Wright of Passage is a workplace-learning program designed to support and grow the personal and social development skills of young people (16-25 years of age) to help their entry into paid work or further education. Participants are coached and mentored whilst undertaking hands on, trade-based experiences, developing workplace expertise, with the additional opportunity to participate in adventurous, multi day, offshore sailing experiences.
Our participants:
Wright of Passage is aimed at young people, aged 16-25, who have disconnected from school, and are in a position of disengagement, disability and/or disadvantage. Participants need to be able to attend 2 days a week at Woolwich Dock, Sydney, where our yacht Wright of Passage Mercator is docked.
Wright of Passage Mercator, a 53-foot Herreshoff ketch, was kindly donated to us in early 2017. While being principally sound, the vessel was in a state of disrepair. Since then, a major restoration project has been underway, with the work being done by the young people in the program.
With the first stage of the program complete, in February 2019 the five trainees were joined by skipper David Pescud and four other ocean sailing veterans on the journey south to the Tasmania’s MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart. Read about their trip.
Recruiting is now underway for the second round of participants to continue the restoration and skills training program. Apply to join the program.
"The change in these young people is remarkable. They are charged with energy, optimism and a realisation they have a future and job prospects."
Register your interest and one of our program coordinators will be in touch.