Business leaders and MPs navigate the Energy Estuary to celebrate 10 years of CatZero yacht
Pictured navigating a smooth course through the Energy Estuary is Ian Kelly accompanied by Jim Dick.
IN a move that would make the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce’s Shipping and Transport Committee proud, Chief Executive Ian Kelly took the helm of the CatZero yacht on the Humber to mark its 10th anniversary.
Navigating a smooth course through the Humber is rarely an easy task and it was all hands on deck as the training vessel traversed the Energy Estuary, dodging Chamber Vice President Sally Booker’s P&O Ferries.
The shipmates weighed anchor in Grimsby Dock before setting sail for an afternoon on the high seas, keeping a wary eye out for stray pirates, stowaways, and ship’s cats.
Jim Dick, who originally brought CatZero to the Humber following the Round the World Clipper Race which set sail from Hull in 2007, was keeping a close eye on his enthusiastic crew which included Grimsby and Scunthorpe MPs, Melanie Onn and Nic Dakin, as well as Martin Boyers from Grimsby Fish Market.
CatZero is a not-for-profit organisation which has expert staff delivering projects for young people and older long term unemployed people. It is an award-winning registered charity specifically designed to meet the holistic needs of young people, people with additional support needs and their families.
To help them continue their valuable work, they would welcome donations from Humber businesses, and can be contacted by email info@catzero.org or phone on (01482) 333303 if you can help.
The CatZero team say sailing brings people back to fundamentals. Spending time on a boat seems to bring out the best in human nature. Sharing the experience with colleagues or complete strangers, working through challenges and experiencing the thrills, bringing you together.
CatZero can be privately chartered, and whether on a short taster sail or a longer voyage across the open seas, you talk a lot, laugh a lot and experience something new together, learning a lot more than you think you would expect and discovering strengths you didn't know you had. You are tested to the limits whilst harnessing the forces of nature to the best of your ability and it can be a wild and exhilarating ride. Then there are quiet moments that etch themselves into your memory, where seas and skies provide moments of pure beauty.
CatZero offers a number of unique sailing experiences to the public, from four hour taster events to weeks in the beautiful Caribbean. Each sail brings together complete novices and experienced sailors, working together alongside a professional crew. From navigation, to helming, each event ensures you experience every aspect of sailing. A minimum donation to the charity is requested and all the surplus funds are used to subsidise the young people's programmes. Each of CatZero’s young people's programmes involves a sailing experience - whether this is a 24-hour sail, or a full 10-day residential experience, each young person earns their place on a voyage that will change their lives and have a sustainable impact on their future.
CatZero uses sailing to take young people outside their comfort zone, putting them into a unique challenging situation which looks at how they perform. The young people surprise themselves as they form two groups (watches) working on a 4 hour on, 4 hour off rota. They work alongside professional crew and volunteers. This element of the programme has proven to be extremely successful, enabling young people to prove their capabilities and work alongside potential employers from their home town.
Each watch carries out key functions to enable the vessel to complete its voyage, these include: Navigator, Engineer, Cleaner, Cook and Team Leader. The voyage builds upon the heritage of the Humber and is very well respected as a significant challenge by the young people, local businesses and parents.
