AFTER more than 15 months out of action due to the Covid-19 pandemic, CatZero’s challenge yacht has completed its first taster sail from Grimsby Fish Dock to Hull Marina.
Danny Watson, Director of Sailing at CatZero, has been working very closely with Public Health England, implementing all of the required procedures necessary to enable the charity to safely sail under current restrictions.
The yacht set sail on the evening of Friday, May 28, with 11 Youth Futures Foundation (YFF) programme participants, aged between 14 and 19-years-old. There was great excitement as CatZero crew prepared the team for departure and everyone was keen to take the helm and get stuck into this unique opportunity.
After a calm and steady trip across the River Humber, the yacht arrived safely in Hull at 8.30pm. One of the participants commented: “I had a great time and I really enjoyed steering and helping to put the sail up and down. I’d like to do it again one day.”
As a fairly warm day later turned chilly, some of the young people on board took advantage of the amazing new kit, which has been provided by a grant received from The Rank Foundation.
Funding from the Youth Futures Foundation enables CatZero to work with young people to provide equitable access to good quality jobs, narrowing the employment gap by identifying what works and why. Participants on this programme are all aged between 14-24, not in education, employment or training.
The Youth Futures Foundation represents an investment of more than £5million to improve job outcomes for young people who face disadvantage or discrimination.
CatZero director and skipper for Friday’s sail, Danny Watson, finished: “It’s great to be making a return to the water and all of the participants on Friday’s sail were eager to get involved.
“The CatZero crew enjoyed the trip over and we’re all looking forward to working with more young people as the year progresses.”
The successful sail came just one night after the new Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Councillor David Hasthorpe, announced CatZero as one of the three charities he will raise funds for during his tenure.