportunities to inner-city young people, and back in 2017 realised an ambition to become the first state school to compete in the Fastnet race. Constantinos coached the Greig City Academy crew for the 2019 Fastnet and has seen the difference that sailing has made to their lives. He has also worked with the SeaChange Foundation at UKSA – all of which convinced him that the most fulfilling next step in his career would be to become a full-time sail training skipper.
Diggory Rose – Relief Skipper
Diggory joined as Prolific’s full-time Staff Skipper for the 2023 season, but he has been a friend to OYT South for many years. Diggory went to boatbuilding college and got the bug for big boat sailing by volunteering on Leader. He sailed with Trinity and the Cirdan Trust, and got his first command in 2003, sailing Duet which had earier been one of the two founding yachts of the Ocean Youth Club. What then followed was a decade in Sail Training for a variety of organisations culminating in the building of Pegasus with the Island Trust. Diggory moved out of Sail Training in 2013 and was a Watch Officer with the Coastguard amidst other sailing roles, before joining the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust in 2015. He is also an experienced RYA Yachtmaster Examiner. When he decided to move back into full-time skippering, Diggory said: “In 2013 I left the [sail training] sector in search of pastures new and have enjoyed many and varied experiences all of which have enhanced and shaped my view of the world but none of which have come even vaguely close to being as rewarding, demanding or satisfactory as sail training is. As time has rolled by I find myself ever more convinced that I am at my best in that world and that the personal, social and spiritual benefits of sail training, both for the trainer and trainee alike, are not available in any other aspect of life … The benefits of sail training for the young people who take part are manifold and vital and the experiences gained aboard sailing vessels cannot be bettered in any other field.”
Josh Caudery – Staff Engineer
Josh was doing an apprenticeship in marine engineering when he came to help us with some work on a winter refit. He found he loved sailing and working with young people – and he’s been with us full-time since November 2015.
Lauren Mackenzie – 1M / skipper
Lauren was a dinghy instructor and came to OYT South to do her DofE Gold residential. She was invited to return as a volunteer and sailed as a bosun on a number of voyages before qualifying as a third mate on the first opportunity after her 18th birthday, and being upgraded to second mate later that season. Meanwhile she was completing a maths degree. At the end of 2022 she was further upgraded to First Mate, at the age of 22 – and might have got there even sooner if we hadn’t lost a season and a half to Covid! She joined our full-time staff team as Mate and ran much of the winter vessel refit ahead of the 2023 sailing season.
Lauren passed her Skipper Assessment at the end of the 2024 sailing season.
Sara Abdur – staff mate
Sara first sailed on a voyage with her school and later started volunteering and helping with vessel maintenance. This led to a paid role in 2022 as OYT South’s staff cadet, and then she returned to sailing as a volunteer for a couple of years, during which time she was on the Board of OYT South as our Youth Trustee – we always aim to have at least one Trustee aged under 25, to make sure that the views of young people are represented when the charity makes decisions.
Since this video was made, Sara has returned to us full-time as Staff Mate, which meant she had to stand down from the Board, and has passed her First Mate assessment..
Iori Kent – volunteer bosun and third mate
Iori came to the charity to help out with winter maintenance: he was part of the full-time refit team over the winter of 2021-2, which means he knows a lot about the boat and how everything works. Now he sails as a volunteer bosun, looking after maintenance and safety, especially when our Staff Engineer is on leave.
In 2025 Iori also completed a third mate assessment.
Aaron Arnold – volunteer bosun
Aaron sailed on a youth voyage in 2022 and earned a recommendation to join our volunteer team. He helped out with winter maintenance on board before returning in 2023 as a trainee bosun, learning how to look after maintenance and safety on board. He completed his bosun assessment and qualified in May 2023.
Julian Ware – volunteer watchleader
Julian sailed on an adult voyage in 2019 and has been volunteering for us ever since. He was signed off as a third mate in 2021 and upgraded to second mate in 2022.
Val Hague – volunteer watchleader
Val is a longstanding volunteer whose connections with the charity go back to her teenage years. She has also arranged groups of young people to sail with us.
Lee Mosscrop – relief skipper and Trustee
Lee retired from the Police Service in 2010 and now works as a freelance sailing instructor, delivering instructor training at home and abroad. He also gets asked to appear as an expert witness and to compile post-accident reports in serious marine accidents, so he knows a lot about safety at sea.
