What is ASTO?
ASTO - the Association of Sea Training Organisations - is the UK's National Sail Training Organisation. It is an umbrella association that exists to support the major British offshore sail training schemes and promote the adventurous activity of sail training throughout the United Kingdom.
ASTO also organise the Small Ships' Races and other events and provides other sail training activities for young people such as international exchanges.
ASTO is proactive in developing the safety standards within sail training and provides grants to help its members train and qualify their sea staff and volunteers. ASTO also represents its members, where central representation is needed. For example, it has played a part in advising the government's Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) in the production of codes of practice for sailing vessels. It also works closely with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) helping to ensure that the standards of training aboard its vessels are first class.
ASTO also provides its member organisations with regular grants so that they are able to operate their own bursary schemes to ensure that sail training is accessible to all young or disabled people throughout the UK.
What is Sail Training?
To many people the words sail training arouse nostalgic visions of cadets under training for the Merchant Navy, climbing the rigging of the giant square-rigged ships that use to ply the oceans with cargoes of tea, grain and spices.
A sail training voyage these days is still exciting but it may happen on a purpose-built modern yacht carrying a cargo of twelve young trainees on a one-week voyage across the English Channel, or it could be on a 60 metre brig with forty eight trainees on a trans-Atlantic voyage to the Caribbean. The majority of young people who take part in sail training voyages today have never been to sea under sail before but they find that it is enormous fun, adventurous and they make many new friends. They never forget their amazing experience and it always leaves them with a great sense of achievement.
Although teaching people to sail is not the primary aim of today's sail trainers, many ASTO members do run RYA Courses during their voyages to help trainees gain their RYA Competent Crew and Watch Leader certificates. The voyages may also be used for the Residential section of the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.
Who Can Sail?
Any young person can sail with an ASTO organisation. You do not need previous sailing experience, just enthusiasm and willingness to work as a member of a team.
All member organisations provide experienced and qualified skippers, mates and other leaders. They are there to ensure that your voyage is safe.You are there to help them with many aspects of running the voyage and to enjoy the adventure of visiting new places under sail.
Sail training is an adventure and takes place in a potentially hazardous environment and life at sea can be rough at times, but our Members take all measures to ensure that it is not unnecessarily dangerous. All member vessels comply with strict safety standards laid down by the MCA. They are regularly inspected and they have to be maintained in good condition. ASTO member organisations also have their own safety and welfare policies and their key staff and volunteers have clearance for their suitability for working with young people through the CRB.
Physical disability is no barrier to sailing. Many schemes are able to welcome crew members who are visually or aurally impaired, or have learning or physical difficulties. In fact there are two square-rigged barques specially designed to be sailed by crew members with severe physical disabilities.
Sail training is not a sport for the elite as sailing was in the days when millionaires raced their magnificent J Class yachts in opulent regattas. It is available to every young person, whatever your personal circumstances, so take up the challenge today!
What to do Next
Read the descriptions of the member organisations - you will discover that there are vessels based all around the UK; from the Solent to the Shetlands, operating sail training voyages of varying lengths.
Choose the vessel in which you might like to sail and simply contact the operators for a booking form or more information.To contact an operator, phone the number provided, or log onto their own website, which will have details of their programme and costs.
If you cannot afford the voyage fee, really can't afford it, or you know someone who would really like to sail if only they had the money, write to the operator and ask for details of any Bursary Funds they may have.
Many of the pictures on this site courtesy of MAX
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Content © ASTO 2006 except for photographs provided by MAX