The Ahoy Centre joins Open Oceans

Wavysail is proud to announce "The Ahoy Centre" has joined our Open Oceans fund as a partner and will be sending two of their former apprentices on the trip of a lifetime as they join our St Helena trip in October. This incredible adventure sail offers the candidates a unique opportunity to learn the essentials of planning and executing a major ocean crossing, all under the guidance of an experienced skipper and first mate. The journey is more than just sailing—it's an exploration of new horizons and personal growth.

Meet the Ahoy Centre Open Oceans crew : Alfie and Amber

Alfie- Growing up in Deptford, Alfie has seen first-hand the impact of knife crime, drugs, and alcohol on his friends and family. Alfie said, "As much as it sounds rough, these are situations my peers find themselves in too, so it becomes the norm. Life keeps going, so you just keep moving and being happy for what you have. Sailing across an ocean is something I didn’t ever think I’d have the chance to do - it’s for other people, not me."

Alfie began sailing with The AHOY Centre through their apprenticeship program at the age of 16. He proved to be an exceptional student and secured employment with the Centre upon completing his apprenticeship. Alfie is a hardworking young man with a can-do attitude and an impressive skill set.

"We’re very proud of Alfie and look forward to following his journey throughout his time on this adventure. This is a significant stepping stone for Alfie, who, since his first engagement with AHOY at just 12 years old, has grown and developed into a mature young man. He not only strives to excel in any opportunity or challenge but also has a passion for using his skills and experiences to give back and inspire future generations. His involvement in such a prestigious event is a testament to his hard work and commitment to sailing over the years, and we are confident he will be an asset to any team.''

Amber- One day, Amber walked past The AHOY Centre and saw information about the Shipmates Programme. Thinking “Why not?”, they joined at the age of 12 and loved it, finding it incredibly fun.

Amber was home schooled, learning in a small group of children taught by hired tutors in a rented hall.

They volunteered at a record shop and started DJ’ing, once performing a set in front of 250 people, which they enjoyed immensely. Unfortunately, just as Amber turned 16, the Covid-19 pandemic hit, leading to depression and difficulty getting out of bed. They also struggled with coming to terms with their identity as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

When the country began to reopen during one of their searches, Amber discovered an apprenticeship at AHOY and, recalling the great time they had as a Shipmate, decided to apply. They started in September 2022, initially feeling very nervous and anxious. However, as time went on, Amber gained confidence and realised they could excel despite their self-doubt. This experience has significantly alleviated their anxiety, and they now feel better than they have in the past 7-8 years.

“I have finally found what I want to do with my life and I have made lifelong friends along the way.”

One of Amber’s favourite parts of the job is sharing their love of sailing with the children they teach. They find it particularly satisfying to see a child who is initially scared or nervous about going on the water return having loved every minute of it.

Their advice to anyone thinking of joining AHOY in any capacity is to give it a go, even if you are scared.

St Helena : The adventure of their lives!

Amber and Alfie will join the Epic level Saint Helena expedition in October.  Starting in Cape Town, they will join four other travellers on board "Aurora", our expedition yacht. 

After getting involved in preparing the yacht, including menu-planning, passage plans and all the other elements that go into making an Ocean voyage safely, they will cast off and sail the African coast to Lüderitz.

After an overnight on board and the chance to visit Kolmanskop, they will set sail for the isolated paradise of St Helena island. They will stay on this incredible sub-tropical island for a week, exploring everything it has to offer before departing, with  on the return leg to Cape Town. The return trip is a real Ocean voyage, deep into the heart of the South Atlantic Ocean, where it's wild and isolated - a far cry from sailing on the Thames!

At the end of 48 days sailing, Alfie and Amber will have covered over 4,500 nautical miles of Ocean sailing. An incredible achievement and a perfect springboard for them to continue their sailing.

How can you support Alfie and Amber?

Open Oceans and The Ahoy Centre cover the costs of their trip, but are raising money so that more people, like Alfie and Ollie can join future expeditions. This is really a life-changing experience for those from challenging backgrounds .

As Marta, from The Ahoy Centre says "We are incredibly grateful for any donations that support this transformative journey. Your generosity will help us continue providing life-changing opportunities to young people from diverse backgrounds, empowering them through the power of sailing.!

Please consider contributing to this exceptional cause and help us make a lasting impact. You can donate directly to their "Just giving" page which goes directly to "The Ahoy Centre" to support more young people, like Alfie and Amber experience the life-affirming opportunity of joining an Ocean Expedition

Thank you for your support! Donate now to support  : Click here