Martyn Powe – volunteer First Mate, Treasurer and Trustee
Martyn sails on board Prolific as a volunteer First Mate but he is also a member of the Board of Trustees of OYT South and our Treasurer – helping to make sure we have the funds to keep running voyages for young people in the long term!
Steve Lacey – volunteer First Mate, Trustee and Safeguarding Officer
Steve first came to OYT South as a youthworker bringing groups of young people to sail. When the charity realised he brought great youthwork and particularly safeguarding experience, we knew we wanted to keep him involved in our work!
Jack Dignan – volunteer watchleader
Jack was born unable to see out of his left eye and first sailed with OYT South in 2014 at the age of 17 with a group organised by MACS, the charity for children born without eyes or with underdeveloped eyes. He was invited back for volunteer training and became a second mate in 2015. He also spent three years as the charity’s Youth Trustee.
Miranda Camping – volunteer First Mate
Miranda did several voyages in our previous vessel John Laing as a crew member and also helped with maintenance and other jobs on board in order to earn her bosun’s recommendation. After a number of voyages as relief bosun, she passed her third mate’s assessment in 2010 and was later upgraded to second mate, before becoming a first mate in 2022.
Martin Bayfield – volunteer watchleader
Martin came across OYT South on a day sail for RYA instructors in 2015. He returned as a volunteer in 2018 and quickly qualified as a watchleader. He was upgraded to second mate in 2022.
Andy Gissing – volunteer First Mate
Andy is an experienced sailing instructor who was signed off as a third mate on his first voyage with us, in 2015. He became a second mate in 2018 and a first mate in 2019.
Patrick Kelly – volunteer watchleader
Patrick was one of our full-time refit volunteers over the winter of 2011-12. He then sailed as bosun and trainee mate before completing a watchleader assessment in summer 2012. He is now a junior doctor.
Since this video was made, Patrick has been upgraded to volunteer First Mate.
Tom Knight – volunteer first mate
Tom first sailed with us with his youth club in 2016 and quickly became a keen volunteer, moving up through the ranks to become a second mate in 2019. In 2023 he won OYT South’s Gipsy Moth Trophy for our Young Volunteer of the Year.
In September 2024 he passed the assessment to become a first mate.
Michelle van den Bergh – volunteer first mate
Michelle is a very experienced sailor who joined us as a volunteer in 2021 and completed her third mate’s assessment early in 2022 before being upgraded to second mate later the same year. In September 2024 she was upgraded again to First Mate!
Hilary Croft – volunteer watchleader
Hilary sailed on an adult voyage, and her daughter also sailed with us, before she started volunteering in 2023. She completed her third mate’s assessment in July 2023.
Vernon Harten-Ash – volunteer watchleader
An experienced sailor, Vernon sailed with us for the first time in 2021 and was immediately signed off as a bosun, upgraded to third mate in 2022.
Graeme Cole – volunteer First Mate
One of our most longstanding first mates! He retired from active sailing at the end of 2024.
Cathy Lacey, volunteer First Mate and a member of the safeguarding team
Cathy was an Engineer Officer in the Royal Navy and also a qualified part-time youth worker. She was upgraded from second mate to first mate towards the end of the 2023 season so this video is a little out of date!
Susanna Paynter, volunteer watchleader
Susanna first sailed on a youth voyage and then joined our core team for half of the winter refit 2017-18. Since then she has become a third mate and then a second mate – and she also won a sail training exchange to Canada!
Andy Royse, volunteer First Mate
Andy was sailing as a young crew member in the 1990s and has been involved ever since, including several years as a Trustee of OYT South. An engineer, he is passionate about street-furniture and often entertains the crew with his knowledge of street lighting. He can also snap things out of the air like a giraffe. He loves doing chart corrections.
Glyn Collins, volunteer First Mate
Glyn has worked in some demanding jobs and has been involved with the Ocean Youth Trust for many years. He was upgraded to First Mate in July 2024.
James Robinson, volunteer watchleader
James earned a volunteer recommendation on a youth voyage in 2021 and after sailing on a few more voyages as trainee mate, he completed his third mate assessment in July 2023.
James says: “I’m currently studying natural sciences at university. I learnt to sail initially in optimist dinghies on a lake near me and was first introduced to yacht sailing when on holiday in Greece in a flotilla. Some of my interests are rowing, cycling and travelling.”
