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Cornwall will be host to the Iberian Tall Ships Regatta

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Falmouth, in Cornwall, England, has one of the largest natural harbours in the world and is only too happy to play a host to the next Iberian Tall Ships Regatta. The regatta is not due until 2014 – next year – but the city is gearing up for the event already.

The Tall Ships Regatta is organised by the Sail Training Association and usually involves some of the world’s best known tall ships. These are used by their respective nations as sail training venues for their own navy cadets or for character building opportunities for youth or anybody else in the community for that matter.

The regattas are staged over a period of several months and the various host ports are staggered so that the regatta can proceed smoothly from one to another.

The 2014 event already includes the Port of London’s Greenwich site while a third port in either Spain or France is yet to be announced.

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Flushing, Near Falmouth, Cornwall, En…
Ken Gillham


The City of Falmouth is excited about the regatta as it has already hosted one before in 2008. During that event, over 100,000 spectators poured down to the harbour side to watch the majestic tall ships carry out their manoeuvres. Financially, the regatta brought in over 12 million pounds to the cash registers of Falmouth, so perhaps it’s not surprising that the event is being looked at with avid eyes.

Falmouth is a particularly scenic and historic harbour with two twin castles on either side of the “heads” – Pendennis and St Mawes – both built by Henry 8th, one of the first English kings to take his own national navy seriously. This is the entrance to the harbour proper and probably one of the best vantage points if you are now thinking of heading to Falmouth for the 2014 event.

Falmouth’s hosting of the event will see a number of organizations cooperating to make it memorable. The Falmouth Town Council will be working in partnership with the local Falmouth Tall Ships Association, the Festivals and Events Team from the Cornish Tourism Office and Cornwall’s National Maritime Museum, just to mention a few.

Falmouth is no newcomer to Tall Ships’ Visits. Of course, the harbour was used in the golden days of sail by the British Navy because of its large size and it was an important commercial port for a long time before the sheer size and draft of modern ships meant that deepwater ports like Plymouth became more important. One of the reasons for Falmouth’s busy harbours before the nineteenth century drew to a close was its easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, the west coast of France and Spain and the run down and across the Atlantic. This gave it strategic importance, allowing as it did a chance to berth and find stores for those vessels without the benefit of a thudding diesel or coal powered engine to help navigate its way up the English Channel with its contrary winds and tides.

More recently, when large sailing ships have become objects of leisure and used for team building and sail training the harbour has seen several events take place within its waters. The first Tall Ships event took place in 1966 and every few years the graceful craft return in large numbers through Falmouth’s heads for yet another occasion.

January 6, 2013 |

The Remarkable Life of STV Unicorn

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Probably the only tall ship that has an all female professional crew and used for sail training and leadership building in a programme called “Sisters in Sail”, the STV Unicorn has had a remarkable history, starting life as an unassuming Dutch fishing trawler and finishing life as a glorious sailing vessel on the Atlantic coast of the USA and the Great Lakes of Canada.

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Great Lakes in North America


The Unicorn has not only been transformed in shape and size several times, it has changed its name to match. Starting off life as the “Deo Volente 1”, meaning “God Willing”, it was built in Holland in 1947 out of scrap German U-boat steel from World War 2 and for just over 30 years trawled the North Atlantic fishing grounds. The strongly built vessel with its 1500 hp engine changed ownership and name several times.

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U-Boat Dismantling


By 1979 it had gone through a remarkable metamorphosis, being bought by another Dutch owner and renamed the “Eenhoorn”, the Dutch name for “Unicorn” and converted into an elegant sailing ship. Under its new suit of sails it became a regular visitor to warmer and less turbulent waters in the Mediterranean.

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The Haunted U-Boat
English School


As a topsail schooner, with square rig and huge bowsprit, the “Eenhoorn” became the “Unicorn” at last, registered in the Channel Islands and sailed to the Caribbean with a British owner, serving as a charter boat and occasional floating base for treasure seeking in the West Indies. Again, the boat changed hands but continued to be used for charter out of Grenada under new American ownership. It then had a near disaster being involved in a collision on the way to the American East Coast with a chemical tanker on its way back from a charter season. It was towed into Norfolk Harbour on the American coast for repair. The cost of the repair was more than could be regained form the insured value so this meant another sale and a new Canadian owner, Captain Prothero, who refitted not only the hull, but the rig and the motor as well and used it as a sail training vessel on the Great Lakes and the Caribbean.

