2024 was another busy and successful Season for Boleh – 111 days at sea from her Gosport base and 10 hectic days on display at her first International Boat Show! We again shared Boleh’s ‘Can-do’ experience with almost 300 young people and saw a 7% increase in adult sailors. Our programmes included local Service schoolchildren, Wiltshire young carers, Southwest Army Cadets, Dorset schools, and Recovery Programmes for wounded, injured and sick from the Armed Services – and relaxing Corporate and Family sails as well.
The year’s highlights are 8 RYA Competent Crew Certificates for Army cadets – a first for the Trust, the Southampton Boat Show, and Boleh’s contribution to the ‘Always a Rifleman Programme’ for the Regiment’s veterans. Our Skippers and Mates were profoundly moved by the ex-Riflemen’s stories and could see the positive impact of the Boleh experience, creating a sense of purpose, personal achievement and focus. Thanks to a generous grant from the Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown, this rewarding work has been secured for 2025.
We are proud of Boleh’s achievements this Season and supremely grateful to our Funders. We also salute the dedication and skill of our Volunteers. They have kept Boleh technically and materially ready for sea and enabled Craig and our Skippers and Mates to deliver this year’s life affirming sailing opportunities. Next year will be the 75th anniversary of Boleh’s voyage from Singapore to Salcombe. We have a new Chairman at the helm and look forward with confidence to another exciting year with many more smiling faces (as in this year’s picture), whatever the weather!