Brigid Stoney, volunteer first mate
Brigid has been a first mate since 2012. She works as a speech and language therapist but has also previously worked for OYT Scotland.
Adeana Rowan, volunteer trainee bosun
Adeana was chosen as an MDL Award Winner – young people supported to sail with us by our major sponsors – due to sail in 2020, so when the pandemic cancelled all our voyages she thought the opportunity had gone. Instead, she finally got her place in 2021 and stayed involved, beginning her volunteer training in 2023.
Unity Bowns
Second mate
Hi, my name is Unity, I’m a volunteer second mate. I originally learnt to sail from my dad, and I have sailed with the charity since 2021, when I was aged 20. I fell in love with sail training and OYT South. I was so excited to be asked back as a volunteer and have loved spending time on board working with young people and learning more about sailing and the boat. I am nonbinary and use they/them pronouns. I started using different pronouns after I’d started with the charity, and changed them fully in 2023. I like to tell people my pronouns at the start of the week when we all introduce ourselves and talk about our expectations and goals for the week. I find the boat to be such a great environment because there are no expectations for who or what you are, or what you can do: as long as you’re getting involved, you’re an important part of the crew. Outside of OYT South I’m studying French and literature at university!
Andy Kitching
Second mate
Andy sailed as a crew member aged 14 in 1997 with a young skipper called Dave Carnson …Ten years went by and Andy became a watch leader with OYT North West before returning to OYT South in 2007 on a voyage skippered by….Dave Carnson. Andy’s had a lot of sailing adventures since then but still enjoys sailing with us when he can.
Robert Lawrence
Second mate
Robert is an experienced skipper who has only recently joined OYT South, doing his first voyage in 2022 and returning for a couple more voyages in 2023. We knew his strong sailing background would see him making rapid progress as he comes to terms with the peculiarities of sail training with young people! He was upgraded to second mate early in 2024.
Andy Brown
Relief skipper
Andy is a former OYC staff skipper (for Grania and Falmouth Packet) who met his wife, Sally, when she sailed as his bosun! They both still sail with OYT and have two daughters who have volunteered with the charity (Hannah is a current second mate), plus a son (now a doctor) who has previously sailed with us. Andy is a Hydrographic Surveyor working in the Oil & Gas Industry. You can find Sally and Hannah on this page too – though you may not find all three sailing on the same voyage!
Sandy Garrity
Third mate
Sandy is a retired Safety Engineer. He enjoys sailing anything bigger than a dinghy and has been attempting to learn celestial navigation. He joined the sea staff in 2021.
Big thanks to crew member Jack Yare for signing Sandy’s video!
Nige Bush
Second mate
Nige came on a mates’ training weekend in 2021 and was invited back as a volunteer. He was signed off as a third mate towards the end of 2022, and upgraded to second mate in 2023.
Rebecca Brookes
Third mate
Rebecca started watchleader training in 2024 and quickly passed her third mate assessment.
Nic Crawford
Relief skipper
Nic is qualified as a marine surveyor and knows a huge amount about vessel safety. He does a great David Bowie on guitar, and is very laid back. He thinks that the key to a good voyage is aftenoon tea with cake – preferably Jamaica ginger cake.
Jon Seddon
Second mate
Jon got involved with us at the 2007-8 winter refit and impressed everyone by working very hard while always looking as though he was enjoying it. He has previously spent a season as a flotilla engineer in the Mediterranean and is an enthusiastic second mate.
Lucinda Neall
Second mate
Lucinda first sailed with OYT South in 2004 when she organised a voyage for a group from her local youth club. Then she realised she could sail more often by becoming a watchleader! She became a second mate in 2015. Lucinda is the author of the excellent book “How to Talk to Teenagers” and more.
Ben “Sparky” Whinnett
First mate
Ben completed a Yachtmaster course in 2008 and is busy extending his sailing experience. He joined OYT South’s full-time core refit team for winter 2008-9, having completed a mate’s assessment at the end of the 2008 season, and was upgraded to second mate early in 2009 and to first mate at the end of that season. He has also worked for the charity, running a refit and helping with the New Boat Project before we bought Prolific.
