The Ocean Youth Club was founded in 1960 when the chaplain of Eton College arranged a voyage shared by Eton pupils and pupils from a school in Wandsworth, south London. The experience was so good that the Ocean Youth Club was formed to continue the work, and it continued until 1999 when the national organization broke up.

James Cook was funded by donations from the people and businesses of the North East and built by trainees in Swan Hunter shipyard, Newcastle. Following the wind-up of OYT, Ocean Youth Trust North East was formed to keep James Cook afloat and continue her work of giving the region's young people the chance to experience the challenges of crewing an ocean-going yacht.

Ocean Youth Trust North East is an educational charity run by a board of trustees. Our yacht James Cook is managed by a Newcastle-based management team. All are committed to the James Cook's mission statement:

To provide equal opportunity for people to develop responsibility and knowledge about themselves and others. The challenge of the sea can help people to learn:

• Teamwork and mutual trust
• Awareness of the environment
• A sense of equality and fairness
• Responsibility for their own actions and decisions
• An understanding of the different needs and backgrounds of others
• A range of sea, sailing and survival skills

OYT (NE) is a registered educational charity no. 1079955, registered office and administrative address:

OYT NE
Royal Quays Community Centre
9 Prince Consort Way
Royal Quays
North Shields
NE29 6XB.

0191 257 1212.

The general manager is Steve Lennon and the shore manager is Cat Lax.