Seafair to Welcome Challenge Wales Yacht
Budding sailors will get the chance to see what life aboard a ship is really like at SeaFair Haven 3-10 July in Milford Haven, one of the largest maritime events of its kind in the UK.
Welsh charity, Challenge Wales which aims to teach life skills to young people aged 12 - 25 years will be attending the festival throughout the week with its 72 ft round the world yacht.
Vicky Williams Marketing Director of Challenge Wales says: "We are very excited to be in Milford Haven and part of one of the UK's largest maritime events. We want to raise awareness of the Challenge Wales charity and our work with young people. This is the start of working with young people's groups in Milford and Pembrokeshire and we plan to develop this further throughout the year".
Challenge Wales has a busy schedule during the Seafair Haven event, arriving in Neyland Marina on Sunday 4 July with young people undertaking their Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.
John Arcus, Coordinator of SeaFair Haven said: "We are really looking forward to welcoming the Challenge Wales yacht to SeaFair this year. Although not a traditional vessel, we feel it fits well with the ethos of SeaFair in promoting and celebrating the waterway in encouraging young people to access it. This is also a fantastic opportunity for local people to experience big boat sailing - providing a great spectacle for all visitors".
Young people from the Rising Tide project in Milford will join Challenge Wales on Tuesday 13 July to sail to Cork to experience Cork Week (a biennial sailing regatta) events followed by a visit to New Ross for the Dunbrody Festival.
Rising Tide student, Abigail Puddicome, aged 20, said: 'When I was told that I had a place on the voyage from Milford to Cork and New Ross, I couldn't believe it. Going on a sailing voyage was something I had always dreamed off, but never thought I would get the chance to do. I really do think it will be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I know that not only will I improve my sailing skills, but the friendships and the shared experience will live with me forever'.
If you would like to participate in SeaFair Haven as an exhibitor or entertainer, or simply to welcome the crews to the waterway, please contact the SeaFair Team by email on seafairhaven@mhpa.co.uk or by telephone on 01646 696374.
This project is one of several grant funded projects hosted by Milford Haven Port Authority (MHPA). It has received funding through MHPA and the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
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For more information please contact
Aimee Walsh/Warren Carr
Quadrant Media & Communications Ltd
Tel: 02920 694900
Email: aimee.walsh@quadrant.uk.com
Note to editors:
Rising Tide Project
The training programmes are being run by Pembrokeshire College and are based at the Mitec Centre in Milford Haven. MItec is internationally renowned for the delivery of boatbuilding and marine engineering training.
ID: 1427 Revised: 16/06/2010