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Top-Sail Schooner


The “Unicorn”, or rather the “True North or Toronto” as it was then called, became well known at tall ship festivals and ceremonies around the North American east coast and became a member of ASTA or the American Sail Training Association.

The final chapter began in 1999, when the current owners, Dawn and Johnathan Santamaria bought the “True North”, which went through another major refit and was again renamed the “Unicorn”. The ship is now still sailed with Dawn and her four daughters with its crew of professional female sailors right through the Great lakes and East Coast as a not for profit sail foundation dedicated to enhancing the lives of girls and women through a leadership and empowerment programme.

The Unicorn throughout its 63 year history has retained its original strength and beauty and has given hundreds of people a livelihood and passion for sailing like few other vessels.



July 14, 2012 |

Tall Ship ‘The Belem’

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Constructed in 1896 at Nantes’ Chantiers Adolphe Dubigeon, ‘the Belem’ is a three-masted French sailing vessel, which was officially put in service on June 10 of the same year. She embarked on her first journey on July 31, 1896 and left its home port of Nantes for South American cities of Montevideo and Belem-its Brazilian namesake.

Named after the town of Bethlehem, the Belem was originally designed as a cargo vessel and she was used for the physical importation of sugarcane, cocoa and coffee from the Caribbean, Brazil and French Guiana respectively.

It was her good luck that she came out unscathed from the demolition that took place on 8 May 1902 in Saint-Pierre de la Martinique, due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Pelée. At that time, the Belem’s Captain Julien Chauvelon couldn’t find a place in Saint Pierre to anchor the tall ship, as the city’s roads were completely occupied by numerous vessels and boats. In an effort to save the Belem from Mount Pelée’s wrath, the now enraged Captain anchored her at a distant beach.

In 1914, she was bought by the Duke of Westminster Hugh Grosvenor, who transformed her from a cargo ship to a deluxe yacht and added a pair of additional Bolinder Diesel engines 300 HP to the engine room.

© Wikipedia

After eight years of service to the Duke, the Belem came under the possession of Sir Arthur Ernest Guinness. The beer tycoon changed her name to the French word ‘Fantôme II’ and also renovated her rig. Sir Guinness was very fond of luxury yachts, evident by his nineteen-year long affiliation with Ireland’s Royal St. George Yacht Club, where he served as the Rear Commodore from 1921-1939. A year later, he returned to the club for a second spell under the capacity of Vice Commodore and remained there until a year before his death.

Sir Guinness’ most famous voyage on the Belem took place in 1923, when he took his four daughters Aileen, Maureen, and Oonagh on a world tour through Panama and Suez Canals. During this grand cruise, they also visited the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen. While approaching Yokohama, the Belem once again gave account of its good fortune in dodging catastrophes, when an earthquake severely destroyed the Japanese city and its harbor, but somehow, the barque suffered no major damages.

After Sir Guinness’ death, the Belem was acquired by a Venezian count Vittorio Cini in 1951. She had to go through another name change, as her new owner retitled her ‘Giorgio Cini’ in remembrance of his late son. The count used her as a sail training ship and after some rigorous years of service, she was retired and moored at the Venetian Island of San Giorgio Maggiore in 1965.

In 1972, the Italian law enforcement agencies tried to bring her back into her original barque rig form, but turned out to be financially unfeasible.

In 1979, she was finally returned to its home country of France after being used for nearly 65 years by non-French personnel and authorities. There, it was returned to its original condition and assigned the new role of a sail training tall ship- a job it still performs.

 

June 29, 2011 |

Kruzenshtern signs up to take part in The Tall Ships Races 2010

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Kruzenshtern

The second largest sail training Tall Ship in the world, Kruzenshtern, has signed up to take part in this year’s Tall Ships Races, making a total of 76 to date. The Russian Class A Tall Ship is a regular participant in The Tall Ships Races and will be taking part in the event from the start in Antwerp, Belgium, to Kristiansand in Norway.

