Girls For Sail principal Annie O’Sullivan issues urgent appeal
The UK’s only all-female sailing school has been hunting for their next Apprentice to work for them in the sunshine idyll of the Caribbean .. but months after they issued their appeal no-one has applied.
As Sir Alan Sugar whittles down the numbers in his search for his next business recruit, Girls For Sail, the long established women-only sail training and holiday company, is still trying to find someone for theirs.
Girls For Sail founder Annie O’Sullivan today repeated her appeal that the Cowes-based company urgently needs a new member of the team to join the ten-strong crew who run Britain and Europe’s only ladies sailing company.
But after months of seeking a Girl Friday to learn the ropes sailing the crystal waters of the Caribbean she has drawn a blank.
Annie, of Cowes, Isle of Wight, said: “I can’t understand it. This is the job of a lifetime. Leaving the cold UK for the winter in the Caribbean sunshine while learning an amazing life-changing new skill.
“It’s as if no-one wants to work in Paradise. All I want is to give someone the chance to try something new and work with us in the one of the most amazing parts of the world.
“Attitude is more important to us than qualifications.”
Annie O’Sullivan, Girls for Sail
Annie revealed that the role would be based at their base on the island of St. Lucia, making her offer possibly the UK’s most glamorous apprenticeship.
Girls For Sail celebrates fifteen years training women to sail and race in the UK, across the Atlantic and in the Caribbean. Thousands of women have learned to sail with the firm since its launch in 1999.
And according to Annie there is still a space for a new apprentice to jump aboard and be taken through the highly regarded Royal Yachting Association training scheme all with the support of the Girls For Sail team.
Award-winning RYA instructor and mentor Annie said: “Being a Girls for Sail apprentice is hard work but it is fantastic fun. There really is no better way to learn than by being on one of our boats and seeing how our incredible skippers cope with everyday challenges as well as ensuring that all the maintenance and safety gear is in place.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is looking to work in a totally engaging industry with a growing company committed to staff development.”
Girls for Sail skipper Sarah Waters is currently taking Girls for Sail’s yacht Hot Stuff from Gran Canaria across the Atlantic to St. Lucia. Sarah began her training with the Isle of Wight firm as an apprentice at the firm’s base at Shepherd’s Wharf Marina.
Sarah, 30, first encountered Girls For Sail as a customer, but loved sailing so much she joined as an apprentice. She has worked with GFS to become a fully qualified ocean-going sailor.
Sarah said: “Joining Girls for Sail is the best thing I’ve ever done. I’m about to take a wonderful crew of ladies across the Atlantic. Then we’ll stay at Girls for Sail’s island home in St. Lucia. Really, what could be better? I find teaching women to sail so very rewarding and I hope we find the next apprentice who will enjoy this as much as I do.”
Annie added: “Sarah is a prime example of what one of our apprentices can achieve. We want to be able to make sure that someone else achieves that same sense of personal satisfaction when they join us.”
For more information about the role please contact Girls For Sail on 01983 282867 or visit http://www.girlsforsail.com/vacancies.aspx.
ends
Annie O’Sullivan is available for interview about the search for her next apprentice and about Girls For Sails passion for women’s sailing.
For more information, images or to arrange an interview please contact:
Myrid Ramsay
cobaltink communications
T: 07184 609374
E: myrid.ramsay@cobaltink.co.uk
Twitter: @cobaltinkcouk
About Girls For Sail
Girls For Sail is the UK and Europe’s only female sail training and holiday company. Based at the home of UK sailing in Cowes on the Isle of Wight GFS launched 15 years ago and has offered competitively priced sail training holiday and weekend breaks from the firm’s UK and Caribbean sail training bases since 1999. Founded by Annie O’Sullivan, GFS exists to give women the opportunity to learn to sail in a supportive and fun environment. GFS offers day and weekend training as well as transAtlantic crossing and Antigua Race Week experiences.