TRAINEE Tall Ships sailors from the Prince William have been awarded for their role in the high sea rescue of the yacht Excelsior.

Now in the shelter of Fredrikstad Harbour, Norway, the crew of the Prince William were awarded the Honourable Company Master Mar-iners Trophy for an Act of Seamanship, at the final award ceremony.

At the prize-giving event, marking the end of the 2005 Tall Ships Race Series, Excelsior received the Hans Reith Trophy, for the ship that had endured the most hardship.

The Excelsior got into trouble after it was hit by force seven winds, which started to tear off the mast.

As it was pounded by giant waves, the crew put out a Mayday call.

It was answered by the Prince William, which had to forgo its race position to take part in the rescue.

But this did not matter to the 48 young crew members, half of them from the North-East.

Captain Derek Fett said: "We are very proud to be awarded this trophy and this means more to the crew than coming first.

"They know they have won the trophy helping other young people from the North-East, and this meant a lot to them."

The crews of Prince William and Excelsior had the first chance to shake each others' hands on Wednesday, when both ships anchored off the coast of Norway.

There was a barbecue on Prince William's boat deck when the Excelsior crew were invited to enjoy hot showers and some hot food.