A teenager keen to discover a sense of adventure is preparing for a trip of a lifetime this summer.
Max Gray, a High Tunstall College of Science student, will sail across the North Sea from Den Helder, Holland, to Hartlepool as part of The Tall Ships Races this summer.
X-energy, a feature sponsor of The Tall Ships Races Hartlepool 2023, has sponsored the 15-year-old to be a Sail Trainee during the incredible event.
Max will be on board the breath-taking Alexander von Humboldt II ship, which has sailed the high seas since 2011, in what is sure to create memories that will last a lifetime.
He said: “I’ve never sailed before and the only boat I have ever been on is a catamaran when I was on holiday in Gran Canaria. I’m expecting to be doing a lot of work, maybe be on look-out or things to do with the sails. We will see.
“I know I’m on one of the Class A ships, one of the big ones, the Alex II. I love the ocean, amazed by what’s out there, so I can’t wait to get on board.
“My family are all really pleased. They think it’s amazing. I’m not sure exactly what I want to do when I’m older but I’m interested in going in the Royal Navy.
“This is a fantastic chance to meet new people, experience life at sea and I’m thankful to X-energy for helping to make this happen.”
Max first found out about the sponsorship opportunities after a presentation at his school assembly about The Tall Ships Races.
His parents, Rebecca and Alex, and sister Cassie, encouraged him to go for it and he had a place in the race subject to funding. X-energy selected him as the young person they wanted to help to make his dream a reality.
The leading developer of advanced small modular nuclear reactors has got firmly behind the international event that will see Hartlepool in the spotlight from July 6-9 when there will be four days of music, fun, and fireworks.
Carol Tansley, X-energy’s Vice President of UK Nuclear New Build, said: “From what I gather from speaking to his family, Max has never been on a school trip before because of Covid – and now he will be sailing the high seas on a tall ship.
“We know Max has potential aspirations to go into the navy, so this is a great opportunity to experience what life will be like at sea, with a historical twist! I’ve seen the Class A ship he will be on, green with its huge sails, and this really could be a life changing opportunity.”
X-energy is keen to strengthen relationships within the community across Hartlepool having, along with its partner Cavendish Nuclear, developed proposals for advanced small modular nuclear reactors in Hartlepool.
They hope to provide clean energy and high-quality employment to the area and the proposed new reactors could be located on land adjacent to the existing power plant at Seaton Carew.
Carol added: “We are looking to build an Xe100 modern nuclear power plant in Hartlepool and we view The Tall Ships Races as a real opportunity to support the local community.
“The Tall Ships is an incredible celebration and we recognise how important this is to the local area. We are delighted to be part of it.
“We wanted to give an opportunity to a young person from the Hartlepool area to participate in an event that they may never have been able to be part of and it’s fantastic to have Max as X-energy’s Sail Trainee.
“This is such an iconic event that Max will always remember. He will develop skills that he doesn’t already have and that is a big part of what we like to do for people at X-energy.”
Image Caption: Max Gray (centre) is pictured with X-energy’s Carol Tansley, Leon Flexman and Steve Coates.