Sailing a tall ship is something that most of us only dream about. But why just dream? It’s much easier than you think to join the crew!

One 17-year-old Dorset crew member of the TS Pelican said: “When I first heard about the Pelican I could never have imagined what an impact it would have on my life.

“Two years and three voyages later I’m looking forward to being back at sea this summer.”

She added: “The Pelican’s crew is friendly and welcoming as well as incredibly encouraging; I would recommend the experience to anyone.”

Sailing aboard a tall ship is the perfect adventure escape for students searching for gap year opportunities.

A tall ship like TS Pelican offers you a choice of voyages:
•    one-day sails – a superb sailing experience, perfect for discovering what life aboard a tall ship is like
•    a week-long cruise along the coast
•    a full transatlantic voyage to the Caribbean!

TS Pelican is operated by the charity Adventure Under Sail, based in Weymouth, Dorset – the venue for the 2012 Olympic sailing events.

Young people from all over the UK enjoy exciting tall ships youth voyages aboard the Pelican.

Many people assume that Pelican has always been a tall ship but she was originally built in France as an Arctic fishing trawler. Built in Le Havre, France, she was completed in 1948.

Pelican plied the Norwegian fishing routes until 1968. She was then changed from a trawler to a coaster and renamed Kadett.

In 1995 ex-Naval Commander Graham Neilson bought Kadett with the aim of transforming her into a tall ship. It took 12 years. Neilson also gave the ship back her original name – Pelican.

Transforming the coaster Kadett into the tall ship Pelican involved boosting the accommodation from half a dozen basic cabins to 39 modern berths, some of them en-suite. Today Pelican also boasts nine bathrooms, along with heating and air conditioning.

If you would like to join the crew of TS Pelican, contact Adventure Under Sail for more information, 01305 839476.