Approximately 2000 international crew members will be visiting ports across Nova Scotia during the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009. For one crew member traveling aboard America's Unicorn, this leg of the race will be extra special.

 

Last summer Janelle Dorey was granted the opportunity to travel aboard Peer's Fancy on a one-week odyssey along Nova Scotia's coast, with support from The SEASTAR Society.

 

Janelle traveled from Hubbards to LaHave, making stops at ports including Lunenburg, which is a familiar area for the 17 year-old who is from the small village of New Germany.

 

"The first day I arrived at the boat there were three other girls, the captain, first mate and myself, no one had ever met before,” Janelle says.  “Everyone was shy at first but by that night we were all singing and dancing together like we had known each other all our lives. It was the trip of a lifetime!"

 

This summer Janelle will be flying to Salem, Massachusetts to meet up with the Unicorn and her all-female crew. She will then sail with the Unicorn and her crew from Boston to Halifax.

 

"What I'm looking forward to the most is being very Canadian among the American crew of the Unicorn, eh!”

SEASTAR caught the attention of Angela MacKenzie, an ambitious 15 year-old from Greenwood, Nova Scotia through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program. Angela is very excited to be a part of the adventure.

 

The Award program encourages youth to participate in activities in five different areas - service, adventurous expedition, skills, physical fitness and residential – in search of a bronze, silver or gold award. The gold award is awarded when a member of the Royal Family comes to Canada to present.

 

Angela decided that the SEASTAR sail-training experience offered the perfect opportunity to help her fulfill the residential requirements of her gold award. The SEASTAR experience will help her to broaden her experience through living and working away from home with brand new people.

 

Angela will take a three-week journey on the Schooner Virginia from New London to Halifax (for the Tall Ships Festival) to Portland then home on the Yarmouth Ferry.

 

“I’ve only ever been on a tour of the tall ships and I’ve never sailed,” Angela says. “I think the learning experience of sailing a tall ship is going to be amazing.”

 

Angela has been involved in a variety of other activities such as squash and a special events committee at her school. Angela is also a swimmer with her Bronze Cross and will take the lifeguard certification once she turns 16. She also has a passion for music, which stems from her nine years playing the piano.

 

“I think three weeks away from home is going to give me more confidence about myself. It’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I’m looking forward to it.”

 

 

 

Adam Stacey is already quite driven, talented and optimistic for someone who only recently graduated high school.
 

At the young age of 18 years-old Adam is getting ready for his second turn with SEASTAR. This year he will be at sea for almost a month and he is anxious to see how he holds up. Before his first experience with SEASTAR, Adam had only walked through the Tall Ships as a young child. 

 

Adam has always been an active and vital part of his high school and community.  Prior to graduation he was the Students’ Council co-president for two years, a cross-country runner, started a volunteer connection service, and sat on the Board of Directors for Pictou County United Way. He received many scholarships and awards including a $70,000 TD Canada Trust Scholarship and was the recipient of the National Millennium Excellence Award.

 

In the fall, Adam will be attending the University of New Brunswick taking a degree in psychology. Eventually he would like to get his law degree.

 

Adam, who participated in the program in 2008, is hoping that this SEASTAR adventure will be beneficial to his growth as a person, “I am interested in sailing plus I thought it presented a good personal challenge.” This sailing experience offers opportunities that he perhaps would not have encountered elsewhere. 

 

Adam is focused on improving his sailing skills and thinks that he has a lot of fun to look forward to. Returning for his second year speaks for itself.

 

Adam will be participating in sailing from Halifax to Belfast and then flying home. His positive outlook and drive for self- improvement will certainly create an exciting trip that he will always remember.