"This type of residential is a very effective tool in engaging young people to work as a team. Team-work is the key to success on the voyage because without it the boat would not move and the young people would not be able eat or keep their environment clean. Sailing encourages the young people to work together and take responsibility for their own action". Jas, London
Sail Training International announce Falmouth to London Tall Ships Regatta 2014
The Tall Ships Regatta 2014 (Thursday 28 August – Tuesday 9 September), from Falmouth to Greenwich, is officially open for entries and captains and crews are promised a special event, combining exciting racing and a relaxing cruise-in-company.
Falmouth Thursday 28 August - Sunday 31 August
Race Sunday 31 August - Wednesday 03 September
Cruise in company
Wednesday 3 September - Saturday 6 September
Greenwich Sat 6 September - Tuesday 9 September
The race starts from the Tall Ship friendly port of Falmouth reputed to be the third largest natural harbour in the world and an excellent venue for visiting Tall Ships from around the world.
Since the ships first visit in 1966, Falmouth hosted the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta in 2008 and The Tall Ships Race event in 1982. The economic impact of the event left a lasting impression on the area, attracting 100,000 visitors and generating over £12 million for the local economy.
The finish port, Royal Greenwich, will be hosting the first major Tall Ships event since London hosted the Tall Ships Race in 1989.
Paul Bishop, Head of Race Directorate, Sail Training International said, "This Regatta will see an interesting fleet of up to 50 sail training vessels and Tall Ships from around the world competing in competitive racing over three days. It will follow the main Tall Ships Races in 2014 – which visits Harlingen, Netherlands; Fredrikstad, Norway; Bergen, Norway and Esbjerg, Denmark." More details available on the Sail Training International website
Discovery Sailing Project's, Sea-Hear-Discover wins 2013 Haven Academy Award
After winning 71% of the public vote Sea-Hear-Discover, Discovery Sailing Project's new initiative was presented with the 2013 Haven Academy Award by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.
Sea-Hear-Discover helps to provide opportunities for people with hearing impairments to experience the thrill and challenge of offshore sailing. The initiative will work collaboratively with schools, adult and youth organisations and charities offering voyages for people aged 12 years and over. Voyages range from relaxed evening sails around the Solent, to week long action packed races as part of the annual International Tall Ships' Race which takes place much further afield in European waters.
The volunteers of Ocean Youth Trust Scotland have a new boat thanks to patrons Barbara and Curly Mills.
Talking of the new vessel at its naming ceremony today, Nick Fleming and Dominic McKay agreed that Alba Volunteer was a fitting name, highlighting the unwavering dedication of the Trust's Patrons and its volunteers to inspiring young people through adventure under sail.
In front of a 150-strong crowd of sailing peers, two of Ocean Youth Trust Scotland's volunteers' achievements were recognised at a special dinner during RYA Scotland's Big Weekend at sportscotland National Centre Inverclyde on Saturday 23rd February.
From different ends of the country and different ages too, Peta Koczy from Inverness scooped the Young Volunteer of the Year Award and minutes later Malcolm MacArthur from Inverkip received an honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement. Pictures courtesy of Rob Eyton-Jones
(Pictured Left: Peta Koczy on her prize beanbag with Luke Patience,sponsor Scottish Sailing’s Duncan Hepplewhite. The beanbag is made from one of Patience’s 470 sails, a sail from the GB Paralympic sailing team and a sail donated by Scottish Sailing.)
(Pictured Right: Inverkip’s Malcolm McArthur with London Olympics silver medallist Luke Patience)
Trinity Sailing wins lottery funding for 'Provident'
The Trinity Sailing Foundation has received £49,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to support an exciting new maritime heritage project, based in Brixham. The 14-month project, worth over £92,000, combines conservation work to the historic Brixham trawler 'Provident' as well as a raft of education and promotion activities, which aim to raise awareness and help people learn more about their rich maritime history.
The project team at Trinity, local shipwrights and volunteers will be undertaking work to the keel, deck and internal wooden structure of Provident in order to conserve this important vessel. Building on the legacy of other recent projects, Trinity will be running an education 'outreach programme' for hundreds of school children from Devon where they will be taught about their maritime heritage through the development of boat design and construction during the Napoleonic, Victorian and more modern eras.
Duet, an iconic 15m, gaff- rigged yawl, built in 1912, owned by the Courtauld family and operated by Essex based charity The Cirdan Sailing Trust, has recently been awarded 'Sail Training Vessel of the Year'. The award, made by the MCA (Maritime & Coastguard Agency) and ASTO (Association of Sail Training Organisations), was given to Duet and The Cirdan Sailing Trust for good management with regard to seamanship and safety and for providing the highest quality of Sail Training. Duet is believed to be Britain's longest serving sail training vessel having served the industry for over 50 years, sailing with around 8,000 young people and over 250,000 miles. As part of Duet's centenary celebrations she sailed around the UK with 11 separate groups of young people from all walks of life including care leavers, those not in education, employment or training and others undertaking their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. The centenary 'Voyage to Success' project was itself awarded the 'Inspire Mark' for embracing the inspiration of the London 2012 Olympics.
Photo courtesy of Tallshipstock.
The Cirdan Sailing Trust, founded in 1983, to provide self-development, inspiration and learning opportunities for disadvantaged young people through the challenge of life at sea, has been operating Duet for the last 16 years. Duet is actually the smallest of Cirdan's vessels; the largest Queen Galadriel, a converted Baltic and the more modern but classically designed Faramir, make up the fleet. Between them the vessels provide a life changing adventure for young people who, together with their youth leaders and teachers, live and work alongside the professional crew both above and below deck undertaking all that is involved in a life at sea.
4th annual UK Sail Training conference judged a success
130 delegates from 28 different Sail Training organisations attended the 4th annual UK Sail Training conference in Southampton on Friday. The delegates, which included Skippers, Managers, Watchleaders and Trustees, listened to a variety of presentations on topics including MCA Enforcement, Volunteer Management, Fire Fighting and the planned UK Flagship. Feedback on the conference was very positive, with many introductions made and old aquaintances renewed. A short round-up of the conference with a summary of the presentations has been uploaded in the 'Events' section of this website.
Well done to Laura Robertson for receiving the MCA/ASTO Award for Best Potential Sail Training Skipper and to "Duet" from Cirdan Sailing Trust for receiving the MCA/ASTO Award for Sail Training Vessel of the Year.
ASTO would like to thank all the presenters, speakers and delegates for making it such a great day. Special thanks go to Topsail Insurance and Southampton Solent University for supporting the event.
Topsail Insurance to sponsor UK Sail Training Conference
ASTO are delighted to announce that for the second year, Topsail Insurance have agreed to sponsor the UK Sail Training Conference.
Topsail Insurance are an independent marine insurance specialist, providing a wide range of worldwide boat and yacht insurance products to the marine community. They also specialise in Sail Training travel insurance and provide bespoke policies for trainees sailing with the Tall Ships Youth Trust and Jubilee Sailing Trust.
Topsail Insurance's Managing Director, Robert Stevens, will be at the conference to answer delegates' questions about insurance and show his support for Sail Training in the UK.