With several more months to go before the event starts, it is expected that more Tall Ships will enter this year’s race to once again make an impressive fleet of sail training Tall Ships. The event will start in Antwerp, Belgium from 10-13 July from where the fleet will race to Aalborg, Denmark, 21-24 July. A cruise in company will then take the fleet to Kristiansand, Norway, 29 July-1Aug, from where they will race once again across the North Sea to the port of Hartlepool, UK, where the event will finish with a four day festival from 7-10 August.

The Tall Ships Races are an annual event that bring together a large number of the world’s sail training Tall Ships so that young people can experience the fun and excitement of sailing together in friendly competition. A key rule of the event is that 50 percent of each vessel’s crew must be aged between 15 and 25 years. The sail training experience allows young people to understand the need for teamwork and find strengths they didn’t know they had when faced with the challenge of sailing a Tall Ship. The combination of in-port activities, cultural exchanges, sailing with like-minded young people and friendly competition makes The Tall Ships Races a favourite adventure activity.

Kruzenshtern

Three Other Events

This year the organisers of The Tall Ships Races, Sail Training International, are also holding three other events that start in April and end in August, providing a full summer of sail training activities.

The first race of the year is the Garibaldi Tall Ships Regatta, an event that is being arranged to mark the 150th anniversary of of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s successful expedition from Genoa on the north-west coast of Italy to Trapani on the north-west corner of Sicily in the south. The event will take place between 8-19 April and is sure to offer the participating Tall Ships an interesting and warm welcome to the Mediterranean.




The second event is the Historical Seas Tall Ships Regatta, which will take place between 9 May and 7 June and involve four ports new to hosting Tall Ships events. Each of the ports has its own charm and character that will ensure a new experience for ships and crews alike. The route will take the fleet through the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosphorus into the Black Sea and back through the Cyclades, visiting ports in Greece and Bulgaria as well as the exotic city of Istanbul.

After The Tall Ships Races in July and early August, the fleet are invited to take part in a final race of the season, the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta. This event will link The Tall Ships Races with Sail Amsterdam. The race will differ from other races run by Sail Training International in that the ships will be offered a number of waypoints around which they can navigate instead of going straight from the start to the finish. The race will be over six days – 11-17 August – and the ship that has covered the greatest distance in the six days, taking into account their time correction factor, will be declared the winner.

All four events will offer anyone with a sense of adventure a fantastic experience and many ships still have places available on each of the events.

Source: Sail Training International

March 15, 2010 |

SAIL TRAINING INTERNATIONAL APPOINTS NEW CEO

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Sail Training International has appointed Paul Reilly, 48, as its Chief Executive with effect from 1 November.

Much of Mr Reilly’s career has been with the Dutch international electronics company Philips where he has held a number of positions including most recently Vice President – New Venture Integration, Vice President and Managing Director Central Europe, and Director of International Key Accounts. He has also had other senior roles in marketing and brand management.

He has lived and worked in the Netherlands and Poland as well as the UK, and his most recent assignment involved working with Philips management in the Far East, Russia, the Middle East, the Americas and Europe.

“We had more than 200 applications for the CEO job and interviewed nine. We selected Paul Reilly because of his commercial and marketing strengths and international experience,” says Nigel Rowe, President and Chairman of Sail Training International. “We are not short of people who know about sail training and Tall Ships. So, we were looking for someone with significant commercial strengths in international marketing and business management as well as an empathy with the work we do. These qualities will help us drive our organisation to meet its full potential around the world.”

“The opportunity to help lead an international organisation that has the potential to grow and really a make a difference to the lives of young people is the big attraction of this job for me,” says Paul Reilly. “Sail training is a powerful tool for changing young people’s lives and Sail Training International has a strong record of achievement over the past few years. But it is also clearly an organisation that has many significant opportunities internationally that it has yet to fulfil.”

