TRIP FAQ

Q.  What sort of yachts do you use?
A.  The Trust uses a variety of 38ft-45ft cruising yachts both borrowed and chartered during the summer trips.  All yachts used by the Trust are Marine and Coastguard Agency coded.  UKSA is our first port of call when booking our yachts before approaching local charter companies.  We also have had use of Scarlet Oyster for the last three years, who will be sailing round Britain this summer.  In 2009 the Trust became owners of their first boat, A’donf, which roughly translates from French as ‘go for it’, a term Ellen uses frequently.  This yacht is a 44ft Gibsea and was donated to the Trust by the Poole Sail Training Trust after their charitable operations wrapped up.  This yacht will be used in all our summer trips and hopefully allow us the freedom to arrange many new projects in the future. 

Q.  What sort of food will the young people eat?
A. We try and keep the food healthy but there are always treats on board too.  The young people will cook one meal together for themselves, and also take turns to prepare breakfast and lunch on board.  We take into account any dietary requirements on the returned forms and cater accordingly to vegetarian, halal or any other diets.  We make sure all the young people have plenty to drink at all times as they can easily become dehydrated on the water during the summer. 

Q.  What would my child need to bring on their sailing trip
A.  You will receive a briefing booklet before your child sails with the Trust, along with information about travel.  The briefing booklet contains all you need to know about the trips including a full kit list and Trust phone numbers.  You should not need to buy anything extra for your child to join our sailing trip.  The Ellen MacArthur Trust supplies all wet-weather gear, and safety equipment including lifejackets.  Recommended list of things to bring is as follows:
Suitable shoes (deckshoes, old trainers or plimsolls)
Hat
Sunglasses
Washkit
Medication (and prescription form if necessary): - note that medication will be given to our nurse on the first evening and she will supervise its use
Sleeping Bag (we can provide one if necessary)
Pillow if required
Swimming costume
2 x Towels
T-Shirts
Shorts
Pullovers
Pyjamas

Q.  Will my child need to bring any money with them?
A. We advise that the young people bring some ‘pocket money’ if they want to buy small souvenirs, but all food, drink and travel is covered so they shouldn’t have to spend money if they don’t want to.  We usually recommend they bring no more than £15.

Q.  Can my child bring their mobile phone/personal game console/MP3 player?
A. We ask that the young people can leave their mobile phones at home.  If they need to make a call we prefer that they ask to use their skipper or volunteers phones.  Phones can also often cause disruption and be a distraction when on the trips.  Similarly we discourage the use on the trips of personal game consoles and MP3 players, as any electrical equipment can easily fall out of pockets whilst sailing, and once overboard are gone forever. 

Q.  What happens if it rains?
A.  Rain isn’t an issue, but if the weather is too bad and the winds are strong then we adapt our programme.  We will not take the young people to sea if there is any risk whatsoever of them not enjoying the experience.  The wet weather gear provided will keep the young people warm and dry if it rains when sailing.

Q.  Can they bring their camera?
A.  We advise that cameras are left at home as we can’t hold responsibility for them disappearing over the side of the yacht.  We provide a disposable camera to every child and they can take that home and develop it themselves.  We also have a camera on each boat and photos will be taken throughout the trip by the volunteers and young people alike.  A disk of these pictures will be sent to everyone a couple of months after the trip.

Q.  What if my child doesn’t want to do something?
A.  Nobody is forced into doing anything they don’t want to do on board or on shore All are encouraged to at least try all activities, but there is always be an alternative and a volunteer to supervise.

Q.  How do you select the young people that come on your trips?
A. The Trust works closely with their contact at each hospital or organisation to select the patients they feel will benefit the most from the trip. Once the young persons treating consultant and our paediatrician have given consent that the young person is at no risk from joining the sailing trip, we send their parents travel information and an information booklet about how the trips run and what to bring.  We phone every parent before the trip to discuss any special needs his or her child may have.  Each four-day trip will have at least one qualified nurse on board as crew, along with medical support up from our paediatrician, who is on call for the duration of the trip.