Andrew Wilkes
Relief skipper
Andrew spent many years in the telecoms industry and then ran a small business in Lymington; but now he sails as much as possible. He is the Editor of the Arctic and Northern Waters Cruising Guide published by the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation. Although he has sailed south to Cape Horn and north to Baffin Island, he says some of his most interesting sailing has been with OYT South in the English Channel. He joined the sea staff in 2009 and spent many years sailing as first mate before beoming a relief skipper in 2024.
Frederik Ferner
Third mate
Frederik got involved with OYT South after meeting one of our mates at a music festival. He did an adult voyage from Germany to Poland in 2009, and came back as a volunteer in 2010.
Rooby Vaughan-Woods
First mate
Rooby joined the sea staff in 2010 and was quickly upgraded to second mate. She became a first mate in 2015.
Adam Lane
First mate
Adam is from an OYT South family – his dad was once Chairman of the Trust. He started sailing with us in 2011 and quickly qualified as a second mate before being upgraded to first mate in 2019. His career lies in personal development, coaching & leadership – he is passionate about helping people realise their potential & have a great time doing it.
Hannah Brown
Second mate
Hannah is a primary school teacher (mainly to have the long holidays to go sailing!). She has done a lot of sail training in various vessels – long adventure voyages, trips with crews with disabilities and much more. She really enjoys the winter refits and is a keen watchleader.
Sally Brown
Second mate
In 1985 Sally sailed in the Round Britain and Ireland Yacht race with another keen OYC girl, Chris Bryan, to raise funds for the Ocean Youth Club (now OYT). They beat the Royal Marines who retired from the race because of heavy weather! Now a Paediatric Physiotherapist, she has a husband and two daughters who all sail with OYT South – it has been suggested that women make better sailors but maybe this is because Andy is outnumbered in the family…
Clara Theil
Third mate
Clara first sailed with us in 2014 and became a bosun in 2015. In 2022 she passed a third mate’s assessment.
Lucy Grodie
First mate
Lucy used to run the Association of Sail Training Organisations and still enjoys coming on the occasional voyage with OYT South – as well as helping out in our office!
Will Parker
Second mate
Will is from an OYT South family and followed in the footsteps of his older sister to sail several times as a young crew member before joining the volunteer sea staff. He became a second mate in 2018 and talked about his time with OYT South in a successful interview to join the Royal Navy. We hope he will manage to sail with us when on leave!
Vince Brodie
Relief skipper
Vince is a hugely experienced skipper and youthworker who sails on a number of our voyages and takes a particular interest in training new skippers.
Andy Viney
Relief skipper
Andy started as a volunteer but eventually became OYT South’s Staff Skipper 2013-17, and was the skipper overseeing the transition from John Laing to Prolific. He still returns as an occasional relief skipper.
Cathy Ayres
Second mate
Cathy made an instant impact on a training voyage for prospective volunteers in 2016 and has been one of our most regular watchleaders ever since, becoming a second mate at the end of 2018.
Rosalie Sanders
Second mate
Rosalie sailed as a young crew member before being recommended to join our volunteer sea staff. She qualfied as a second mate in 2018.
David Dent
Second mate
David did a mates’ training weekend in 2015 and sailed regularly as a third mate before being upgraded to second mate in 2021.
Annant Shah
Second mate
Annant started sailing with OYT South in 2005 having had previous experience with other forms of sail training. He was upgraded to second mate in 2022.
Willoughby Matthews
Second mate
Willoughby first sailed as a crew member in John Laing in 2015 and joined the sea staff in 2017, becoming a third mate on board Prolific. His hobbies include politics, boats and travelling. By day, Willoughby volunteers for his local lifeboat station. He was upgraded to second mate in 2022.
James Boyce
Relief skipper
James was our Staff Skipper 2009-2012. He then led a sailing expedition to Antarctica and later began working as a paramedic. He still sails with us as an occasional relief skipper.
Jack Thompson
Third mate and bosun
Jack earned his sea staff recommendation in 2019 and has since been back for further training. he was signed off as a bosun in July 2023 and third mate on the following voyage. Passing two assessments on consecutive voyages may be some kind of record!
Harry Lack
Bosun
Harry first sailed with his school in 2018 when he was aged 13, and immediately impressed with his commitment and enthusiasm. He started volunteer training as soon as he was old enough and was signed off as a bosun early in 2022, at the age of 17..
