A HAMPSHIRE sailor embarked on journey across the sea to mentor young generations. 

Alice Brindley, a lieutenant based at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, embarked on a trip around the Canary Islands to mentor a group of students. 

She joined the STS Lord Nelson for the trip, organised by the Southampton-based Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST), where taught tasks to students from the Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College.

Ms Brindley, who attended the Welbeck Defence Sixth-Form College, near Loughborough, ten years ago, mentored a group of 12 students aged between 12 and 18 years old from the college’s Leadership at Sea programme. 

The team engaged in several tasks including climbing the mast, setting sails, sitting night watches and hauling on the ropes. They could also experience the challenges faced by disabled sailors, such as undertaking watches while visually impaired, and develop awareness about these issues. 

This was the first time Lieutenant Brindley has been involved in a journey organised by the JST. She said: “It was great to learn the similarities and differences between tall ships and the RN, meet such a variety of people and mentor Welbeck students.” 

The JST arranges sailing experiences for people aged between 16 and 99 years old with a range of abilities including disabled, military and civilian personnel, and aim to empower them. 

Chris Phillips, captain of the Jubilee Sailing Trust in Southampton, said: “The Jubilee Sailing Trust has for many years been involved with the rehabilitation of injured servicemen.

"The recent voyage with a group of students from Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College, mixed with a group of serving personnel and veterans, has taken the relationship a step further.

"The Welbexians represent the future of our armed forces, and for them to have had the opportunity to embark on such an experience as this can only benefit them and HM forces in general.”

Lieutenant Brindley said she is already looking forward to sailing with the JST again and using her experience at HMS Collingwood to mentor young crew members and support them in working towards careers in the Royal Navy.