History of OYT South
Founded in 1960 as the Ocean Youth Club
Ocean Youth Trust South is one of six regional charities which grew out of the Ocean Youth Club. The OYC was founded in 1960 and has since given thousands of young people from all walks of life the chance to experience adventure under sail.
The Club was born out of the commitment and enthusiasm of Chris Courtauld and Chris Ellis, who loaned the original vessels, Theodora and Duet.
By 1966 there were OYC crews competing in Tall Ships Races; and by 1970 the OYC was building its own boats in Penryn.
By the time of the OYC’s 25 th anniversary in 1985, there was a fleet of ten vessels to take part in the Club’s Silver Jubilee Round Britain Rally during which 35 ports were visited and 2,800 miles sailed.
John Laing was launched in 1990 and named by Lady Laing. In December 1995 she began a 13-leg circumnavigation of the world with her sister ship James Cook, from which they returned in March 1997.
At the end of 1999 the OYC’s head office in Gosport closed, and the Club returned to the original vision of a number of separate regional charities. Ocean Youth Trust South was founded, taking over John Laing, and sailing in the 2000 Transatlantic Tall Ships Race.
The following year John Laing was chartered to the British Army Antarctic Expedition for 9 months.
Since then, John Laing has taken hundreds more young people to sea, largely in the English Channel, but also with special trips including the 2002 Tall Ships Race to Spain and the 2004 trip to the Brest festival, returning via Ushant. Tall Ships voyages have become a regular part of our programme in recent years: 2005 took John Laing to southern Ireland, Norway and Germany; 2006 included Spain, Portugal and Belgium; 2007 was in the Baltic, including Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Poland; and 2008 is set to be Norway and the Netherlands.
We have also built good relationships with a large number of regular clients, and we have been delighted to develop our work with crew members from deserving backgrounds and those with a variety of special needs.
With the continued support and enthusiasm of our sea staff, OYT South looks forward to many more successful sailing seasons.
David Baker sailed with the Ocean Youth Club several times in the 1960s. Forty years later he came back for an adult voyage. Read David's account of his latest voyage, and his reflections on how things have changed.