For further information contact:
Gwyn Brown
+44 (0)2392 586367
+44 (0)7802 640333
gwyn.brown@sailtraininginternational.org

July 20, 2009 |

400 DELEGATES FROM 28 COUNTRIES ATTEND SAIL TRAINING AND TALL SHIPS CONFERENCE

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Four hundred delegates from 28 countries around the world converged on Halifax, Nova Scotia (14-15 November) for the International Sail Training and Tall Ships Conference 2008. Organised by Sail Training International in collaboration with the American Sail Training Association (the biggest of Sail Training International’s 25 member national organisations), the conference had an overall rating from delegates of close to ‘Excellent’.

Sail training vessel operators from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and throughout both Europe and North America attended, along with representatives of host ports from Europe, the Caribbean and North America. The conference comprised a mix of plenary sessions for all delegates and an á la carte menu of 16 ‘focus group’ sessions. These covered a range of topics from dealing with the current ‘economic tsunami’ and navigating the regulatory seas, to recruiting trainees, the development of a successful sail training programme, and the ingredients of a successful Tall Ships event. The conference also included a session for the Sail Training International Youth Forum, attended by 40 young sail trainers from 15 countries.

The Rt Hon Rodney MacDonald, Premier of Nova Scotia, opened the conference and a dramatic new two-minute film aimed at attracting young trainee crews to participate in Tall Ships events was premiéred.  (This can now be seen on http://www.sailtraininginternational.org/page.asp?partid=959)

It was also announced that Sail Training International’s Conference in 2009 will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, in November, one of the host ports for the Historical Seas Tall Ships Regatta, being held in 2010.

November 19, 2008 |

Sail Training International Conference to be held in Canada

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The Sail Training International annual conference will be held outside Europe this year for the first time ever. It will take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 14-15 November, and be organised jointly with the American Sail Training Association (ASTA – one of the founder member national sail training organisations of Sail Training International).

“This development recognises Sail Training International’s growing engagement outside its historical European base and it will provide us with an excellent opportunity to gather more sail trainers from North America than would normally attend in Europe”, says Nigel Rowe, President of the organisation. “Halifax will also be a Sail Training International host port for the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009.”

The theme for the Sail Training Programme content will be ‘Best Practices – why we do it and how we do it’. This will include workshops on subjects such as media relations, medicine at sea, youth work, State funding, and navigating the regulatory seas. The theme for the Host Port Programme content will be ‘Working together – measuring and maximising the benefits of partnering with the sail training industry’. This will include workshops on subjects such as recruiting trainees, media case studies, corporate hospitality and economic impact studies.

The conference will be preceded by a ‘Port to Port Day’ on Thursday 13 November, which will provide opportunities for host port delegates to network with other ports and representatives of the port business community in Halifax.

Special discounted room rates have been negotiated with the Marriott Halifax Harbourfront Hotel and fees have been set to encourage sail training operators to attend this important conference. A limited number of bursaries will also be available to assist sail trainers with travel costs.
Full details of the conference, with booking form and details of bursaries will be available on the Sail Training International website from the end of May, www.sailtraininginternational.org. Delegates from North America must register via the ASTA website, also available from the end of May, www.sailtraining.org.

For further details please contact Corinne Hitching, Media & Publications Manager, Sail Training International, tel: +44 23 9258 6367, email: corinne.hitching@sailtraininginternational.org

April 25, 2008 |

What’s Sail Training International?

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Sail Training International is a registered charity (not for profit organisation) with worldwide membership and activities. With the purpose of developing and educating young people of all nationalities, cultures, religions and social backgrounds through the sail training experience.

To achieve this goal, a range of activities and services are programmed every year. These include conferences and seminars, races and other events for sail training Tall Ships, publications and DVD presentations, international research and the Class A Tall Ships Forum (for the operators of big square-rigged sail training ships). Their members are the national sail training organisations of Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, UK and USA.

The Tall Ships’ Races summer series are organised annually for young people in European waters, as well as other events in Europe and elsewhere in the world, including the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge – the next of which will be held in 2009. The member national organisations also organise regular races and cruises for sail training ‘Tall Ships’ and ‘Small Ships’ in North America, Europe and elsewhere in the world.