Anna Owen
Second mate
Anna is a teacher who joined us as a volunteer in 2021, completed her third mate’s assessment in 2022 and was upgraded to second mate in 2024.
Barry Walker
Third mate
Barry is an airline pilot who had given the charity extensive help with vessel maintenance before qualifying as a third mate in 2022 and moving straight on to start his second mate assessment.
Millie Hughes
Bosun / trainee watchleader
“I first sailed with OYT South for my Gold DofE residential in 2018. I had been sailing before this but I absolutely loved being able to be on a much bigger boat and with a fun group of other young people. Covid stopped me coming back sooner but in 2022 I managed to sail as a volunteer and got my bosun qualification in October of that year. I wish I could come and sail more often because I always have so much fun on Prolific and I never stop learning more about how the boat works. I feel really comfortable on board and the environment is very neurodivergent-friendly and welcoming. Outside of volunteering, I have just graduated from the University of Birmingham.”
Jo Macgregor
Third mate
Jo says “I’ve been involved with the charity since 2014 when I was part of the core refit team on John Laing [OYT South’s previous boat]. I work as a Naval Architect (Yacht Designer) and spend most of my spare time out sailing on different boats. I am very proud of my large supply of ‘Dad Jokes’!”
Graeme Findlay
Second mate
Graeme sailed as a volunteer with OYT Scotland, before moving to the south of England and joining OYT South, where his skills and experience were quickly obvious on board and he was signed off as a Prolific 3rd mate straight away. He was upgraded to second mate early in 2025.
Tori Pickles
Third mate
Tori did a number of voyages with the MACS charity, for young people born without eyes or with under-developed eyes, before being signed off as a watchleader in 2023.
Mark Dent
Third mate
I have been volunteering with OYT South since 2021. I didn’t have a lot of sailing experience beforehand, but quickly realised that really doesn’t matter as there are always people on hand to support and develop your skills. Most young people who come on board are fairly nervous initially, and that is no different to how I felt when I first joined the boat. I have always found everyone to be friendly, understanding and fun. I enjoy the sailing, but the best part of being involved in this incredible charity is helping young people have an amazing and fun experience; seeing the positive changes in young people during the voyage. Being a part of that gives me huge pleasure and satisfaction.
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It’s not just about the sailing. It’s about having fun whatever age you are.’
Caitlin Neall-Johnston
Third mate
Caitlin was inspired to sail with us by her grandmother who is also a volunteer watchleader. After initially sailing as youth crew, she joined the core refit team and volunteered full-time on boat maintenance over the winter 2023-4, and was signed off as a third mate very quickly at the start of the next season.
Katie Hamlet
Second mate
Katie is an experienced sailor who got involved with OYT South in 2023 and was upgraded to second mate in 2025.
Hannah Blyton
Third mate
Hannah sailed as youth crew in 2022 and was invited back as a volunteer – she qualified as a third mate early in 2024.
Edward Gordon-Thomson
Third mate and Bosun
“Hi, my name is Edward! My interest in sailing started when I was 10 years old by completing my level 1 and 2 RYA sailing courses with my friend. Since then, my passion for all things nautical has grown. I first sailed with Ocean Youth Trust South in 2022 in partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. The OYT staff I met on that trip inspired me to work with and help others as I discovered the tremendous empowering feeling of helping young people boost their confidence and teamwork skills through the medium of sailing. After that trip I was delighted to receive a volunteer recommendation and a chance to work towards a position of Bosun on board Prolific. I am currently studying a biochemistry degree at Queen’s University Belfast where amongst other things I also participate in the university sailing team.”
Ed was signed off as a qualified bosun in May 2024 and as a third mate in May 2025.
Simon Brammer
Second mate
Simon first sailed with OYT South on an Outdoor Lads adventure in September 2023. Due to the wild weather they didn’t get too far but he loved every minute of it. The things Simon loves most about sailing are: Hot coffee on a cold deck, the fast friendships you make and cooking in confined spaces. When he joined us he was definitely used to smaller boats but he couldn’t wait to get sailing and learn new things with everyone. He quickly qualified as a third mate and was upgraded to second mate in 2026. Outside of sailing Simon works on climate change challenges. He’s looking forward to meeting you on board soon.
