Two CatZero participants have experienced life-changing offshore sailing adventures thanks to the continued support of The Fishmongers’ Company, whose Thomas Boyd Sailing Bursary provides two participants every year with the opportunity to take part in transformational voyages.
The bursary gives people the chance to step outside their comfort zone, develop new skills and discover what they are capable of achieving. Through sailing, participants build confidence, resilience, teamwork and friendships that continue long after they return to shore.
For CatZero participant Ian, the experience marked another significant milestone in an incredible journey of recovery, confidence and personal growth.
Ian joined CatZero after overcoming significant personal challenges and rebuilding his life through recovery. His first sailing experience with CatZero gave him the opportunity to challenge himself in a completely new environment, learning new skills while becoming part of a supportive crew.
During his first voyage, Ian sailed hundreds of miles around the UK coastline, taking on roles including watchkeeper, navigator, deckhand, engineer and cook. The experience helped him rediscover confidence and realise he was capable of far more than he had imagined.
Reflecting on the experience, Ian said:
“The experience challenged me in ways I hadn’t expected. Recovery can sometimes become comfortable. This voyage reminded me that growth happens when you keep learning, adapting and facing the unknown.”
“Standing watch at the bow in the early hours, surrounded by nothing but sea and sky, I realised how far I’d come. A year earlier I was simply trying to survive. Now I was planning a future.”
Following this journey, Ian was awarded a place on CatZero’s Norse Adventure through the Thomas Boyd Sailing Bursary. The expedition saw him sail almost 1,500 miles through some of Northern Europe’s most spectacular waters, travelling from Hull to the Shetland Islands, across to the Faroe Islands and onwards to Bergen, Norway.
The voyage provided Ian with the opportunity to continue developing his sailing skills while building relationships with new crew members and sharing his own story with others.
He said:
“The more I shared about my own life, the more people shared their own stories, which I’ll never forget. Although tiring, I returned home with renewed optimism and enthusiasm for what life holds next.”
Alongside Ian’s story, the bursary has also supported the journey of fellow participant Jordan, who joined CatZero’s 12-week Employability Programme in April 2022 after being unemployed for more than 12 months and unsure about his future direction.
At the start of the programme, Jordan identified confidence, motivation and friendships as areas he wanted to improve. Through determination and commitment, he completed CatZero’s eight-day residential sail from Hull to Brixham, achieving his RYA Competent Crew qualification and sailing more than 700 nautical miles.
The experience helped Jordan build the confidence to take his next steps. Following the programme, he secured full-time employment with Sofina Foods (formerly Youngs Seafood), where he has now worked for four years. He has also recently bought his own home and is living independently.
Jordan said:
“Because of CaZero I gained the confidence to get employment at Young’s Seafood, where I have worked for four years. I have also recently bought my own home and I am now living independently.”
“I think I would be a good role model to others to show how much CatZero can help you start out in life. I want to inspire others by sharing my journey and the positive impact CatZero has had on my life while pushing myself to go further.”
Danny Watson, Director of Sailing at CatZero, said:
“The Thomas Boyd Sailing Bursary is closely linked to our origins. The charity began with an idea while on board the Clipper Round the World race in 2007, when we had 10 deserving young people from the Humber on board. This bursary is about creating opportunities that people may never have imagined possible. Sailing challenges participants, builds confidence and creates a sense of achievement that stays with them long after they step back on land.”
“The continued support from The Fishmongers’ Company means we can offer these experiences to two participants every year and show people what they are truly capable of achieving.”
The bursary is a huge part of CatZero’s change-making possibilities. In Ian’s words; “CatZero didn’t just give me a voyage. They gave me another reason to believe that change is possible.”
© The Fishmongers’ Company 2026
