Across the North Atlantic.
This is 2009... and this is my adventure.
Welcome and thank you so much for visiting my page!
I am Dean Zielinski, 17 years old and from the West Coast of Scotland.
IN A NUTSHELL:
I have a fear of water and cannot swim yet plan to take my limited sailing skills across the North Atlantic!
I am very passionate about providing opportunities for disadvantaged and bored young folk, me being one of them before my first voyage with Ocean Youth Trust Scotland (OYTS).
11 other similar minded youths under the age of 18 and I will sail a 72ft ocean racing yacht from Scotland to Iceland.
We will be joined by four volunteer and two professional OYTS Staff.
The opportunity is there, but we can't do it without you.
To complete this trip i am required to raise at least £500.
I aim to go beyond this and raise over £700!
I will run a few events over the next couple of months, such as bagpacking and fun activities! Ideas would be great! Will keep everybody updated.
*I am offering to have Company Logos on publicity material I produce such as Press Releases and items of clothing which can be worn during photographs and departing/returning from the voyage, in return for Sponsorship or Aid!
PRESS RELEASE:
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2503385.0.0.php
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OTHER DONATIONS
:* MP David Cairns - Bottle of House of Commons Whisky! - Will be used in fundraising in the near future.
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Interested? Here is what i will achieve:
On the 29th June, 11 other youths under the age of 18 and I will embark on a voyage of a lifetime across the unforgiving North Atlantic!
We are part of an Ocean Youth Trust Scotland Young Leaders Development Programme (mouthfull i know!!) which fosters Scotland's leaders of tomorrow. We will all become OYTS Watch Leaders if we complete this expedition, helping other youths experience Adventure Under Sail.
Our target is Hafnarfjordur, Iceland. We Depart from Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland.
The boat - Alba Explorer, a 72ft ex Challenger yacht.
How we get there and what we do in between is completely up to us and mother nature!
We are inexperienced sailors who will be accompanied by four volunteer and two professional OYTS staff.
About Me:
My old lifestyle:
Very unfit (not exactly a model for slimming world at the moment... One step at a time i say!).
Wasted days on gaming consoles!
No ambition, no motivation, no inspiration and no goals.
I represented the thousands of kids out there just now with similar life styles and lack of opportunity.
Through Ocean Youth Trust Scotland, i was able to step away from this and go on a 5 day voyage around the West Coast of Scotland at no cost.
We learned skills from teambuilding, cooking, respect, basic sailing and gained inspiration which has led me to be here.
Young Leaders Development Programme
So what is this trip actually about?
I will undergo intensive leadership training in a bid to become an OYTS Watchleader, in turn, helping hundreds more children of all ages, backgrounds and physical ability experience life and the opportunities out there.
Ocean Youth Trust Scotland is open to ANYBODY.
No matter how you were brought up, where you are from, your physical ability, each and every youth of the UK and beyond is welcome to come along and mentally leap forward in time as personal development and inspiration grabs hold of you!
What is so hard about sailing a 72 foot yacht?
Well... imagine living life for two weeks at a 45 degree angle.
We wont need to!
In the worst conditions, waves pouring overhead as you take the helm and attempt to stay on course and on board!
Limited water and food supplies, no daily cleansing...
What do young people gain from Adventure Under Sail?
A place of value and responsibility, respect, inspiration, ambition, the ability to work in a diverse team, and opportunity.
The opportunity to create goals and a future.
The opportunity to become an important role in society and provide change in their community.
This features the challenger yachts during their time spent in the BT Global Challenge race! Completely identical to the yacht i will be sailing on.
Sailing an ex Challenger yacht is both mentally in physically draining yet rewarding!
She has been through the seas worst conditions after previously completing the round the world BT Global Challenge race.
She is fast, agile and will prove a fight against what is thrown at us! (wish i could say the same about myself!).
The Young Leaders Development Programme has been heavily funded for the next three years by Braehead shopping and leisure centre.
Each crew member have each been asked to raise a minimum of £500 individually.
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I need your help to spread the word and give others the experience they deserve!
Each and every sponsor will be completely updated throughout the programme and challenge voyage (ONLY if you wish to). I will share pictures and videos from our experience too!
I can also complete a blog during the trip, so others can have a wee insight into life onboard!
All donations are automatically sent to OYTS, so you can be 100% guaranteed your donation will be securely and safely sent to them without going through myself!
Donations will go towards funding for Ocean Youth Trust Scotland's Adventure Under Sail and towards the berth fee for my place on this Voyage!
Your donation can make it possible for hundreds of potential leaders and role models in society to flourish as they are given the experience of a lifetime.
Any tips, suggestions and donations are hugely appreciated.
If you would like to take part in an OYTS Voyage, wish to volunteer or find out more about the organisation, please visit:
http://www.oytscotland.org.uk/
The office staff are wonderful and will answer any questions you have at all and assist you in signing up on Voyages!
Feel free to email me with any questions, requests for more information, or just to say hi!!
deano_2320@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks for looking! Wish me luck :)
