PALMA
THIS week many of the 92 teenagers and their social workers who took part in the Mar de Joves sail training programme between July and September, gathered in Palma's Club de Mar to enjoy an end of season party and view films and photos which had been taken during their voyages around the island.
Local charity Joves Navegants took all the youngsters on four-day trips during the summer aboard their aluminium ketch, Galaxie.
With a small core of professionals, and help from social workers responsible for the teenagers - all of whom experience social difficulties - the young people were introduced to life afloat, taught theoretical and practical seamanship skills, celestial navigation and how to work effectively as a team.
On every trip local beaches were cleaned by the youthful crew, disposable ashtrays handed out to smokers, and local yachtsmen were advised of the need to avoid anchoring in beds of posidonia weed so that the algae could be encouraged to flourish and improve the fauna and flora of our local waters.
Sightings of whales and dolphins were carefully logged for the Spanish whale watch organisation and throughout the time aboard the teenagers were encouraged to explore the possibilities of gaining employment within the local nautical sector.
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