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Young Maida Vale sailors return from trip
Scrubbing the decks, scaling the mast and practising man overboard drills were all in a day's work for two Maida Vale pupils.
John Parry and Gina Antwi, both 16 and students at St George's RC School in Lanark Road, Maida Vale, returned from a sailing trip on Friday.
They joined pupils from 23 other schools across the UK on board the tall ship Stavros S Niarchos which sailed from Newcastle to London during their 10-night voyage.
The sailed through variable weather including moderate winds, sunshine and heavy showers, with visits to the ports of Great Yarmouth and Scheveningen, in Holland, en route.
They worked in teams to keep the ship going round the clock, before docking at Tower Bridge.
The students were specially selected to take part in the voyage by their school, and they developed skills such as teamwork, leadership and communications.
The trip, part of the Tall Ships Youth Trust's annual voyage of achievement, was funded by the HSBC Global Educations Trust.
Captain Paul Miller, of the Tall Ships Youth Trust, said: "When these young people first joined the ship, they didn't know each other and had very little idea what life would be like on board.
"Through living in close proximity and working together as a team, they've battled the elements, climbed the rigging and sailed the ship.
"They have all found new confidence and pride in what they have achieved."
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