2025 marks the fifth year of our offshore sailing programme, in which we send groups of young people on sea voyages to experience the excitement and pride of making a 10-day journey under sail.
The aim, at the start of their adult lives, is to develop confidence and skills for quality jobs in maritime and other industries.
Venturers learn all sorts of skills, but the most important learning comes from working as a team to overcome challenges.
Funding these voyages relies on the generosity of mainly local individuals and organisations. This year there are 10 of them, each sponsoring one place on board.
Thank you H Tiddy and St Mawes Sailing Club who have supported all four voyages so far.
Established for over 100 years in St Mawes, estate agent H Tiddy’s staff live locally, love the area, and know it intimately, playing an active role in the local community. Stalwart supporters of RYST, they are sending a young person to sea for the fifth consecutive year. Says Mark Willson: “H Tiddy Estate Agents are proud to send a young person to sea for a fifth year. Based on the experiences of our previously sponsored participants, Bea (2021), Wilf (2022), Skye (2023) and Phoebe (2024), I am sure all the venturers will return from their voyage with many life enhancing experiences, memories and friendships.”
One of the leading sailing clubs in the south-west of England, with a very active RYA-recognised Junior Sail Training section, St Mawes Sailing Club has supported RYST offshore sailing expeditions since 2021. Says John Andrew: “St Mawes Sailing Club is delighted to sponsor a place for a sailor on Helen Mary R again this year. We know from the past four expeditions that experiences of this kind are character-building. They enable young people to learn how to get on with others as part of a team in an exhilarating environment, and we as a Club look forward to hearing all about how it went.”
Flushing Sailing Club and St Just in Roseland Parish Council have so far supported three of our voyages.
Established in 1921, Flushing Sailing Club is a unique club in a beautiful location, whose members have a real passion for sailing, meeting regularly to share knowledge and experience, improve skills and learn new techniques. 2025 marks the fourth year the Club is supporting an RYST offshore sailing experience. Says David Mitchell: “Flushing Sailing Club is delighted to again sponsor a youngster on a voyage at sea. It has been a pleasure to host presentations at the Club by the young people we sponsored – Rosie in 2022, Will in 2023 and Laurie in 2024 – hearing how the expeditions have built confidence and opened new horizons for them. We fully support the involvement of youngsters in sailing and hope it goes well this year.”
A landscape of rolling farmland on the waters of the Carrick Roads, the whole of St Just in Roseland Parish is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Its 12th century waterside church is surrounded by subtropical planting described by Sir John Betjeman as ‘to many people the most beautiful churchyard on earth’. The Parish has supported three RYST expeditions in the past. Says Helen Couch: “St Just in Roseland Parish Council is always keen to support RYST’s offshore sailing expeditions, as we have seen first-hand the positive impact they have on the young people lucky enough to be selected. We wish Team Helen Mary R 2025 a safe voyage and know that its crew will have an adventure of a lifetime.”
2025 is the third year of sponsorship by St Mawes Pier & Harbour Company and Frost Builders.
St Mawes is renowned as a haven for the keen sailing enthusiast, with its picturesque harbour and with access to some of the finest sailing waters in the south west. It is also a popular holiday destination both by road and water. Says Gary Cairns: “St Mawes Pier & Harbour Company is delighted to sponsor a young person for the third year, after Emily in 2021 and Sam in 2022, both of whom loved their experience and benefited hugely. We wish all of this year’s venturers well with this opportunity of a lifetime.”
Frost Builders is a team of highly skilled professionals with extensive knowledge of properties and construction methods in the region. Says Karen Hore: “With meticulous attention to detail, we turn dreams into reality—and that mission extends beyond building homes. 2025 marks our third year of proud support for RYST Offshore Sailing, an initiative that empowers young people in Cornwall through adventure, fostering self-confidence, independence, and mental well-being. As a business that believes in shaping futures, we are honoured to help launch these journeys.”
Team Helen Mary R 2024
Last year our sponsors sent 10 young people to Guernsey and Brittany with Morvargh Sailing Trust. Since then, by way of a thank you, Team Helen Mary R 2024 have been fund-raising to give other young people the same opportunity, raising enough between them to sponsor a place on board in 2025. Says RYST Trustee Mark Osborn: “It’s heart-warming to see the effort venturers put in to enable other young people to experience adventure at sea. Thank you Team Helen Mary R 2024.”
Adam Greening
A venturer on last year’s expedition, sponsored by accountants Phillips Frith, Adam described the experience as ‘the best thing I’ve ever done’. In May this year he completed a sponsored climb of the equivalent of both of Cornwall’s highest points (Brown Willy, 420m and Rough Tor, 400m) in a gruelling five hours at the Tide Climbing Centre. Adam raised enough to sponsor a young person aboard Helen Mary R this year. He says: “I am so grateful to Phillips Frith and Roseland Youth Sailing Trust for giving me the opportunity of sailing onboard Helen Mary R. It is still the best thing I’ve ever done, and I am proud that I have been able to raise the funds to allow another young person to experience the same fantastic things that I have”.
Billy Billington
We’re grateful to Helen Billington for nominating RYST, along with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue/Large Whale Disentanglement Team, as a beneficiary of donations in lieu of flowers at the funeral of her much-loved husband Billy, who died in February. A Trustee of RYST, he directed our offshore sailing programme for many years, so it is especially appropriate that part of his gift to RYST should go towards supporting a venturer this year.
Charitable Trust
Finally, one place is sponsored by a charitable trust which has asked to remain anonymous.
Huge thanks to them, and to all supporters of Team Helen Mary R 2025.