Ocean Discoverability®
Our rather unique Ocean Discoverability day sails support many young people each year, including those with life-limiting conditions, from additional needs schools and units, and day centres in Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall. This work expands on our own day sail provision which is open to all, and is in addition to our residential sailing voyages.
Ocean Discoverability is our evolution of the work of Cornubia under the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Trust from 2010 to 2016. Cornubia’s first mate, John Hepburn, joined our team in 2017 to run our own programme, ensuring a quality and enjoyable educational experience from day one. Together with John, we continue to seek major and supplementary funding to help support our delivery of this much admired service.
What we do on an Ocean Discoverability day sail
On a typical day the young crew will observe, touch and feel marine life in the marina before examining it under the microscope and via an underwater camera on the seabed. After a safety brief and boat familiarisation the sea trip begins, by gently motoring down the River Plym to Plymouth Sound while stowing the ropes and fenders. This helps the young crew get used to the boat and its motion. Once in the Sound, those who wish to do so will help hoist the sails and steer. There they gain an appreciation of the geography, the marine life and other ships and boats, spotting and recording them in their personal guidebook.
Depending on the levels of ability there are:
- mystery objects to find on deck;
- simple tasks like finding and counting all the stanchions;
- a nautical word search;
- calculating the boat’s sail area and learning some knots.
While some just enjoy the sensory experience. On the return journey they help collect samples of plankton for microscopic examination when back in the marina.
This great experience for additional needs schools and day centres, adds to the range of what we can offer to young people giving them the opportunity to enjoy time on the water, expand their skills and explore all the other benefits of sailing.
End of season review
You can catch up with John’s reflections in his 2025 end of season report on our news page.
How these day sails are funded
Ocean Discoverability would not be possible without the generous support of the many grant-making organisations who fund these day sails. If you would like to make a contribution then please do get in touch.
How to take part
If you wish to discuss the possibility of bringing your group on an Ocean Discoverability day sail please contact us on 01752 823007, email info@theislandtrust.org.uk, or use the enquiry form at the bottom of this page.
John Hepburn
This is my tenth year with The Island Trust. My role is to raise the funds and help develop and deliver the Ocean Discoverability day trips – during the six years prior to this I worked doing the same trips in the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Cornubia. I started sailing when I was 14 and in my early 20s I was a volunteer mate in the Ocean Youth Club, sailing gaff and bermudan rigged boats. Then throughout my 30 years in the Navy I carried on sailing in my own and other people’s boats. From that time on, I have worked with several organisations helping to raise awareness of the sea, the amazing things that live in it, the amazing opportunities it offers and why our ocean is so important to us all.
Acknowledgements
In accordance with their wishes, we gratefully acknowledge contributions from:
.
Cornwall Community Foundation
awarded £1,050 from their
Duke of Cornwall’s Marine Environment Fund
in support of our Ocean Discoverability
day sail programme in 2025.
.
Alex Ferry Foundation
awarded funding in support of our
Ocean Discoverability
2026 day sail programme.
.
The Livewell Foundation
awarded £1,000 in support of our
Ocean Discoverability day sail programme in 2025.
.
Devon Community Foundation
awarded £5,000 in 2026 from their
Plymouth Drake Foundation Trinity House Fund
in support of our Ocean Discoverability
day sail programme.
.
The Norman Family Trust
awarded funding in support of our
Ocean Discoverability
2026 day sail programme.
Our Promise to You
Crewed by professional sailing staff, qualified at the highest level, all of our vessels have been coded by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and inspected for seaworthiness and safety.
The Island Trust and its operating company, Island (Cutter) Ltd, have robust policies and procedures in place to guarantee your safety on board including:
- Health and Safety Policies
- Child Protection Policies
- Valid DBS Disclosure for all staff and volunteers
We are members of the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO).
Full time and relief skippers are Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Yachtmasters and Cruising Instructors or higher, and mates and volunteers are qualified to levels appropriate to the responsibilities they carry in accordance with statutory MCA and RYA regulations and guidelines.
Get in touch
Please phone us on 01752 823007 or use the enquiry form below:
