Ready to get back on board? We are! It’s time for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust’s 2026 season!
For hundreds of young people joining us on a sailing or outdoor adventure this year, tomorrow starts today.
This weekend – Saturday 23 May – the first adventure of our 2026 season, a five-day Under 18 South Coast Cruising return trip, sets sail from Cowes, beginning a summer of magic. Its destination: a brighter future.
Six days later we welcome the first 'new' groups of the summer, as an Under 18 four-day first time trip departs from the same location.
Up to 314 young people are set to join us for the first time. We can’t wait to meet them! Others - some 408 young people - are returning for more of what they need after treatment. We’re excited to see them again.
For the first time ever, there are two trips for
siblings of young people living through and beyond cancer, including their first sailing trip from the Isle of Wight, and another visit to Lakeland Adventures. This doubles the number of siblings supported this year to almost 60.
All of them are in for a summer to remember!
And there’s still time to come along!
Sign up for a first time trip or email at us at [email protected] and we can answer any questions you have.
Or if you work with young people who could benefit from a transformational adventure, please signpost them to find out more and sign up here.
So what’s the plan?
Glad you asked! Between May and September, 35 sailing and outdoor adventures will run across the UK. These include:
- Our iconic first time trips from Cowes on the Isle of Wight and Largs on Scotland’s west coast, where young people spend four days laughing, connecting, and sipping hot chocolate beneath the stars.
- Return Longer Cruising trips in Cowes and Largs are five days long and go further afield, so young people have even more time to discover, take deep breaths, and maybe learn a thing or two about sailing a boat!
- Those keen for a bit of action will participate in the world-famous Round the Island Race
- Meanwhile those looking for a different kind of sailing with different kinds of boats will join adventures with Ocean Youth Trust Scotland from Greenock on Scotland's West Coast and the Island Sailing Trust from Plymouth.
- It wouldn’t be summer without a trip to Lakeland Adventures at Water Park in the Lake District, a firm favourite of every young person who’s been. As is nearby Flynne’s Barn, where everyone together decides what kind of experience they’ll have, with art, music, yoga, wildlife, and long walks on the card
- Longtown Outdoor Centre on the England and Wales border also makes its return; expect gorge walking, paddleboarding, toasted marshmallows, so much more
- And the inland waters of Wiltshire are the setting for our canal adventure, taking place on fully accessible barges on the Kennet and Avon Canal in partnership with Bruce Boats.
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