BEXLEY: A sailing first for borough's Duke of Edinburgh award
8:00am Monday 17th August 2009 in
IN A first for the borough, a group of young people has just completed a sailing expedition as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award.
The 13 teenagers, aged between 14 and 16 completed a three-day, 83-mile round trip from Erith Yacht Club based off Manor Road, Erith, to the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.
They sailed in a flotilla of three dinghies supported by two safety craft.
After sailing to Sheppey on the first day, navigating their way through giant container ships at Dartford, Tilbury and Gravesend, they set up camp overnight on the island.
The following day, they attempted to sail around the 36 sq mile island but were forced to turn back halfway round, because of bad weather.
On the third day, they sailed back to Erith.
Ben Bullen from Bexley’s Duke of Edinburgh awards and accreditation team said in his four years with the scheme, the sailing expedition had been the most challenging.
He added: “The young people excelled themselves.”
The group trained for five months with Danson Watersports, while the yacht club supplied the dinghies and the Ahoy Sailing Centre in Deptford, provided a support craft and staff.
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Steve Pearce from Danson Watersports (far left) and Ben Bullen (far right) with the Duke of Edinburgh team
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