On Monday 21st of July forty young women will set sail from Liverpool to the Norwegian port of Maloy on the first leg of the STI Tall Ships Races during which they will make a record for being the first all female crew in the history of the Tall Ships Races to sail a Class A tall ship.
The girls, who are representing the Senior Section of Girlguiding UK were chosen from all over the UK and includes 9 girls who have physical disabilities.
They will race against a fleet of roughly 100 other ships including around 20 Class A square riggers, leaving Liverpool on Monday and arriving in Maloy, Norway ten days later.
This historic crew will set sail aboard STS Lord Nelson, a 55 meter square rigger owned and operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust which is currently moored in Wellington Dock.
Lord Nelson is one of only two tall ships in the world, specially designed and built to enable people of all physical abilities to sail side by side as equals.
The Guides will be accompanied on this voyage by ten professional female crew, drawn from the existing staff of the Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST), which amongst its ranks is unique in having two female tall ship captains.
Forty young women, selected from over 180 applicants now make up the final voyage crew. The girls have had to raise almost £1,750 each to cover the cost of the voyage, including flights, insurance, training and other special kit.
This is a particularly proud occasion for one Girl Guide, Chloe Johnson, 18, who will be sailing from her home city.
JST Chief Executive Amanda Butcher said, “This is a fabulous opportunity to experience a once in a lifetime adventure on board our tall ship Lord Nelson.”
She went on to add, 'It's a great opportunity to show what girls can do in a typically male environment. With the permanent crew - including the captain, cook, and engineers - also being women, it will be a fantastic opportunity to see what they can do. It might even give the girls some maritime-themed career ideas!
Liz Burnley, Chief Guide, Girlguiding UK, said “Girlguiding UK's partnership with the Jubilee Sailing Trust will provide 40 young women with a once in a lifetime experience, irrespective of their levels of physical ability or sailing skills. Through our programme we offer girls and young women the skills and confidence to broaden their horizons for the future and being part of the first all female crew for the Class A group of the Tall Ships Race will certainly do that.”
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