STS Leeuwin II returns to Pilbara with voyages held out of Dampier August to October

Young people wanting to challenge themselves on the adventure of a lifetime aboard the STS Leeuwin II have been given a boost, with scholarships and sponsors cutting fares The sail training ship is returning to the Pilbara this month and will be based at Dampier from July 28 before it heads back to Exmouth on October 3. As part of its visit to the Pilbara, the ship will be holding a series of voyages including three-day family connect voyages, the six-day Youth Explorer voyage and a four-day exploration of the Dampier Archipelago. The City of Karratha has launched a grant to sponsor Dampier Family Connect voyage fares for residents, reducing the cost from $550 to $387.50 per person. The voyage program is specifically targeted towards families with teenage children to share an adventure and build family bonds. It comes after the Pilbara Development Commission partnered with the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation to support young people in the Pilbara to access the life-changing Youth Explorer Voyage. The Commission will fund half scholarships for four high school students residing in the Pilbara on voyages departing Dampier on either August 9 or September 24. The six-day voyages usually cost $1180. Applications for the PDC scholarships closed on July 15. Pilbara Development Commission acting chief executive Michael Heap said investing in and encouraging the development and training of youth is vital to the region’s future growth and sustainability. “Our partnership with the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation will provide Pilbara students with a unique experience and a sense of achievement when they reach the end of a voyage,” he said.