The BT Cornwall Tall Ships “win a trip of a lifetime” competition has been won by Dave Townsend from Cornwall and Sam Newton from Birmingham who will set sail as trainee crew, experiencing all aspects of life on board from deck hand to galley slave.

The prize for two people to take part in the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta this August generated a high level of interest with over 5,000 entries and was sponsored by BT Cornwall, the Falmouth Regatta’s Principal Sponsor.

Over 40 vessels will race from Cornwall to London as part of the regatta. The voyage will take up to six days, with the race to the finish mark south of the Isle of Wight. The ships will then cruise through the Dover Straits and up the River Thames to further festivities and celebrations in London, where thousands will welcome the ships and their crews for the first Tall Ships event in London for 25 years.

Dave Townsend, from Probus, near Truro, was amazed to have won the competition. “I've had a little bit of sailing experience, I did a trip with Ocean Youth Club when I was a kid, and then did a week with a friend of mine a couple of years ago as he had chartered a yacht through Cornish Cruising,” he said.

Dave has chosen the 26 metre ketch Ebb Tide, registered in Curacao in the Dutch Antilles, which takes 12 crew and trainees. “I chose Ebb Tide as I wanted a fairly quick boat with a smaller crew so I could get more involved in the whole experience, rather than being one of a huge crew,” he said. “I am really looking forward to the whole experience, meeting the crew and having some fun, hopefully the weather will be good.”

In comparison, the Gulden Leeuw is a Dutch owned Gaff Schooner, 53 metres in length with a 17 metre bowsprit, taking 84 crew and trainees.

Sam Newton is a newcomer to sailing and said: “I don't have any sailing experience, I chose the Gulden Leeuw because it was the biggest one available and I really liked the style of the ship. I am so excited about winning the competition, I truly feel like it is going to be a once in a life time experience.”

Bridget Taylor, chief executive officer of BT Cornwall, said: “BT Cornwall’s sponsorship of this exciting and prestigious competition, as part of the 2014 Falmouth Tall Ships Regatta, is another great example of our commitment to the county. We are very pleased to support such a wonderful opportunity for two people to take part in a unique sailing trip of a lifetime.

“The competition provides a fantastic opportunity to develop and educate two people through a hands-on training sailing experience. May we wish the winners, Dave Townsend and Sam Newton, the very best of luck on their sailing adventure.”

The Tall Ships Regatta in Falmouth takes place from August 29 to 30 with three days of festivities with on board visits, live music and entertainment, exhibitions, inter-ship crew activities and fireworks, before the spectacular parade of sail on August 31, on the way to the race start.

For further information about BT Cornwall visit http://www.btcornwall.com/ and for regatta information and updates go to www.falmouthtallships.co.uk, or Facebook ‘Tall Ships Falmouth 2014’ or Twitter,