As crew you will usually work a watch system ensuring everyone gets an opportunity to learn each job whilst on passage.  The watch system ensures that each person gets a chance to cover every job and nobody ends up doing either only popular or unpopular work. It also ensures there are enough people available for the safe sailing of the ship at all times.

There will be an extensive safety brief for sailing and familiarisation with work on deck and facilities below. Clients are expected to play a full part in running the ship which can include hard physical work at times.

The vessel usually stops at night and opportunities are taken to visit places of general and educational interest accessed by water. It is normal on all but the shortest trip to enable visits to beaches, learning how to row, steer, tie knots, how a boat sails, and navigation.

Group members who want return independently for further training and longer periods aboard form the basis of the Sea-Change Youth Sailing Scheme.

Costs should not bar any student from undertaking a programme and a bursary scheme may be able to assist where other avenues of funding have been explored.

The Vessel

The ex-cargo areas of our current sailing barges, Reminder and Cambria, have been converted into communal and personal accommodation. The permanent crew have their own cabins.  Cooking and eating is done communally and everyone will take turns in preparation, cooking and cleaning.A Thames sailing barge is one of the most suitable vessels for the work we undertake. Naturally stable with expanses of flat deck it is suitable for the disabled and those with learning difficulties.

Currently we charter our vessels but now require our own sailing barge that is designed specifically to meet our needs, whilst additionally training those who are considering careers at sea. We have established an appeal to raise funds to achieve this, which you can read about here.

Fund Raising

To help subsidise our work with young people, we are pleased to arrange team and management training for companies and institutions. for example, participating in one of the eight annual barge matches grouped together in a championship can be an ideal way for young people and adults alike to hone their teamwork and have an exhilarating day. Please also view our Fund Raising section.