Jersey Clipper Bursary award 2025 goes to teenage dinghy instructor to enter Tall Ships Race
by Philip Jeune 23 May 15:28 BST
Jamie Le Marquand © RCIYC
A dinghy instructor at the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club has been
awarded this year's Jersey Clipper Bursary, worth £1,000.
Jamie Le Marquand (17) will use the funds to take part in the 2025 Tall Ships
Race, joining the crew of an historic fishing boat on the leg from Scotland to
Norway.
The 2025 runner's-up award of £500 goes to a young team of sailors from the
three Island sailing clubs, enabling them to compete in a keelboat regatta on
the Hamble in August.
"The Tall Ships Race is an exciting challenge that will give me the chance to
sail offshore, work as part of an international team and expand my sailing
skills," said Jamie.
Starting on 4 July, this year's race will take the fleet from Le Havre, to
Dunkirk, Aberdeen, Kristiansand (Norway) and Esbjerg (Denmark). For the leg
from Aberdeen to Kristiansand Jamie will be aboard the Excelsior, a Lowestoft
smack built in 1921 to fish in the North Sea. She was fully restored in 1989
and is now a regular competitor in major maritime events.
"I'm determined to make the most of this amazing opportunity," added Jamie.
"The bursary will help to cover the cost of the trip, including travel and kit, as
well as a contribution towards the voyage itself.
"After the race I'll return to teach sailing in Jersey as an RYA Dinghy Instructor
at the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club. For the past two summers I've
enjoyed sharing my passion with younger sailors and I hope they not only see
the fun I had but are inspired by my experience to find their own adventures."
For Todd Watkins, Tyler Horton, Richie Forbes, Harvey Godel and Juliette
Walton their adventure will be taking part in the David Haw Memorial Trophy -
a weekend of J70 racing organised by the British Keelboat League on the
Hamble River.
"We are dedicated to promoting youth keelboating and sailing," said Todd, who
explained that the team represents St. Helier Yacht Club, the Royal Channel
Islands Yacht Club and St. Catherine's Sailing Club.
"This event offers us a platform to develop our skills, inspire younger sailors
and strengthen Jersey's presence in national keelboat racing, and the bursary
award will help cover entry fees and travel expenses, enabling us to represent
Jersey with pride."
The annual Jersey Clipper Bursary, a legacy from the Island's three
campaigns in the Clipper Round-the-World Race, was established in 2007
through the generosity of UBS, Dandara and Les Pas Holdings, the main
sponsors of Jersey Clipper.