RONA II

Biography

Rona II, an Oyster 68, is one of three vessels operated by the Rona Sailing Project. Rona II was built in 1991 and since then has become one of the hardest working and most resilient Oyster yachts in the world. She has taken more than 7,200 young people sailing, has completed 21 international and three Transatlantic Tall Ships campaigns, and has sailed more than 250,000nm in her career to date. Rona II is the Rona Sailing Project’s flagship and is central to the operation. With a financial and in-kind assistance alongside many voluntary hours looking after her, Rona is in excellent condition and is expected to continue taking people to sea on life-changing voyages for many years to come.

One of the most unique aspects of the organisation, which is key to its longevity and success, is that the organisation is volunteer-based. Apart from the four dedicated full-time staff who oversee the management of the organisation, the RSP depends on more than 300 volunteers to run the voyages, and to maintain and refit the vessels. The richness of the organisation today is found in the diverse backgrounds and skills of the volunteers, ranging from health and maritime professionals to students. Our skippers are all experienced and highly qualified. Most of our volunteer Afterguard joined the project as trainees, and 60% of our 62 skippers joined this way.

Key to the ethos of the organisation is equality of access. We don’t specifically target any one group of young people or adults, and we firmly believe in the value of mixing people of different backgrounds and circumstances, which adds a depth of incomparable expertise, especially for young people but also for vulnerable adults.