A 23-year-old from Southampton, who is in recovery from cancer, reflected on a week of unforgettable memories and sailing firsts as she completed the latest leg of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust’s epic four-month Round Britain 2017 challenge.

Abbie Morton, who first sailed with the Trust in 2013 after treatment for Hodgkins Lymphoma and is now a therapeutic radiographer at Southampton General Hospital, was one of six young people in recovery who recently took part in the 230-nautical mile Leg 13 sail from Falmouth to Cardiff on the Trust’s voyage yacht Moonspray.

Launched by the history-making yachtswoman in 2003, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a national charity that rebuilds confidence after cancer, using sailing to support, empower and inspire young people aged eight to 24 in embracing their future with optimism.

Leg 13 saw the crew sail the longest non-stop passage of the whole voyage from Falmouth around to Portishead before entering Welsh waters for the first time. Abbie, who is originally from Leeds, admits the experience surpassed her expectations.

She said: “Seeing dolphins, shooting stars, the clearest sky I’ve ever seen and phosphorescence illuminating the water was incredible. Getting out of bed with the boat in full heel was also very interesting!

“When I knew the watch system would mean three hours sleep then three hours on duty I thought I was going to be so grumpy and wondered how I was going to cope. But knowing you were getting up to maybe see dolphins again and look at the sunrise was pretty good motivation.”

Between May and September, over 100 young people who have all sailed with the Trust following cancer treatment, are taking part in an extraordinary 2,400-mile sailing relay around Britain to celebrate recovery, achievement and potential.

Up to five different young people are joining the crew for each leg, while two of the full-time crew have also been through treatment and benefited from Trust support.

Moonspray left Falmouth, rounding Land’s End and arriving in Portishead for a visit to Bristol Children’s Hospital. Here the crew met other young people currently on treatment to help inspire them in seeing what is possible after cancer.

Then it was on to Cardiff and front row seats at one of the World’s most thrilling sailing events, the Extreme Sailing Series, which took place over the Bank Holiday. The crew not only got up close with the racing, they got to check out and meet the crew of Team Oman Air on their GC32, foiling catamaran.

This year the Trust will work with almost 600 young people in recovery from cancer. But for every young person they currently support, there are nine they cannot.

All six Leg 13 crew members

first sailed with Trust as young people in recovery and now volunteer to support others going through experiences only they know.

Abbie added: “Confidence comes from being given responsibilities aboard. Those sorts of things are often taken away while you recover at home. But realising you’re recovered enough to do the things that need doing on a boat is a huge boost.”

Abbie left Moonspray as four more young people joined the boat for the 250-nautical mile Leg 14 sail to Holyhead, the voyage’s longest passage. Round Britain 2017 finishes back where it started at the Trust’s Scottish base in Largs on 23 September.

Through the campaign #tell9people and by sharing the stories of the young people taking part, Round Britain 2017 aims to raise awareness of the Trust’s work both publicly and within the hospitals and medical support networks around the country, many of which the young people are visiting during the voyage.

You can support the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust’s campaign and follow Round Britain 2017 via the Trust’s social media channels and on the live voyage tracker at the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust website.