FIVE youngsters are preparing to set sail on the voyage of a lifetime.
The group, all Uniformed Services students at Derwentside College, in Consett, County Durham, have won places onboard a 50ft sailing yacht for a four-week Mediterranean journey.
The teenagers had to undergo a series of gruelling tests in order to qualify for the trip, organised by charity Walking the Plank.
Those taking part are Kelly Rundle, Paul Johnson, Mark Nicholson, Lisa Chambers and Liam Curry, all aged 17.
Kelly said: "I didn't find the selection process easy, and I was over the moon when I found out I had been chosen. I can't wait to sail on the ocean waves in the Mediterranean."
The group flies out from Heathrow airport today to Split, in Croatia. There, they will meet up with their skipper, Kate Craggs, before sailing to Gibraltar, via Southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia.
During the trip they will learn safety, teamwork, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
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