Young people from Pembrokeshire recently took part in an inspiring nautical programme aboard the tall ship Faramir in the Cleddau Estuary.

The programme was specially tailored for young people in care, care leavers, and their families, over May 27 and 28.

It was organised by a partnership between Tall Ships Wales Trust, the Cirdan Sailing Trust and the Dragon Darwin Experience with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, the Port of Milford Haven, and West Wales Freemasons.

Faramir, a 22.35m Bermudan Ketch owned by the Cirdan Sailing Trust, moored at Hobbs Point ready to welcome its passengers.

The Cirdan Sailing Trust is a charity dedicated to enabling young people, particularly those facing disadvantages, to experience the challenge and adventure of life at sea on large sailing vessels.

On the first morning, 19 young people and adults from local families, alongside Pembrokeshire County Council representatives, stepped aboard for a Nautical Medley.

The expert crew gave an engaging, interactive tour above and below deck, complete with a scavenger hunt; taught essential knot-tying skills, and answered questions about the ship, sailing, and life at sea.

Meanwhile, the Darwin Centre transformed the galley into a marine laboratory, giving families a glimpse into the mysterious world of ocean drifters, shells, mermaid’s purses, and seaweed snacks.

That afternoon, Faramir set sail for an exhilarating overnight voyage with 17 passengers. The group fully embraced ship life – taking turns at the helm, setting sails, keeping the galley shipshape, and standing watch through the night as they moored off Dale Bay.

The following day, a new group including six young people embarked on an afternoon taster sail along the Cleddau. Passengers explored the vessel, met the crew, and enjoyed homemade cake before joining the Darwin team for a marine biology session.

Using a specialised plankton net with a fine mesh, they sampled for zooplankton – tiny drifting marine animals – while recording key abiotic data such as weather, sea state, salinity, GPS location, and vessel speed. Once again, the galley became a pop-up lab as the group used stereomicroscopes to examine and identify the different zooplankton species collected.

That evening, Faramir moored at Neyland Marina for an open ship event attended by 30 project partners and local dignitaries.

The Voyages to Positive Destinations programme will conclude in the Autumn with a final, longer voyage around the South coast of England for keen young adults who are soon to leave the care system.

The Tall Ships Wales Trust, whose mission is to connect West Wales’s coastal communities with their maritime heritage through accessible Tall Ship experiences, hopes to bring similar transformative opportunities to Pembrokeshire’s young people in the near future.

Paula Holt from the Tall Ships Wales Trust said of the programme: “For many of these young people, this was their first time experiencing life at sea. Watching them build confidence, work together as a crew, and discover the hidden world of marine life was truly inspiring. Opportunities like this can create lasting positive memories and open new horizons.”