Legenderry - Ocean Youth Trust Ireland escorts Clipper Derry-Londonderry into Port

The crew received a hero’s homecoming on returning to the city after braving high seas, freezing winds and debilitating seasickness in the run from New York via Nova Scotia. The arrival was part of the Clipper Homecoming Festival, a Northern Ireland 2012 event to welcome home the fleet of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2011-12 to the shores of Lough Foyle. 

 During the Festival Ocean Youth Trust also delivered taster sailing sessions to the new and not so new sailors on the hour every hour from the pontoon, bringing the area alive with lots of activity on the water for people of all ages. 

 Bronagh Cappa Campbell, Chief Executive of the Trust said: ‘Ocean Youth Trust Ireland are delighted to be a part of the Clipper Homecoming Festival and to sail alongside the home yacht as it made its way into port.  The atmosphere was electric and it was great to see our boats on the Foyle at such an historic occasion.  We have  planned a full schedule of sailing on Lough Foyle this summer and look forward to seeing more local people take to the water’.

 Ocean Youth Trust Ireland has developed a full programme of sailing and camp opportunities for young people, adults, schools and youth based organisations to  include try sailing in July & August at Lough Foyle, Derry/Londonderry as part of the Clipper Homecoming Festival, in Galway in July for the Volvo Ocean Race; sailing and coaching for residents and visitors to the Inishmore Aran Islands in July, back to Belfast and Castlewellan Forest Park in mid July Belfast for more sailing and adventure camp during July & August finishing off in Dublin at the end of August for the Tall Ships Races 2012.

 There is something for everyone aged twelve years upwards this Summer with Ocean Youth Trust Ireland.  No sailing experience is necessary, all safety gear and insurance is provided as well as sailing instruction that is delivered by fully qualified sailing instructors.  For details on all sailing and adventure camp opportunities visit www.oyti.org.

 Ocean Youth Trust Ireland was granted the Inspire Mark by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The Inspire mark is the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme – a UK-wide participation initiative which recognises innovative and exceptional non-commercial projects which are inspired by the 2012 Games. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure is responsible for delivering the Inspire programme in Northern Ireland, as part of its wider strategy to create a local legacy from the 2012 Games’.