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Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th February 2026
The 2026 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. 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.
As last year, all accommodation and meals will be available on site. Accommodation will be in shared bunk rooms.
Courses are open to people aged 16+ but unfortunately we cannot offer accommodation to under-18s. However, none of these courses will be essential for a new 16- or 17-year-old volunteer, since we will still be training and supporting them on board and they will have limited independent responsibility – 16- and 17-year-olds who have received the necessary recommendations and done the appropriate paperwork remain very welcome to apply for places on board.
The planned timetable is as follows:
Friday 6th February
Overnight accommodation (included in weekend price). Turn up on site any time from 7pm, claim your bunk, then join in a relaxed social evening, getting to know staff and volunteers. Optional extra of an evening meal available from 8pm – 9.30pm (additional £5).
Saturday 7th February – Youthwork Day
0900 – Welcome / housekeeping
0930 – Youth Mental Health First Aid Awareness – this is an accredited certificated half-day course that usually costs £130 per person + VAT.
1230 – Lunch
1330 – Behaviour Buddy – strategies for managing behaviour. Robin Launder comes highly recommended by one of our school clients who told us that he has run exceptional training for their staff
1430 – Office update (Booking system/ membership consultation)
1530 – Tea/coffee Break
1600 – Safeguarding
1700 – Free time
1745 – OYT South CEO Mark Todd reviews 2025 and looks forward to the 2026 season.
1900 – Dinner
Sunday 8th February – Practical courses
0900 – RYA First Aid (Recommended for ALL sea staff, required for second mates and above, compulsory updates every three years – check when your certificate goes out of date). OR Sail Repair and Rope Splicing Workshop (NB these are both full-day courses so you need to choose one or the other)
1230 – Lunch
1330 – RYA First Aid OR Sail Repair continued
1630 – Finish
Time TBC – GMDSS (this 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).
Costs
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 a few separate options.
| Price list | |
| Whole weekend including sail repairs | £120 |
| Whole weekend including first aid | £150 |
| Day rate (including lunch) for Saturday and/or sail repair on Sunday (no accommodation) | £50 |
| Day rate plus dinner and evening on Saturday | £65 |
| RYA First Aid course, including handbook, and lunch | £80 |
| GMDSS – NB there is an additional exam fee of £76 payable SEPARATELY to the RYA – please note this may be subject to a price increase in January) | £40 |
| Bedding and towels if required | £7 |
| Friday evening meal | £5 |
Please return the form below with your requirements for courses, meals and accommodation.
Payment must be made at the time of booking into the OYT South bank account – Lloyds:
Name – Ocean Youth Trust South
Account – 00681331
Sort code – 309202
By placing this booking you confirm that you agree to the terms and conditions for shorebased courses.
Things you might want to know.
- You can bring your own drinks for Friday and Saturday night but if you bring alcohol, you must drink responsibly.
- Overnight stays are in bunk rooms of 3-8 people.
- There will be a mattress and pillow (but no pillow case) so you can either bring everything else you need, or pay for the £7 bedding and towels pack.
- There is plenty of free parking on site.
- Nearest train station is Brockenhurst and it is then a bus to Lyndhurst and a 5-minute walk or a taxi ride away. You can use the sea staff WhatsApp chat if you want to try to arrange to get a lift or share a taxi.
- Tea, coffee, squash, biscuits and cake are included.
- Please ensure you let us know about any dietary requirements.
- A menu for the weekend will be added once we have more information.
Sail Repair and Rope Splicing Workshop
Sunday 8th February 2026
9am – 4.30pm
Presented by Sailmaker Mark Matthews
The workshop will include:
• How to look after sails and covers
• Check over of sails – what to look out for that may need repair
• Learn how to use needle and palm
• Hands-on basic sail repairs including:
– Hand sewn patch repairs
– Replacing damaged sail slides and leech line cleats
– How to secure rings with webbing
– Equipment to have in your repair kits
• Braid Splicing including:
– Double braid eye splice
– Dyneema Soft Shackles