Annual Schools Marine Challenge hailed a success
Youngsters were celebrating waterborne success at the annual Schools Marine Challenge, as they raced their home-made model powerboats on a lake in Essex.
The Challenge is a collaboration between the marine industry and local schools across the South of England. The aim is to allow school children to experience the art of boatbuilding and provide an insight into the opportunities and rewards the industry can offer.
This year schools have linked up with companies in their area, gaining an insight into local boat building and marine engineering.
Firms involved with the programme include Ocean Dragon P1 World Challenge racing team, Princess Yachts, Maritime Plymouth and Devonport Management Limited, who were so impressed by one of the pupils who visited them that they offered support for their studies at university.
The scheme in the South West is a joint venture between the British Marine Federation, Marine South-West and the South West Regional Development Agency and is sponsored by Lloyds Register.
The competition itself requires school children to form teams and design, build and then race boats against each other. A series of regional race days were held across the south of the country over the past month.
