MORE than 100 schoolchildren from across Cornwall have received awards for their nautical achievements.

The youngsters had all taken part in a pioneering week-long confidence-boosting course based at sea.

Organised by Cornwall Marine Network and yacht race company Clipper Ventures, they either sailed a 60ft clipper or took part in kayaking, coasteering and snorkelling challenges.

Participants were from eight of Cornwall's secondary schools, or training centres or were out of the education system and unemployed.

All the teenagers went away with a maritime recognised qualification. Although not at the awards ceremony in person, legendary yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston congratulated the youngsters.

Appearing by video he told them: "You have all accomplished something you can be immensely proud of and can take away with you for the rest of your lives."

The students' dislikes included cold showers, sleeping in wet bunks and feeling seasick.

But they all talked excitedly of the confidence, life skills and incredible memories acquired from stepping out of their comfort zones and working together.

The courses are designed to hone their literacy and numeracy as students learn to navigate, plot charts and maintain logs. Penwith student Georgia Jenkins, 17, said: "Each day we grew closer and closer until at the end, if you didn't know any different, you would have thought we were a family."

Colin Wheeler, 14, of Treviglas School in Newquay, said: "Before this course I found school pretty boring and was at risk of being kicked out.

"Sailing as part of a crew taught me that everything's not all about me and I need to let others have a go and not be greedy."

A further 200 Cornish students are due to take part in the next sessions this spring.