20 Tasmanian teenagers are swapping mobile phones for maritime skills from today as they embark on a transformative 10-day voyage aboard the STV Windeward Bound.
The young seafarers, aged 14 to 18, will journey from Hobart to Sydney under the guidance of captain Sarah Parry AM, developing teamwork abilities and leadership qualities along the way.
“The idea is to go to sea for 10 days and get them all working together, so that they get to know each other and do a bit of cross-cultural mixing,” Captain Parry said.
“It gives them an opportunity to form a bit of a network of their own, outside of their normal circles.”
Without parental support or digital distractions, the teenagers will face the challenges of life at sea, learning practical seamanship skills while building confidence and resilience.
“It’s an amazingly, life-changing experience. The young Tasmanian kids on board get to know the new Australian kids very well, and vice versa,” Parry added.
While the journey begins and ends in Hobart, the exact route will depend on weather conditions and wind patterns.
Among the participants are Hobart City High School grade 11 students Rosie Eddington-Rieper and Isaac Taylor, whose participation has been made possible through support from Tasmanian Rotary clubs and the Windeward Bound Trust.
The voyage marks the beginning of a series of youth challenge expeditions the historic vessel is set to undertake over the next eight months.
