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15:14 Wednesday 10 Aug 2016 Sue Pelling/AAMCWRegatta debut for Inner City London School

Team Greig City Academy just before today's race – photo Paul Wyeth/AAMCW

A group of young sailors from an inner city London school are racing Greig City Academy’s German Frers 45 flagship for the first time at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week.

This enterprising project, which has created a new model for youth sailing, is really starting to flourish thanks to the continuing hard work put in by teachers at the Greig City Academy. The success is also a result of some of the Academy’s loyal supporters, including Patron Lawrie Smith, one of the UK’s leading dinghy and round the world sailors.

Speaking as Team Scaramouche headed out racing today, Jon Holt – Head of Outdoor Education at the Academy – said: “We are indebted to those who have helped us. Over the 12 months, since visiting Cowes last year, we’ve had some amazing support. Ocean Yacht Systems provided us with a complete set of standing rigging. English Braids, Marlow Ropes and Marine Superstore helped us too. We are really grateful also to Lawrie Smith who gives us quality assurance. He has been out with us twice and put us in touch with North Sails and he generously paid for a mainsail.”

The team, racing in Cruiser (Div A), is made up of 15 young students aged between 15 and 17 from east London, including Tottenham and Hackney.

Two years ago Montel Jordan (16) had never sailed before. Now he is helming this 45ft boat. “I got involved by doing school trips from Greig City Academy to Poole Harbour. I had no idea about sailing before then. I really enjoyed it and, although we started with dinghy sailing it wasn’t long before we made a transition on to Scaramouche.

“I think sailing is a great sport because you are constantly learning things that you can apply not just in the sailing environment but outside too.”

Teammate Shabazz Patterson (16) says his job is genoa trim. “Lawrie Smith was really helpful and taught us a lot when he came sailing with us. In fact he taught me a much more effective sheeting in and freeing off system, which I will never forget.”

Although Team Scaramouche is still looking for some top results at its debut Cowes Week, there is no doubt the team is making a lot of progress and will be one to watch in the future.