Jay Williams

Jay (who turns 22 during his leg on board from India to Egypt) got involved with The Raymarine Lively Lady Project through a friend at his work. Her nephew was already on the project and she thought if Jay could get involved too it would be of great benefit to him, so she asked if he wanted to go along with her to one of the Young Adult meetings. When he got there he was really taken with the scheme, applied immediately and was accepted.

Although Jay went to college, he'd be the first to admit that he's better at 'hands on' stuff than academic work, so he left college without much by way of qualifications and did a variety of jobs which ranged from being an after-school playworker through to an after-hours school caretaker. He now works full-time as a painter and decorator.

Before taking part in the project Jay had not done any sailing, so the sail training has been a steep learning curve! However, he's loved every minute of it and has already managed to get his Coastal Skipper qualification. His next step is to qualify as a Yachtmaster and then he wants to carry on to become a Yachtmaster Instructor so that he can pass on his love of sailing to more Young Adults.

He feels the time he's spent so far with the project has been invaluable and he has much more confidence than before. Where once he struggled to get on with and work with people he'd only just met he now finds that one of the things he likes most about his job is the chance to get out and about and meet and work with new people. He also feels his organisational skills have improved through the work he has done to raise the money needed for his flights. Through that, he's got better at managing money and at organising events such as sponsored swims and walks as well as a car boot sale.

However, one of the most important lessons he feels he's learned is never to be afraid to go out and try something new - you never know what might come of it and it may well give you a whole new lease on life!