Sail Training Internacional: Media Brief

February 11, 2008 |

Past Tall Ships’ Races

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Races and Festivals for sail training Tall Ships really began in the mid 1950s. The idea of an international race for sail training Tall Ships, manned by crews drawn from cadets and seamen under training, and to mark what was expected to be the end of the age of sail, was first discussed informally in 1953. The ‘Sail Training International Race Committee’ was established and plans were made for a race between Torbay in the UK and Lisbon in Portugal in July 1956.

But instead of marking the end of the age of sail, this first Tall Ships Race heralded the dawn of a new age for sailing ships and sail training.

Over the decades since, many new sail training Tall Ships have been built, big and small, and many older ships have been converted to sail training. The fleet that participates in The Tall Ships’ Races in Europe has grown from just 20 in 1956 to sometimes well over 100 today.

The European races gave rise to two important developments: First, the creation of national sail training organisations around the world (for a list of these, click here…), and second, the development of many other races, events and festivals for sail training Tall Ships.

Two races for sail training Tall Ships around the north Atlantic have been staged, in 1992 and 2000, with another now scheduled for 2009. The American Sail Training Association hold an annual series of Tall Ships Challenge events that today attracts a fleet of some 10-15 vessels. (For more on the ASTA Tall Ships Challenge, click here…) In 1997 a Tall Ships race was organised in the waters around Japan, and in 2002 one was held in waters around Korea. Special races have also been organised specifically for the smaller vessels, such as the Small Ships Races organised by the UK’s Association of Sea Training Organisations (for more on this click here) and the annual Nordic Sail involving Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

The growth of races for sail training Tall Ships also heralded the growth of maritime festivals, some including sail training Tall Ships, others specifically for them. In recent years the schedule of these events has become crowded, so in 2004 Sail Training International established its Endorsed Events programme to help coordinate dates and provide a mechanism for mutual support and promotion. (For more detail on Endorsed Events, click here). This programme began in Europe but will soon be extended to other regions of the world.

The first Tall Ships Race in 1956 was established by an organisation called the Sail Training International Race Committee. This became a permanent body, changing over the years through other incarnations as the UK Sail Training Association, the International Sail Training Association and finally back to its roots as a new charity in 2003, Sail Training International.

For more on the first race of 1956 click here…

Previous Ports and Dates
Race Entries for past 20 years
2003 Race Results
2003 Race Prizes
2004 Race Results
2004 Race Prizes
2005 Race Results
2005 Race Prizes
2006 Race Results
2006 Race Prizes
2007 Mediterreanean Race Results
2007 Mediterranean Race Prizes
2007 Baltic Race Results
2007 Baltic Race Prizes

Report of 2005 Tall Ships’ Races
Report of 2006 50th Anniversary Tall Ships’ Races

Past Winners of Friendship Trophy

February 11, 2008 |

What’s Sail Training?

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Sail training is an adventure activity for people of all ages and abilities. It includes instruction in all aspects of sailing but its purpose goes far, far beyond this. Sail training uses the experience of being at sea principally as a means to help people learn about themselves, discover hidden strengths and talents, and understand the value of others and of working as a team.

In some programmes today it forms the setting for much wider aspects of education at sea. Sail training requires participants to confront many demanding challenges, both physical and emotional. It is an activity that inspires self-confidence and the acceptance of personal responsibility. It promotes and acceptance of others whatever their social or cultural backgrounds, and develops a willingness to take controlled risks. For most who undertake sail training, it is a positive life-changing experience.


Most sail training vessels are owned and operated by charities or foundations, schools or universities, governments or other institutions. They generally seek to reflect the breadth of social backgrounds in society at large in the crews they attract. Many have funding programmes to subsidise the participation of those who could not otherwise afford it. Some also run special programmes for those with physical, mental or social difficulties.

Sail training takes place all over the world and in many different types of vessel. Some of the most effective programmes take place on small vessels, with the benefit and intimacy of working on board within a small team. Different challenges confront those who undertake sail training on the large and glamorous square-rigged ships, with much demanding work aloft as well as on deck. Sail training is a growing adventure activity for the young and old everywhere, with a record of considerable success in developing men and women of character and ability for the challenges of life.