Keri Hammond
Second mate
Keri came on a mates’ training weekend early in 2024 and was signed off as a third mate on her first youth voyage a few weeks later, and upgraded to second mate early in 2025.
Aoife Harrington
Third mate
Aoife was signed off as a third mate in July 2024.
Tom Hounsham
First mate
Tom is an experienced sail trainer but first came to Prolific in 2025 when he was quickly signed off as a watchleader, and upgraded to second mate in 2025. He passed a first mate assessment in July 2026 but plans to continue doing some voyages as watchleader, because he enjoys it!
Halima Mehmood
Third mate
Lima has had a long involvement with OYT South after initially sailing on voyages organised via Shooting Star CHASE children’s hospices. She qualified as a third mate in August 2024.
Rose MacInnes
Second mate
Rose sailed on a couple of youth voyages before returning as a volunteer and completing her third mate assessment in October 2024 and being upgraded to second mate in July 2026. She’s a talented artist who can often be found sketching on board.
Lucy Mitchell
Third mate
Lucy came on an adult day sail with work colleagues, made an instant impression and was invited back, completing a third mate assessment in October 2024.
Sam Childs
Third mate
Sam is a keen racing sailor who has done a lot of sailing with our Staff Skipper and also separately knew another member of OYT South’s staff through his other life working on stage lighting. With these two connections, he was fated to be enticed along as sea staff sooner or later! He completed a third mate assessment in October 2024.
Theo Bennison
Second mate
Theo works for Clipper looking after their round-the-word racing yachts. He started sailing with OYT South in 2024 and was signed off as a third mate in October that year and upgraded to second mate in 2025.
Andrew Page
Second mate
Andrew is a school teacher who brought a group of young people in October 2023 and enjoyed it so much, he started his third mate’s assessment on the next school voyage, completing the process in October 2024. In 2025 he joined OYT South’s Board of Trustees to help keep us in touch with the needs of the world of education; and in October 2025 he was upgraded to second mate.
Orla Cronin
Third mate
Orla started volunteering in sail training on Greater Manchester Challenge with Ocean Youth Trust North West from 2004. After GMC was sold, she volunteered on the lovely Spirit of Fairbridge until she was sold too (is she jinxed?!). She has returned to sail training after a 10 year break having other sailing adventures, because she missed the atmosphere, the teamwork, the fun and banter, the variety of people of all ages but particularly young people, and the opportunity to learn from professional sailors in fabulous boats. She joined Prolific in 2024 as a volunteer 3rd mate and is really enjoying getting to know the crew and the boat.
Chris Lowe
Third mate
Chris is a very experienced seafarer and also a Scout leader who brought a group to sail in 2025 and became the first new watchleader to qualify in the 2025 season, with potential to rise through the ranks.
Matt Lovett
Second mate
Matt has been involved with the charity for several years – and was actually part of the team which brought Prolific over from Norway when we first bought her!
Erin Misselbrook
Trainee volunteer
Erin earned her recommendation to join our volunteers’ team on a youth voyage in 2024.
Roisin Smith
Third mate
I’m Rois, I started sailing first with the Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust. My second ever time on any sort of boat was on Prolific. That was when I decided I wanted to learn to sail! I’ve been back a few times since and always take away something new. My only regret is I didn’t take it up sooner when I had university holidays! Outside of sailing I work in the energy sector and am passionate about a UK powered by renewables.
Linnéa Johansson
Third mate
Linnéa has previously sailed with the Jubilee Sailing Trust and adapted rapidly when she came to OYT South, becoming a valued refit volunteer and completing her third mate assessment early in 2025.
Matthias Kruger
Bosun
Hi, my name’s Matts, I have been sailing with the charity since 2023 and completed my bosun’s assessment in spring 2025. I had never sailed before coming to OYT South and have fallen in love with it. I originally found the charity as my dad had been on a voyage when he was young! Since my first voyage I have loved the idea and am looking forward to developing my sailing and understanding going forwards. I always look forward to getting to know new people on a constantly evolving basis. In my spare time I also play cello and am currently going into University for history.
Will Durham
Trainee Bosun
Will sailed with his Scout group in April 2025 and almost immediately started volunteering, helping out at boat shows and events, and returning on board Prolific to start his sea staff training.
Tyler Grant
Bosun
Tyler did a number of voyages as a crew member and trainee bosun and was signed off as a bosun after completing the Tall Ships voyages in 2025.
