NORTH VANCOUVER student Mike Webb holds up a picture of
the tall ship Pogoris which he will help sail around the werld in

- August.

NEWS photo Mike Wakafie!

Sunday, Apri! 19, 1992 —- North Shore News ~ 29

On the good ship Pogoria

Handsworth student joins Class Afloat program

THE IDEA of spending a year cruising around the world
on a boat sounds appealing. And that is exactly what a
North Vancouver student will be doing starting this

August.

But the trip will not always be
smooth sailing for Michael Webb,
a 17-year-old Grade 11 student at
Handsworth Secondary school.

When he’s not hitting the

school books, studying such sub-
jects as marine biology and inter-
national politics, in addition to
the other subjects Grade 12 stu-
dents study, he’ll likely be swabb-
ing the deck or climbing the rigg-
ing of the tall ship, Pogoria,
which he’ll call home for the next
year.
Webb is one of several students
from across Canada who have
been chosen to study with the
Class Afloat program aboard the
Pogoria.

In addition to Webb, two West
Vancouver Secondary school stu-
dents and one Sentinel Secondary
school student will make the
journey.

Class Afloat was created in July
1987 when 39 high school students
sailed from Nova Scotia to
Singapore. The program is
designed for high school students
to help them hone their coopera-
tion skills and learn about other
countries and cultures.

In addition to studying, the
students must also sail the ship
around the clock.

Webb said he first saw a poster
about Class Afloat posted at his
schoo! detailing all the guidelines
prospective students would have
to meet before being accepted on
board.

MEMBERS OF THE NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER

HOSPITAL SOCIETY

ADVANCE NOTICE

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

/ pm.

Wednesday, June 17, 1992

Lions Gate Hospital Auditorium

Support Lions Gate Hospital by joining the North and West Vancouver Hospital
Society. Those wishing to vote at the Annual General Meeting must join the
Hospital Society or renew their membership by: Friday, May 15, 1992, at

5:00 p.m.

For further information please call 988-3131, local 201.

Lions Gate Hospital's mission is to provide exemplary health care to the
communities of the North Shore and the province of British Columbia in a

respectful, competent and cost effective manner.

231 East 15th Street

North Vancouver, B.C.
V7L 2L7

By Surj Rattan
News Reporter

‘‘I thought it would be neat to
go on it,”’ said Webb. ‘‘I followed
through on it at school and ap-
plied for the program. I went
through the different stages, had
interviews and found out in Feb-
ruary that I was accepted.”’

The Class Afloat students will
also be involved in an exchange
program with other students in
South Africa, and they wil! have
free time in each port they visit.

Students have the option of ei-
ther going with Class Afloat for
six months or one year. Webb has
opted for the !2-month version.

“t’m a member of the West
Vancouver Yacht Club and have
completed sailing courses,’ he
said.

Verticals
Venetians
Pleated Shades

But Webb, like all the students
who sail with Class Afloat, has
to raise the cost of the trip
himselve. For Webb, that means
having to raise $28,000. He said
he plans to target corporate spon-
sors to help him with the finances.

“Pm doing a paper route to
raise my share of it. I’m also put-
ting together letters to companies
telling them about the benefits of

‘being a sponsor,” said Webb.

“If you can raise the funds then
the trip would be worthwhile
because the Grade 12 diploma you
receive would be accepted
weorld-wide.’’

But he admits that his
career plans are still up in the air.

**P’ve gone from wanting to be
a movie director to designing
sailboats. I want to do something
in the outdoors,”’ said Webb.

Anyone wishing to sponsor
Webb on his trip can make a che-
gue out to: Class Afioat-Michael
Webb Tuition, 450-1 Hoiiday St.,
West Tower, Pointe-Claire,
Quebec, HOR 5N3.

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