Twenty-four strangers have been chosen to sail the world-famous Challenger Yachts, which were due to leave Gunwharf Quays marina this morning.

They range in age from 18 to 71 years old.

During the trip, each crew member is paired with someone either older or younger than them, depending on their age.

The voyage has been organised by Portsmouth City Council and Portsmouth-based sailing charity Tall Ships Trust as part of a national initiative to forge better understanding between the generations.

Student Matt Blake, 20, was among many of the excited volunteers on board one of the 72ft Challenger yachts yesterday.

He said: 'I was at a volunteering day at the city council and I saw a leaflet for this. I just had to sign up for it.'

Matt, who studies criminology and forensics at the University of Portsmouth, said he is not used to mixing with people much older than him.

He added: 'I think it's going to be brilliant. I've got no sailing experience so it's going to be quite interesting.'

Mary Breeze, 55, of Olinda Street, Fratton, has not gone sailing for about 30 years.

'Hopefully it will all come back to me,' she said.

Mary, who got involved with the scheme through her work at Fratton Community Centre, added: 'There can be a lot of misunderstanding between the different age groups so it'll be good to get the generations mixing and working together.'

The two 12-strong crews are joined by professional sailors from the Tall Ships Trust to help them take command of the Challenger yachts.

In addition to the sailing, there will be games, quizzes, nostalgia discussions and cookery challenges on board.

Chas Cowell, youth development training manager at the Tall Ships Trust, helped orchestrate the sailing expedition.

He said: 'When we said to the older people they have to wear one of our hoodies, some of them said "oh no, isn't that what the youngsters wear?" That's exactly the point - we want to break down some of the boundaries that exist in society.

'It's great to get the young and the young at heart together. When you're out sailing, you all need to pull together and work as a team. You can't do anything on your own.

'By the end of the six days at sea, they'll all have made friends for life and it will not matter what age they are.

'As much as it's about sailing, it's about giving people living skills, workplace skills and community skills.'

Depending on the weather, the voyage is expected to go to Cowes and then on across the south coast to Weymouth, Dorset.

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