Sail Training Shetland

What is Sail Training?

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.

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 otherwise not 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 huge 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 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.

How To Get Involved

If you like the idea of experiencing travel from a bygone age, to hear the creak of the rigging and watch huge square rigged sails billowing in the wind, then why not join a Tall Ship as a trainee crew member? If you’ve watched and loved the Onedin Line, Hornblower and Master and Commander then why not get on board and see for yourself what it was like to travel under sail?

Or perhaps you've watched things like a round the world yacht race and wondered what it would be like to be part of a smaller crew, closer to the water and at one with the elements.
Trainees can be any age from 15 upwards.  Hundreds of thousands of young people have found hidden talents and confidence that comes from working as a team against the temperamental and unpredictable seas.

There are sail training operators all over the world using many different types of vessels, from racing yachts to the impressive square-riggers. Many run day, weekend or week long voyages during the summer months, while others also run much longer programmes.

Many people experience their first Tall Ship voyage while taking part in The Tall Ships Races, a key rule of which is that 50 percent of each vessel’s crew must be aged between 15 and 25 years old. No experience is necessary to become a trainee crew member - indeed many people taking part have never set foot on a boat of any kind before but once bitten they tend to come back time and time again for another Race.

There are several ways you can find a ship on which to take part in The Tall Ships Races or for any other voyage:

• Contact your national Sail Training International organisation and find out more about the vessels taking part from your own or any other country. 
• Contact Lerwick Port Authority or contact us to ask about future voyages.
• Visit At Sea Sail Training, who can help you find a voyage to suit your requirements and budget.
• Visit Tall Ship Friends, a charity whose aim it is to promote sail training on square rigged ships to help contribute to their further existence.
• Visit The Swan Trust

How Much Will It Cost? 

There are some costs involved in participating in a sail training scheme.  Lerwick Port Authority and Shetland Islands Council jointly supported a number of sail trainees from Shetland to take part in the 2008 and 2009 Tall Ships Races. Sponsorship initiatives will again be explored to provide opportunities for young people to benefit from the sailing experience in 2010 in the build up to the major event in 2011.  A personal contribution is also required.

More Information ...

Learn more about the  Sail Training Shetland scheme from:

• http://www.sailtrainingshetland.com
• http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sail-Training-Shetland/337356034343
• http://www.bebo.com/shetlandsailtraining
• http://www.myspace.com/shetlandsailtraining
• Download the Sail Training Shetland PDF leaflet [PDF format; 1.8Mb filesize]

ASTO Small Ships Race 2009

Eight lucky young adults from Shetland, between the ages of 15 - 18, took part in the Association of Sail Training Organisations Small Ships' Race between Greenock and Belfast, on board Shetland's own sail training vessel the Swan during August 2009.  More details on their adventure have been posted on http://www.sailtrainingshetland.com, on the Sail Training Shetland Bebo page and on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sail-Training-Shetland/337356034343

Thank you to our sponsors:

Sail Training Shetland 2008 - Gallery 

Here is a selection of photos of the participants on the 2008 Sail Training Shetland scheme.