Sail Training International: Media Brief

February 11, 2008 |

SAIL TRAINING DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT CLAIMS TO DO

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Portuguese Navy’s Navio Scola NRP Sagres, departing the port of Cadiz during the 50th Aniversary Tall Ships’ Races

The findings of the biggest ever international study into the value and effectiveness of sail training for young people are announced today. The study concludes that sail training does exactly what its proponents claim it does.

The independent worldwide research project was commissioned and funded by Sail Training International and its member national sail training organisations. It was carried out by the prestigious University of Edinburgh, highly respected internationally for research on education in non-formal settings including the outdoors.

The study reveals four important findings:

· Young trainees who participate in off-shore sail training programmes show measurable improvements in social confidence and their ability to work with others … and the benefits are sustained over time after the voyage experience.

· The most common reasons for young people wanting to participate in a sail training voyage are the anticipation of adventure, making new friends, seeing new places and conquering their fear of heights … with seasickness, a fear of heights, and a concern about being among strangers in a confined space the main anxieties.

· The positive value of the sail training experience transcends national and cultural boundaries and is not much influenced by the size or rig of the vessel.

· The most effective sail training experience in developing social confidence and teamwork skills is delivered by vessel operators who offer well structured educational programmes … the more emphasis there is on defined and purposeful activity relating to these goals, the more successful the programme is in those terms.

The full report is available to sail training operators from their national organisation, or by special arrangement from Sail Training International.

ABOUT THE STUDY

Fieldwork for the study was conducted in the middle months of 2006 with follow-up interviews towards the end of the year and early 2007. The participating vessels were selected by the University of Edinburgh. The study involved observations and interviews with more than 300 young trainees (aged 15-25) on 34 voyages of 5-15 days duration on 17 sail training vessels of different sizes and rigs from 13 countries around the world. Observations and interviews were conducted before, during and up to six months after the voyage. Field work was conducted by ‘indigenous researchers’ from each of the participating countries following an intensive training programme organised by the University of Edinburgh. Analysis of more than 1,000 field-work reports was conducted by five of the University’s Moray House School of Education faculty.


February 10, 2008 |

THE TALL SHIPS’ RACES 2008: A voyage of self discovery. How to GET INVOLVED.

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Tall Ships, these two words stir up an exciting myriad of sensations, colossal square-riggers with soaring masts and billowing sails, listing majestically to the wind, or sleek schooners sliding gracefully over the water.

Imagine being at the helm of an impressive tall ship, guiding her across seas and oceans towards exciting adventures, new experiences and unforgettable memories. Picture your self gallantly sailing along the spectacular coastlines, the magnificent Norwegian fjords or the British Isles. Beauty combined with the joy and quietness of being impelled by the wind.

Standing at the helm you can feel the great might of a 150 ft sailing ship ploughing through the ocean, splashing its bow like a playful dolphin against every wave it encounters…

The 2007 Mediterranea and Baltic editions of The Tall Ships’ Races came to a dramatic closure with the final Parade of Sail in Genoa and in Szczecin, leaving mixed emotions to all participants and visitors alike, saddened to see the ships sailing away to their homeports. However, happiness and satisfaction reflected in the faces of trainees from all of the ships, they were the real winners. As they sailed away to their various countries they took with them the knowledge of a job well done and an experience that most will remember forever.

Sail Training International has already announced next years edition of the Tall Ship’ Races, which will take place in the North Sea.

 

Liverpool, UK, next year’s European Capital of Culture, is the city where the fleet will gather on 18th July 2008 for an adventure that will take the fleet through the North Sea to the cities of Måløy and Bergen in Norway, with a final destination in Den Helder, Netherlands

Race One will start on July 21st and will take 11 days to arrive at Måløy on August the 1st. A cruise in company is scheduled to start the 4th of August ending the 9th at Bergen. On August 12th Race Two will depart for an eight day navigation to Den Helder where the fleet will stay till the 23rd of August.

To participate it is not necessary to embark on one of the glamorous square-riggers. Any mono-hull sailing vessel of at least 9.14m waterline length, provided that it meets Sail Training International’s safety equipment requirements and has at least 50 percent of its crew aged between 15 and 25 years, is eligible for entry.

