Ocean Youth Trust Ireland has announced details of a competition sponsored by Topaz for Galway teenagers to win places on a sail training weekend next May.
Details of the competition, which will be open to all secondary pupils and youth club members in the county aged between 15 and 18, were released at a reception on Galway quays on Monday.
The sail training weekend, which is being sponsored by Topaz, the country’s leading fuels and convenience retailer, will take place from the 15th to 17th May on board the 70 foot oyster ketch, Lord Rank, which is owned by the OYTI.
Letters will go out to all secondary schools and youth clubs in Galway inviting them to organise their own internal competitions and submit the names of two candidates for selection by a judging panel from OYTI and Topaz. Application forms will also be available in Topaz service stations throughout the county.
Based on the submissions received – full details of the internal competition they won along with a brief composition (300 words) entitled “What I can gain from sail-training” – the judging panel will create a panel from which ten winners will be selected.
The voyage will last for three days and will depart from and return to Galway harbour. During the voyage, the competition winners will learn the basics of sailing, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, self-confidence, and much more. Given the heightened interest in sailing due to the Volvo Ocean Race, organisers expect there to be keen interest in the competition.
Bronagh Cappa, Director of Ocean Youth Trust Ireland said “Sail-training offers the chance to learn many vital life-skills as well as the skill of sailing. We are delighted that Topaz Energy is sponsoring this voyage and through this competition we look forward to giving some sail training experience to young people who may have had little or no sailing experience up to this.”
Oisin Masterson, Marketing Manager of Topaz Energy said; “sailing is a great way for young people to learn a variety of new skills, especially teamwork. Topaz is delighted to sponsor this Galway based initiative and we hope all the young people who enter this competition will gain from the experience.”
For further information
Contact Robert Carson,
Ocean Youth Trust Ireland
01 214 5310 or at info@newgrovemarketing.com