(Cape Town, South Africa): Maritime education at Simon’s Town School’s Lawhill Maritime Centre (www.lawhill.org) has been given a boost with the donation of a 26 foot yacht to be used for practical sail and navigation training.
The yacht is a donation from the international maritime mentoring programme, Marine Inspirations (www.marineinspirations.org) and yacht sponsor, the Caimari family in Spain.
The yacht was named ‘Homero’, in memory of the late Mr Homero Caimari, and christened by Mrs Anne Wade at an event held at False Bay Yacht Club (FBYC) on Wednesday, 26 April, 2017.
‘Homero’ will in future be moored at FBYC, which has generously provided a berth at no charge, at the yacht club in Simon’s Town. Maintenance of the yacht will be undertaken by maritime students, under the watchful eye of yachting experts.
The yacht, which was purchased second-hand, was refurbished by Simon’s Town School’s maritime students, while the major refitting was arranged by well-known yachting expert, Mr David Abromovitz.
The Marine Inspirations programme is the brainchild of two South African superyacht captains, Captains Phil Wade and Anthony Just.
Three years ago Marine Inspirations partnered with Simon’s Town School’s Lawhill Maritime Centre and the S.A.T.S General Botha Old Boys’ Association to provide young South Africans with the opportunity to travel to the Spanish island of Mallorca to participate in a programme which offers young people from financially-challenged backgrounds an opportunity to learn about, and experience, the international superyacht industry.
For many programme participants, the Marine Inspirations experience is one of many ‘firsts’ – from leaving the country and travelling abroad for the first time, to even their first visit to an airport, their first flights, and being the first members in their families to travel abroad.
During their time in Spain, they are also mentored by experts in the yachting industry. Whenever possible, they even participate in superyacht regattas.
While the Marine Inspirations programme is focused on providing students with practical navigation and sail-training, it is a personally enriching, life-affirming experience which boosts students’ self-esteem and shows them that, no matter where they come from, they have the ability to achieve the life they want if they are prepared to work hard and make effort and sacrifices.
They are given a brief but important ‘taste’ of a possible future career in yachting and the maritime industry, which is very motivating, and dares them to dream big.
Supporting the Marine Inspirations programme in Spain are also the South African based ‘maritime mentors’ from the S.A.T.S General Botha Old Boys Association, which provides bursaries to deserving maritime students.
The students who will participate in the 2017 Marine Inspirations programme will be announced shortly.
For more information visit: www.marineinspirations.org. Follow ‘Marine Inspirations’ on Facebook and on Twitter @marineinspire
More photos from the event on www.lawhill.org and on the Lawhill Facebook page (or on request, from Debbie Owen, debbie@lawhill.org).
Official photo attached – Photo Credit – The Photographic Affair.
Caption: Mrs Anne Wade, godmother of Homero at the launch of the yacht donated to Simon’s Town School’s Lawhill Maritime Centre
Pic 1311: Grade 11 students Menelisi Mkhize (from Durban) and Avela May (from Khayelitsha) are two of the many students who will hone their sailing skills in the new yacht (Photo: Debbie Owen)
The GBOBA bursary students from across South Africa with their mentors
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Marine Inspirations
The Marine Inspirations initiative provides young people from South Africa and many other countries – who would otherwise not have access to this unique opportunity – with hands-on seamanship experience and an insight into working in the superyacht and international maritime industry. This is achieved by bringing the youngsters for actual sailing experience abroad, and for them to experience a range of skills and work experience, and to access maritime connections so as to improve the reach of their potential future career prospects. www.marineinspirations.org
Who supports Marine Inspirations?
The ‘Marine Inspirations’ initiative is supported by a number of highly respected captains, yacht-owners, ship-managers and associated individuals in the maritime industry, as well as the TK Foundation, the mentoring arm of the Teekay Shipping Corporation.
The initiative is also strongly endorsed by the S.A.T.S General Botha Old Boys Association and Bursary Fund, which supplies funding and logistical support in Cape Town. (www.GBBursaryFund.org).
About Simon’s Town School’s Lawhill Maritime Centre
By providing students with specialised knowledge and skills in their last three years of secondary schooling, Simon’s Town School’s Lawhill Maritime Centre has, for the past 22 years, made it possible for hundreds of young South Africans from financially-disadvantaged backgrounds to embark on successful careers in the maritime and other industries.
Most students begin the Maritime Studies course knowing very little, if anything, about the maritime industry. Some may not even have seen the sea or a ship at close quarters but after three years they emerge from the Lawhill programme with a broad understanding and knowledge of the industry which greatly increases their prospects for post-school employment and/or admission to maritime-related courses at tertiary institutions. www.lawhill.org
For Marine Inspirations enquiries:
Phil Wade, co-founder
Email: pandawade@gmail.com
Anthony Just, co-founder
Email: anthony@omniaccess.com