Steve Pratt finds out what happens when people from all walks of life swap their everyday jobs for a life on the ocean wave.

SKIPPER Nick Legg sounds apologetic that nothing untoward happened on the voyage when a Yorkshire Television film crew were aboard the 70ft sailing ketch James Cook.

"I think they would have liked to see something happening, but it was a pretty standard week," he says. "It was summer and nice weather. There were no rough seas. We ripped our new sail but that's quite minor actually."

Legg, from Hartlepool, skippers cruises aboard James Cook for the Ocean Youth Trust (North-East), which aims to give young people an experience they'll never forget. Most have no experience of sailing, but they learn to man an ocean-going yacht and to work together.

The ten-day trip filmed takes the James Cook across the North Sea from Hull to Texel Island and Antwerp. On board, the crew have to fight sea sickness, a three hours on and six hours off watch system, raising and lowering heavy sails, and cooking for 18 in a tiny galley at a permanent angle of 45 degrees.

Some 400 youngsters go to sea with the organisation each year, raising the money to pay for the trips. On the cruise filmed for the four-part series The Crew, those aboard included a former public schoolgirl, an ex-convict and a Newcastle University student. Michael Bowley, from Cramlington, worked in McDonalds to raise money for his trip.

As well as professional skipper Nick, two experienced watch keepers were aboard - photographer Liz King, from Newcastle, and youth worker Wendy Podd, from Sunderland.

"This cruise was unique because none of the crew knew each other," says Wendy, who has children aged ten and four. "They didn't have any shared experience but were really open about the things they'd done. I know no one will ever forget what went on."

She's been going on sailing trips for seven years. "I went quite a bit at first but over the last couple of years, having two children and being a full-time youth worker, I can't get out as much as I'd like to. But I try to sail twice a year to keep up my qualifications," says Wendy.

What she most enjoyed about the cruises was being in the middle of nowhere. "It was just amazing and gave you a chance to think," she explains. "In your everyday life you're going on and on and on without giving it a second thought. Being away gives you a chance to think about what you're doing and what you want to do.

"Out of a crew of 12, maybe two people's lives will be changed for the rest of their lives by the experience. Some really don't like it and will never do it again but say thanks for the experience. It's up to them how much they get out of it."

Liz used to be in the RAF and did a lot of sailing in the armed forces. She came into contact with Ocean Youth Trust through her ex-boss, a former skipper with the outfit, and has worked her way up to second mate.

"We have our own way of doing things and you have to satisfy the skipper that you're not only a good sailor, but can work with youngsters," she says.

"Working with young people gives you a fresh perspective on life and helps maintain a youthful outlook on the world. Working with them is as much of a challenge as sailing the boat."

The crew shown in the TV series come from all walks of life. "It's always a big break for them to mix with all sorts of people. It's an education for everybody and a really good learning curve," she says. "Of course, it helps if they are all motivated and having a camera there was motivating because they knew they were going to be seen on television.

"What you will see is a group of individuals joining a boat and a team leaving it. That's the whole point and, if we have accomplished that, we have done our job as that's what it's all about."

Even the camera crew learnt something - when they weren't filming, they helped crew the boat.

* The Crew begins on Tyne Tees and Yorkshire Television at 7.30pm tonight.