The Variety Sailing Trust exists to provide sailing opportunities for local children and young people in the Channel Islands. Each year, hundreds of local people are able to enjoy and benefit from the experience of going afloat under sail.

To continue to provide this opportunity to our children and young people, the Trust is reliant on donations, from both corporate and the public alike.

The Trust currently operates a 38 foot Broadblue 385 catamaran called "The Vernon Lilford Spirit of Variety" which has been modified to allow disabled access. Built in Poland in 2006, the yacht provides a stable and safe platform for people to enjoy an experience at sea.

The Variety Sailing Trust works in partnership with sponsors to provide support to manage the yacht on a day-to-day basis.

History

The Variety Sailing Trust was established through the Royal Court of Jersey in 1993. The Government of Jersey Youth Service had successfully chartered a modified catamaran called "Sealegs" during that same year and was overwhelmed by the response from disabled people wishing to experience sailing. As a result, the Youth Service set about forming a Trust and, by 1994, sufficient funds were raised to purchase the Trust's first yacht, an Event 34 catamaran called "Spirit of Variety". This yacht was named in response to a large part of the funding coming from Variety - the Children's Charity of Jersey, something which continues to this day.

Over the next twelve years or so, this yacht completed thousands of miles cruising with the disabled and disadvantaged. With 25 disabled sailors, this yacht took part in an ocean crossing from Jersey to St Lucia in the Caribbean in 1999.

Eventually, the Trust wore this yacht out! So, once again they began the task of raising the funds for a replacement. Largely thanks to a generous donation from Variety's Elder Statesman The Right Honorable Lord George Vernon Powys, 7th Baron Lilford’s estate, and together with additional donations, in May 2006 the Trust was able to purchase their current yacht, a Broadblue 385 named "The Vernon Lilford Spirit of Variety".