Seas Your Future (SYF) is the operating name of Adventure Under Sail (AUS), a UK-registered not for profit company (number 06569266) limited by guarantee, and charity (number 1124276) registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
AUS was formed in 2008 initially as a small charity managing funds to provide bursaries for young people undertaking sail related activities, and in 2012 took ownership of the tall ship Pelican of London. Its principle strategic aims, as set out in its Memorandum & Articles of Association, are:
“....to educate young people, through the provision of sailing or sailing related activities and other training and so as to develop their physical, mental, and social capabilities so that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society and their conditions of life may be improved”.
In 2022, the charity acquired their second tall ship, the Fridtjof Nansen, to accommodate the increasing demand for voyages.
The charity operates the ships primarily as sail training vessels for young people, in the northern hemisphere during the spring and summer months mainly around the UK and Europe, and during the autumn and winter months on a six-month transatlantic educational voyage. We provide sailing experience and an alternative form of learning for all young people, encouraging equality, inclusiveness, and passion, through adventure and challenge. Our programmes promote personal growth through Sail Training, Maritime Career options and offer hands-on Ocean Science and environmental conservation activities. See our Strategic Development Plan here.
Seas Your Future has seven employees and six trustees. Crew are recruited via Viking Crew, the leading specialist maritime crew services provider, and are employed on the ship on a rotational basis, from a cohort of experienced sailors. The charity’s office is at Sharpness Shipyard and Drydock in Gloucestershire, UK.
Adrian Ragbourne
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Adrian has been our Chief Executive since 2016, during which time he has led the charity through significant change, developing our successful partnerships with Sail Training Ireland, Ocean College and others, all of which has resulted in Pelican now sailing for 46-48 weeks a year. Adrian came to us with 25 years experience as a manager in the corporate sector of which 15 were international, and 8 years as a manager in the charity sector. He also has 25 years' experience as a school governor and Academy trustee.
Lucy Grodie
Operations Manager
Lucy is a through and through Sail Trainer: first sailing in Tall Ships Races when she was 18 and has not left the sector since! Most recently Lucy played a key role in the management of ASTO, the umbrella body for UK Sail Training of which SYF is a well respected member. Lucy worked for around 10 years on board small commercial vessels. Apart from being qualified for smaller vessels she has sailed as crew or supernumerary on several square rigged ships. Lucy has a degree in Oceanography and is also a dual German/British national.
Simon Thorrington
Development and Partnerships Manager
Simon has 15 years’ experience in commercial banking and 30 years in the charity sector, bringing financial acumen and considerable charity and project management experience to Seas Your Future. He has served or worked as both a trustee and manager of several charities, including working for 15 years for Charity Bank, an innovative Social Investor. He was a trustee of Seas Your Future for 8 years.
Dr Charlotte Braungardt
Head of Science
Charlotte (Charly) is an engineer and environmental scientist with more than 20 years of experience as academic in higher education. As freelance consultant at Challenging Habitat, she shares her curiosity and insights, through environmental science research, outreach, communication and education.
Will Morton
Technical Engineering Manager
Will found his love for seafaring through sail training and three months after disembarking his first sail training voyage had joined the Merchant Navy as an Engineering Officer Cadet. In addition to his commercial seafaring experience, Will has also sailed on a number of sail training vessels in a variety of roles including watch leader and youth mentor. Will joined Seas Your Future as a professional seafarer in 2022 sailing as Chief Engineer onboard TS Pelican of London and now works shoreside supporting the ship and her crew in engineering matters.
Yasmin Deter
Marketing & Communications Coordinator and Degree Apprentice
Yasmin (Min) is our Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator and Degree Apprentice. She studies a Chartered Management BSC, at the University of Kent, alongside working for us. Min was our intern onboard Pelican for five weeks during the summer, mainly focusing on social media, and now she’s in charge of everything marketing for Seas Your Future.
Ula Mitrega
Operations Coordinator
Ula is our Operations Coordinator. With a creative background, an interest in the charity sector and a passion for the sea, Ula supports the management of onshore operations at Seas Your Future
John Dover
Chair of Trustees
John is a retired Senior Aerospace HR Executive now working in the charitable sector. He has over 40 years aerospace business experience now followed by 15 years working as a trustee in the charitable sector across community sports trusts, museums and now since 2018 with Seas Your Future.
Jane Nicklen
Trustee
Trained as a lawyer in Nottingham. Specialist in strategic planning, community rights & regeneration. 37 years working for the public sector in South Yorkshire, Aberdeen & Dorset. Volunteer experience includes School Governor, Teenage Cancer Trust, Aberdeen Childrens' Panel, West Dorset Diabetes UK, NHS Dorset & Weymouth College Corporation. Now very proud to be a trustee of Seas Your Future making a positive difference to the lives of young people!
Karen Heenan
Trustee
A transatlantic voyage on a tall ship after university was Karen's first experience of sailing. She has since qualified as a lawyer in civil and commercial litigation and went on to spend the majority of her career in the voluntary sector, including with two youth development charities. She is now a mediator and chair of professional regulatory hearings.
Simon Wiliams MBE
Trustee
Simon is a Planning & Regeneration consultant & fundraiser and has been a trustee of the Chesil Sailing Trust. He was also Head of the Dorset Local Operations, for the London 2012, Olympic & Paralympic Sailing Events held in Weymouth & Portland.
Natalie Warren-Green
Trustee
Natalie (also known as Tilly) has over 25 years of experience in the Education, Skills Training and Media Sectors globally. Being personally passionate about sailing and the green agenda, coupled with a professional focus on employability, she brings to the SYF team leadership skills in strategy, planning, partnership development, communications and fundraising.
Nick Lambert
Trustee
A master mariner and a committed proponent of the maritime users’ perspective, Rear Admiral Nick Lambert concluded a long naval operational career as the UK National Hydrographer in December 2012. He advises on a wide range of maritime issues including the growing potential of the blue economy concept, the importance of spatial data infrastructures and hydrography for maritime economies, the evolution of eNavigation and GNSS vulnerability, near or real time situational awareness (especially that derived from space based assets and applications), maritime connectivity and cyber security, human factors, and training and education in the maritime sector. He has a particular interest in the Polar Regions and is also engaged in a variety of situational awareness, fisheries and aquaculture management, marine autonomous systems and vessel efficiency projects.
Our 2020 Development Plan outlines our aims and objectives for the next few years.
Crew and students share experiences with you on their Seas Your Future voyages with College Partners and Darwin200.
If you would like to get involved with Seas Your Future please click here to register your interest.
