Teenagers join tall ship crew

8:02am Saturday 28th June 2008

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TWO teenagers are to take to the high seas as part of the crew of a tall ship.

Chris Hodgson, 17, and Jasmine Danby, 16, joined the 48-strong crew of the Stavros S Niarchos yesterday as the 60m brig set sail from Newcastle to London.

The intrepid pair both attend Durham Johnston school, in Durham City, and will take part in an 11-night trip under the Tall Ships Youth Trust's Voyage of Achievement scheme, funded by the HSBC Global Education Trust.

Students from around the country will be assigned to one of three watches on the ship with whom they will spend the entire voyage, living eight to a cabin and getting up at 4am for night watch duties.

While onboard, they will take part in every aspect of sailing a Tall Ship: from scaling the 45m masts to set the sails and navigating the vessel.

The adventure ends in London on Monday, July 7, when the crew will sail under Tower Bridge to dock alongside HMS Belfast.

Paul Sinclair, education executive at HSBC Global Education Trust said: "We have seen how sailing can be such an inspirational experience outside the classroom and these voyages develop important life skills that young people can take back into their community, school or future career."