Inspirational "floating classroom" officially launched by Princess Anne as Tall Ships Youth Trust celebrates a bumper birthday

A new ‘floating classroom’ has been officially launched by the Princess Royal in a boost to the Portsmouth-based Tall Ships Youth Trust which is also celebrating its 70th anniverary this year.

The official commissioning of the 72ft steel-hulled yacht Challenger 5 yesterday (Thursday, June 4) at Gunwharf Quays creates spaces to allow the charity to unlock the potential of more than 300 additional young people nationwide every single year.

The vessel - formerly known as Challenge Wales - was transferred to TSYT following the closure of the Penarth-based charity. And to honour the vessel's heritage, young people from Solace Partnerships hoisted a branded forestay banner featuring the Welsh Dragon as the ship was formally welcomed into service.

During the ceremony Princess Anne named the vessel in front of specially invited guests, and met with the charity's sea-going crew, volunteers, supporters, trustees, and young people who had benefited from the charity's work. Gunwharf visitors also flocked to the barrier near the deep water pontoon to catch a glimpse of the princess.

She was also shown around Challenger 5 where she spoke to more young people and staff, before unveiling a plaque which will now be placed on the inside of the ship and pouring champagne on the hull.

Alastair Floyd, CEO of Tall Ships Youth Trust, said: "We are incredibly honoured to have HRH The Princess Royal officially launch Challenger 5, especially as we celebrate our landmark 70th anniversary year. This vessel represents an exciting new era of growth for the Trust.

“Operating as a unique platform for learning at sea, Challenger 5 will allow us to bring our innovative three-voyage programme of Exploration, Empowerment, and Leadership to over 300 more young people each year.”

The acquisition and refit of Challenger 5 was made possible thanks to the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights and The Gosling Foundation. To recognise this vital partnership, Challenger 5 proudly carries the names of both supporters permanently on her hull.

Mr Floyd added: “We are immensely grateful to The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights and The Gosling Foundation for safeguarding this vessel's legacy and partnering with us to expand life-changing learning opportunities at sea.”

The charity helps young people aged 12-25 across the UK realise their potential through life-changing youth development voyages where they learn basic seafaring and life skills.

Small groups of youngsters, many of whom have never sailed before, take part in short voyages to learn all about sailing, including navigation, hoisting the sails and how to maintain the vessel, as well as other basic skills of cooking and cleaning on board as well as how to work as a team.

Initial excursions along the South Coast towards Dorset give youngsters an introduction to sailing as part of a five-day Exploration course, with further courses in Empowerment and then Leadership also offered as part of its three-voyage programme.

“The idea is to create progressive opportunities for them on the water,” explained the charity’s youth development director Kirsty French who said the primary focus is on a young person’s “personal development”.

She said: “Over the course of a normal year we take over 1,200 young people to sea and about 85 per cent of those come from some sort of disadvantaged background.

“That could be postcode-related, it may be personal circumstances, but is also involves young people who are neurodivergent or who have learning needs and so we open the hatches to bring young people who would not typically have the opportunity to get onto the water to experience what life at sea is all about.”

Challenger 5 is now fully commissioned to begin her youth development voyage rotation, operating as part of TSYT’s nationwide network of regional hubs including Plymouth, South Wales, Belfast and Greenock .

This strategic expansion is also an important step in TSYT’s S.O.S (Safety, Operability, and Sustainability) campaign - a major fleet refit plan designed to modernise onboard living conditions and ensure the vessels remain safe, operational, and sustainable for future generations.

Watch leader and a Tall Ships ambassador Charlotte Mossop, 21, from Basingstoke took her first voyage with TSYT when she was 13 years old and said the experience led to her developing leadership skills which have now inspired her to embark on a teaching career.

She said the week-long courses offered by the charity are perfect to open up the eyes of young people to what the world has to offer.

She said: “It is fantastic to watch the transformation of people over the course of the week, especially when they put their phones away. They learn so many skills, not just those needed for sailing but also life skills as well.

“The sea is such a great leveller and gives everyone the same chances and opportunities no matter what your background is.”

Fellow watch leader Amelia Hill, 18, who lives in Portsmouth, added that the Tall Ships Youth Trust provided fantastic opportunities to get people out on the water to experience something new.

She added: “It gets the best out of everyone.”

The charity relies on generous donations and funds raised through adult voyages. To find out more visit tallships.org.

• TSYT is the UK's oldest and largest youth development outdoor learning charity, supporting young people aged 12–25 since 1956
• In 2025/26, the charity provided financial support to 85% of the 1,224 young people who sailed with it
• Its regional hubs align with the top 20% areas of deprivation in the country
• In 25/26 the charity had 106 youth voyages - a whopping 4,716 nights at sea
• Of the young people who sailed 77% had never done so before
• In 25/26 a total of 665 adults sailed with the charity
• A £20 donation to the charity would pay for a young person’s meals during a voyage