Peter Taylor
Third mate
Peter joined us in 2025 and quickly qualified as a watchleader. he says: “I was on a RYA course in the Solent and a big ketch moored on the other side of the pontoon to us. The instructor popped his head up to see what had arrived and said “That’s Prolific, I volunteer on her” and went on to tell me about the organisation. It stuck in my mind, so when I had a bit more sailing experience and a bit more free time I went on an adult trial weekend then signed up as a volunteer. When not sailing I spend my time working on my smallholding,”
Aaron Thomas-Epstein
Bosun
Aaron sailed as youth crew and was invited back to train as a volunteer. He has qualified as a bosun and also done some of his third mate training.
Lizzie Miller
Third mate
Wanting to try something new, Lizzie first sailed with OYT South on a youth voyage in 2023 and was incredibly flattered to be invited back to start training as a watch leader the same year. She completed her watch leader assessment to qualify as a third mate in August 2025.
Vaughan Marsh
Relief Skipper
Vaughan has been passionate about sailing since his twenties. He was encouraged to give it a try—and never looked back. What started as a hobby turned into a full‑time career in 2004, and he has now spent over 20 years working in the sailing industry.
His experience includes skippering and organising longer voyages, from round‑the‑world races to adventures in the Caribbean, Iceland, and the Mediterranean. Vaughan is an RYA Instructor and Examiner, and in 2013 he became the Chief Instructor for Sail and Motor Cruising at the RYA. Although the role was more office‑based, it reminded him just how much he missed being out on the water.
In 2014 he joined another ASTO organisation, becoming a skipper in 2019. Joining us as a relief skipper in 2025, he looks forward to continuing to sail with both organisations in the future.
“I’m happiest on any boat—and even happier when I get to share those experiences with young people and sea staff. Sail Training has shaped my values, my outlook on life, and has given me a full‑time career, unforgettable memories, and lifelong friends. I’m looking forward to meeting you and sharing fun times on the water.”
Sasha Taylor
Third mate
Sasha was part of our full-time refit team over winter 2024-5, working very hard to help us make sure we would be ready for for a full season in 2025, during which she qualified as a watchleader.
Sarah Kenwright
Third mate
Sarah’s love of sailing started as a child on the family’s boat off the Southwest coast, and more recently as a parent on flotilla holidays in the Mediterranean. Sarah retired from secondary school teaching in 2022 and was drawn to OYT South in 2026 to continue to contribute to the personal development of young people whilst enjoying her love of the sea. She passed her third mate assessment in April 2026.
Surya Harrison
Trainee mate
“Hiya, I’m Surya, I started sailing dinghies when I was 6 years old on the lochs near my home in Scotland. Since covid I have enjoyed learning more about sailing big boats. In 2024 I was on a youth voyage (with a different organisation) around Plymouth, we anchored in a bay for the night and Prolific happened to be there too! We took the dinghy across to look round Prolific, and their crew looked round our boat. I thought “I want to sail on Prolific“. So I did a voyage on board Prolific in 2025 as youth crew and was thrilled to be asked back as a volunteer member of sea staff for a few voyages in the 2026 season. I look forward to getting to know and sailing with lots of new people!”
Theo McKay
Third mate
Theo earned a volunteer recommendation on a youth voyage in 2024 and started training the following year, completing a third mate qualification in June 2026.
“Hi, I’m Theo – I started sailing with my dad on small dinghies and first saw Prolific when I worked on a small passenger ferry in Cornwall. I decided to come on board in 2024 for my DofE Gold and I’ve been trying to come back as often as possible ever since. I love spending time on the boat and getting to meet loads of new people. Outside of volunteering, I’m in a software engineering degree apprenticeship (so I basically do university and work) and I’m also a field hockey goal keeper.”
Megan Flood
Trainee mate
Megan earned her volunteer recommendation on a youth voyage in 2025, and started training in 2026
Reya Batchelor
Third mate
I started dinghy sailing as a child on the lakes where I grew up, and in 2024 began sailing bigger boats and I haven’t looked back! In the winter of 2026 I started volunteering with OYT South and spent a week helping with refit. Since then, I’ve taken part in some fantastic voyages and was signed off as a third mate. I’m looking forward to many more trips in the future.
