TAVISTOCK Tall Ships has taken two more groups of young people on the voyage of a lifetime.

The Tavistock College students spent a week at sea sailing Provident and Leader across the English Channel, before declaring it to be the best experience of their lives — broadening their horizons and boosting confidence

John Collacott, chair of Tavistock Tall Ships and director of personal development at the college, said: 'Since we began the project in 2003 we have taken hundreds of young people away on 25 life-changing voyages.

'These latest trips in May gave 21 more students the opportunity to experience life at sea and working and living as a team. The difference it makes to their lives is extraordinary.'

The first group of 10 students sailed Provident from Brixham to St Peter's Port in Guernsey. They went on to Sark before returning to Ansty's Cove and Brixham on the Devon coastline. The group was followed by 11 young people who took Leader from Brixham to Dartmouth, before sailing across the English Channel to Treguier in Brittany and the Ile de Brehat off the French coast. They made their way home via Sark, Dartmouth and Brixham.

Maria Tyrell, who sailed on Provident, told organisers: 'Thank you all so much. I'll never forget about it. I would come every year if it was possible. I liked that you trusted us with things on the boat and that we could go on land on our own.'

The first group of students gained the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Competent Crew certificate and were given the chance to look round a RNLI lifeboat station in Brixham when the boat suffered hydraulic problems. The 11 students on Leader achieved their RYA Start Yachting certificate and enjoyed crabbing at their stop in Dartmouth. The hot weather in Brittany prompted an hour-long water fight with students, staff and crew all thoroughly soaked.

'This has been one of the best, funniest, most amazing weeks of my life,' said Francesca White.

Tegan Cunningham said: 'It's been a really good experience because it builds your confidence because you learn to make more friends and get to know yourself more. I've learned to appreciate how hard other people work for us cooking and cleaning because we had to do it. It's been an eye-opener.

'It's worth every penny and more because of the time and effort people put into it and the fun you have. You can't put it into words how good it is; you just have to be here.'

Tavistock Tall Ships currently runs five trips per year and will take more students on board in August, September and October.