Charity behind the Apprenticeship Cup project, Merseyside Adventure Sailing Trust (MAST), still has places left for young people aged 16-plus who would like to take part. Tony McDonough reports

Businesses are being urged to support a brilliant initiative in May that will see young people gain fantastic experience working on a tall ship in the Irish Sea.

And the charity behind the Apprenticeship Cup project, Merseyside Adventure Sailing Trust (MAST), also still has places left for young people aged 16-plus who would like to take part.

The International Tall Ships Regatta 2018 will see a fleet of more than 20 ships set sail from Liverpool on May 26, on the weekend of the Mersey River Festival, and head for Dublin and there they will sail on to Bordeaux in France.

Sea voyage

MAST’s three vessels will join the Liverpool to Dublin leg crewed by dozens of youngsters. They will then sail from Dublin to Greenock in Scotland and then return to Liverpool three weeks later.

MAST chair Jim Graves said: “We are appealing for businesses in Merseyside to get involved in this event. They can either sponsor a young person through helping us fund the bursaries or they can hire one of the tall ships for a corporate event when it is in port.

“We also still have places left for young people who would like to make the trip. The only criteria is that they are aged over 16.”

Life-changing

MAST, a member of Mersey Maritime, was launched in 2009 and enables young people  to achieve growth and personal development through sail training and embarking on life-changing adventures. It takes approximately 1,000 young people to sea each year.

Mr Graves added: “We started MAST because we wanted to create a positive environment in which we could help young people across Merseyside. We wanted to link in with business to help young people develop and get the right career advice and support.”

Those taking part in the MAST programmes can get support to boost their self-confidence, acquire team working skills, learn respect for themselves and others, pick up problem-solving, communication and social and life skills as well as learning a range of sailing and navigation skills in a real maritime environment.

Award winners

In March, MAST scooped the Positive Impact Award at the Mersey Maritime Industry Awards 2018 held at Liverpool FC in March. And the organisation was also praised by the High Sheriff of Merseyside, Stephen Burrows, for offering “great and valuable services to the community”.

If you are a business wanting to support the Apprenticeship Cup or hire a vessel for an event, or if you are a young person wanted to take part contact MAST at mastjwg@yahoo.co.uk