Katherine Chippett
Third mate
Hi everyone, I’m Katherine! I first sailed with OYT South on an eventful channel crossing to Le Havre in summer 2025, where we got to experience the fantastic Tall Ships Festival at the beginning of the race. I didn’t have a lot of sailing experience before this, but the sea staff on Prolific are always so supportive and welcoming, and everyone gets fully involved. On this voyage I earned my sea staff recommendation, and qualified as a volunteer third mate in spring 2026. I’m looking forward to sailing lots more with OYT South and meeting you soon!
Pavan Kumar
Third mate
Pavan came on an adult voyage early in 2024, and began sailing as a trainee watchleader later that year. He qualified as a third mate in May 2026.
Terry Patterson
Trainee mate
.Hi I’m Terry and I love the sea! I got into sailing about twenty years ago and did my RYA exams and lots of great sailing courses. I’ve sailed in North Wales on the Menai Straights and round Anglesey, on the river Medway, the river Thames up to London( so exciting!) and overseas as well, in Greece and Australia . Finally six years ago I took the plunge and bought a boat – it’s wonderful, scary and challenges me every time I sail her. My boat Mollymawk has taken me from Ipswich on the East coast all along the South coast to Plymouth and the Isles of Scilly. That was a real lifetime goal for me.
It’s a great privilege to sail on Prolific – she’s a massive, beautiful boat and it’s great to sail with a big team of people. My boat is tiny by comparison! What I love most is that everyone helps everyone else. There’s no such thing as a stupid question. And everyone is super friendly.
Hope to see you on board!
Juno Hollyhock
Third mate
Juno has recently retired (she is keen to point out this is an early retirement!) and wants to put her passion for the water, and for working with young people, to good use.
Juno already volunteer crews for Wet Wheels, a disability boating charity, and has a background in working with organisations that support children and young people, often those who face additional challenges in their lives. Her career started out with the YMCA, providing a programme of activities for young people and then progressed to working with more specialist groups, dabbling in dance-based events and environmental education along the way.
Juno currently holds a role as chair of Learning through Landscapes, a national charity dedicated to helping schools and early years settings to unlock the power of their grounds to enrich education, nurture wellbeing and deepen connection with nature.
Juno was very excited to be starting out with Ocean Youth Trust and was keen to learn as much as she can about Prolific and the young people who sail her. She also loves to cook which she heard might be useful! All this came together and she was duly signed off as a qualified third mate in May 2026.
Pippa Turton
Third mate
I first sailed in a dinghy in Portsmouth Harbour in a big orange lifejacket a long time ago! Never forgot that and went on to sail whenever I got an opportunity. I have sailed many, many miles in lots of different boats and different oceans – I still love being on a boat whenever I can! I managed to achieve many qualifications along the way and have instructed in most of the RYA Cruising Scheme – I am a Yachtmaster Ocean and proud of it!
Steve Brooks
Trainee mate
Hi, I’m Steve. I am an outdoor instructor who spends most of my time hiking and climbing in the mountains, taking groups for guided walks and supporting DofE expeditions. I started sailing in my 20s in the Norfolk Broads in dinghies. I have been instructing dinghy sailing for the last 30 years but I am still getting used to big boats and the sea. I am currently a trainee watch leader and looking forward to learning lots from the more experienced watch leaders. My other hobbies are indoor climbing, wildlife photography and seeing my favourite bands live.
Izzy Reimann
Third mate
Izzy first got involved with OYT South through taking part in an individuals’ voyage as a young person in 2025. She then received a recommendation from the skipper to come back and train as a volunteer and was thrilled to return as a trainee watchleader on two consecutive voyages in 2026, where she was then signed off as a third mate. Izzy started a gap year in summer 2026 and is keen to get more involved as a watchleader and make sure everyone has a good time!
Penny Herschel
Third mate
Penny helped at refit and did an adult training weekend before completing a third mate qualification on her first youth voyage in July 2026.
Rayne Mirzababaeva
Bosun
Rayne sailed in 2025 with a school group and was invited back. She completed a bosun assessment in August 2026.
Hope Haynes-Coote
Third mate
Hope sailed several times with the MACS charity group before being invited back for watchleader training and passing her third mate assessment in August 2026.
Rick Donoghue
Third mate
Rick was recommended to us by one of our donors – he started training on board early in 2026 and completed his third mate qualification in August.