There’s almost a year ahead before the event takes place which yields plenty of time to get everything ready in order to get involved.

How do I find out more?

To facilitate enrolment, you’ll find the answers to the most frequently asked questions below. But if you can’t find what you’re looking for, why not post a question on this Blog? You’ll be surprised how quickly someone sends you a reply.

What are the Tall Ships’ Races?

What is sail training?

Who owns the Tall Ships?

How to apply to join the Tall Ships’ Races 2008?

Do you have to be under 25 to participate?

Do I need any sailing experience?

Can I get financial help with my voyage fees?

Will everybody else on the ship know each other?

How many trainees do the ships take?

What do I need to take on my voyage?

Are there any salaried or volunteer crew vacancies?

What are the Tall Ships’ Races?

“The Tall Ships’ Races are held every summer in European waters. Each year between 70 and 100 vessels from 15-20 countries, crewed by some 5-6,000 young people from over 30 countries worldwide, take part in this unique event that combines four days of activities in each port with racing or cruising-in-company between ports. During the race series the young crews get the chance to gain experience by sailing with their contemporaries from other countries while facing the physical and emotional challenges that only the ocean can provide.” *

What is sail training?

“Sail training is a growing adventure activity for the young and old everywhere, with a record of considerable success in developing men and women of character and ability for the challenges of life.

Sail training is an adventure activity for people of all ages and abilities. It includes instruction in all aspects of sailing but its purpose goes far, far beyond this. Sail training uses the experience of being at sea principally as a means to help people learn about themselves, discover hidden strengths and talents and understand the value of working as a team. In some programmes today it forms the setting for much wider aspects of education at sea.

Sail training requires participants to confront many demanding challenges, both physical and emotional. It is an activity that inspires self-confidence and the acceptance of personal responsibility, promotes an acceptance of others whatever their social or cultural backgrounds, and develops a willingness to take controlled risks. For most who undertake sail training on Tall Ships it is a positive life-changing experience. “*

Who owns the Tall Ships?

“Most sail training vessels are owned and operated by charities or foundations, schools or universities, governments or other institutions. “*

How to apply to join the Tall Ships’ Races 2008?

To take part in The Tall Ships’ Races or for any other voyage there are different ways to find a ship on which to embark:

Do you have to be under 25 to participate?

No. Even though there’s a requirement for at least 50% of the crew to be aged between 15 and 25, trainees can be any age from 15 upwards. Indeed, many older people in their 70s and 80s have already enjoyed the experience.

Do I need any sailing experience?

No. You don’t need any experience or sailing qualifications to become a trainee crew member. Many people experience their first Tall Ship voyage while taking part in The Tall Ships’ Races.

Can I get financial help with my voyage fees?

Yes. Financial backing is available to subsidise the participation of those who could otherwise not afford it, through many of the National Sail Training Organisations; contact them directly to find out more. The cost of sail training differs from one organisation or ship or country to another. Many ships take all nationalities so it is worth trying organisations and ships based in different countries from your own. There are also special programmes for those with physical, mental or social difficulties.

Will everybody else on the ship know each other?

No. The majority of trainees will not have met each other before unless they happen to have travelled to the ship together.

How many trainees do the ships take?

It varies from one ship to another, the larger the ship the larger the crew needed to man it.

What do I need to take on my voyage?

  • Sleeping bag, pillow case and nightwear
  • 1 or 2 towels and toiletries
  • 2 or 3 pairs of working trousers
  • 2 or 3 working shirts
  • 2 or 3 sweaters/jumpers
  • Several T-shirts
  • Several pairs warm socks
  • Underwear
  • Warm jacket, scarf, gloves and woolly hat
  • Swimwear
  • Stout footwear such as lightweight walking boots/shoes with a good tread
  • Any medication you are taking (sufficient to last the voyage)
  • Smart clothing for going ashore
  • Camera, torch, pen and notebook
  • Padlock with key (for your locker)


Are there any salaried or volunteer crew vacancies?

Yes. Job offers and volunteer vacancies are published regularly. Visit jobs availble and sought

Related Articles:

February 8, 2008 |

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