Dauntsey’s pupils complete Transatlantic Tall Ships voyage

Eight Sixth Form pupils from Dauntsey’s have spent 30 days at sea for a challenging North Atlantic race sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia to the Eddystone Lighthouse off Plymouth. 

Sailing the School’s Tall Ship, Jolie Brise, the pupils were taking part in the final stage of the International Rendez-vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta – a 10,000 nautical mile transatlantic race visiting Portugal, Bermuda, America, Canada and France.

After reaching the finish line in Plymouth, the crew sailed on to Le Havre to enjoy the Regatta’s final celebrations and award ceremony.

A further highlight for pupils on board had been five days of celebrations in Québec City in July, alongside a fleet of more than 40 vessels from all over the world. Some two million sailing enthusiasts joined the extravaganza of Tall Ships, filling the harbour and surrounding streets.

Mark Lascelles, Head Master, Dauntsey’s said: “We are serious about adventure here at Dauntsey’s and it doesn’t get much more adventurous than crewing a Tall Ship in the Rendez-vous Regatta.

“Each leg offered an amazing experience in terms of sailing and exposure to rare and unusual sea-life but the thirty-day leg between Canada and France was a unique opportunity for some of our older pupils to experience a transatlantic crossing. They all worked together brilliantly as a crew and we are very proud of them all.”

Jolie Brise has been owned, maintained and sailed by the pupils of Dauntsey's for the last 38 years. In 2013, she celebrated the centenary anniversary of her construction by the Paumelle yard in Le Havre in 1913. The world famous, gaff-rigged pilot cutter was the last boat to carry the Royal Mail under sail and has won the Fastnet Race three times, including the inaugural race in 1925.

In 2016, she was the overall winner of the Tall Ships Races for a second year in a row. She last crossed the Atlantic in 2009 whilst participating in the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge, crewed by pupils from Dauntsey’s, visiting Bermuda, Charleston, Boston and Halifax.

All pupils at Dauntsey's enjoy a wide variety of sporting and adventurous activities and are encouraged to develop a strong spirit of adventure.