Diana Martin has crewed charter yachts around the world so it’s no wonder that she was drawn to the Bermuda Sloop Foundation. Her appointment as CEO is one of several changes for the charity, which this year made M2 students the focus of its learning adventures on the Spirit of Bermuda, and partnered with Government’s Mirrors Programme to ensure the 12- and 13-year-olds stay on the right track.

What does the Sloop Foundation offer?

We’ve started a pilot programme for about 400 M2 kids. We used to offer it to M3 kids but this year we aren’t. [Instead], we’re going to try to find creative ways in the summer holidays to get some [M3] kids into some sort of sailing programme.

We take out 21 M2 kids [at a time] — so those between 12 and 13 years old — from public schools. We go out for five days and four nights, three weeks per month. It is a rite of passage for these kids. They’re not awarded or rewarded. It’s part of the curriculum. They have to go whether they want to go or not.

How do you engage those who aren’t interested?

There are no cell phones. There’s no TV, no computer or internet. There’s no sugar — except in fruit — and they are put to the test. They’re learning by doing. If it can be done in the classroom, we’re not doing it on board.

And you’re doing that with assistance from Mirrors?

[The students] get an evaluation while on board [through which we can] identify those at risk. They are then invited to come back for a second voyage. If they’re still considered at risk, we recommend they go into the Mirrors Programme [which then gives us] a way of tracking kids until they’re 18.

How’d you become the charity’s CEO?

I had been on the board of directors. I became a member of the board [because I appreciate] the programme and what it’s doing for the youth of Bermuda. There are kids who don’t learn well in a traditional environment. We take them out of their comfort zone and stretch them a little. It gives them more self-confidence. I was in real estate and was just at the point of changing. I wanted to work in the Third Sector and when I got a call, I leaped at the opportunity. I truly believe it’s important to catch kids at this age. You want to teach them to make the right kind of choices. You don’t want them to fall through the cracks and if they do, we want to follow them and hopefully help them overcome the urge to fall through the cracks.

I understand you are a keen sailor?

I used to sail years ago. I cooked and crewed on charter yachts all over the world for a number of years on traditional yachts like Spirit. I [travelled] a lot in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, in Canada — Nova Scotia, Labrador. I would like to do the South Pacific, Croatia and the Greek islands. So sailing has always been a love of mine. It’s always been in my blood. I went out with Spirit two weeks ago and spent one night on board so I could experience it. It was great. There are two or three teachers on board and we have an educator. The [students] are learning about teamwork. They’re learning about stars, about nature and all sorts of things. They do self-assessment, they do journalling.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about the programme?

A lot of people see Spirit of Bermuda and they don’t realise that in January or February, when it’s blowing a gale or pouring with rain, there are 21 kids out there being tested. They don’t realise they’re being put through their experience and what they’re gaining from it.

What’s on the charity’s Christmas wish list?

That people visit our website (www.bermudasloop.org) and our Facebook page so they can see what we’re doing and how the community is supporting us financially and through volunteering. On December 19 we’ll have a tag day [based in] 40 locations. We really need volunteers to help us sell tags and collect the [collection] boxes from various locations. Because we have a ship we always have a wish list of equipment and supplies for the boat. It needs constant maintenance and upkeep.