Sail Portsmouth week-at-sea program open to local teens
PORTSMOUTH — Sail Portsmouth’s 2023 Sea Challenge program offers local high school students the opportunity to spend a week at sea aboard a tall ship, learning basic seamanship and navigation skills as part of a team that sails the historic 137-foot, three-masted schooner Denis Sullivan.
“Sea Challenge is a fun, safe, learning experience aboard a traditional tall ship. Students work as crew while on board,” Phil von Hemert, chair of Sail Portsmouth, said “They learn rudimentary navigation and seamanship. They learn to work together with their mates and the crew as a team. They learn to overcome new challenges, like climbing the mast, steering the ship and jumping off the ship to swim. It always surprises me how much transformation occurs in just one week for students who sign on to a Sea Challenge voyage.”
This year’s sailing voyage will take place from Friday, July 21 to Friday, July 28, departing Boston and sailing to Portsmouth. Transportation to Boston will be provided. Tuition is $1,600 and includes educational programming, room and board. Financial aid is available.
“No student will be left behind because their family cannot pay the $1,600 cost. We raise money for partial and full scholarships so any Seacoast high school student can benefit from the experience,” said John Considine, who directs the Sea Challenge program with fellow Sail Portsmouth Board Member Susan Johnson. “Did I mention it is fun and a great way to meet new friends?”
The application deadline for this summer’s Sea Challenge is May 15.
COVID-19 vaccination is required to participate. The Denis Sullivan is a U.S. Coast Guard inspected and certified vessel, which will have U.S. Coast licensed captain and mates on board during Sea Challenge.
If you are interested in learning more about Sea Challenge, contact your school counselor, ELO Coordinator or John Considine at jconsidine@sailportsmouth.org and 603-431-6900 or Susan Johnson at sjohnson@sailportsmouth.org and (207) 475-4725. You can also learn more and request an application at sailportsmouth.org/sea-challenge/
Sail Portsmouth, formerly the Piscataqua Maritime Commission, is the non-profit organization that presents Portsmouth’s tall ship festival each summer. This year’s festival will take place July 27 to 31. Details about the festival’s Parade of Sail, ship tours and day sails can be found at sailportsmouth.org.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Sail Portsmouth week-at-sea program open to local teens
