What's New
2008 Tall Ships' Races
16 Aug 2008
This year's race series started in Liverpool as the highlight of the city's celebrations of its status as the European Capital of Culture for 2008.
ASTO members' vessels were well represented and made up about 25% of the total fleet including three Class A entries in Lord Nelson, Stavros S Niarchos and Royalist. With the exception of Lord Nelson and Stavros S Niarchos all of the ASTO vessels were moored in the Albert Dock close to the city centre.
Ron Dadswell escorts HRH Princess Anne to the awaiting fleet
Photo: Sail Training International
The fleet was honoured by visits from both HRH the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, and HRH the Duke of York, Prince Andrew. ASTO's chairman, Ron Dadswell, as STI Trustee for Europe, hosted their royal highnesses on both visits during which he introduced them to a selection of captains, trainees and STI and ASTO personnel.
Princess Anne meets ASTO's Business Manager, Craig Burton
Photo: Sail Training International
Ian Lerner introduces HRH Princess Anne to his crew on board Ocean Spirit of Moray
Photo: Sail Training International
Ron Dadswell introduces Commander Chris Biggins to HRH Prince Andrew
Photo: Sail Training International
HRH Prince Andrew with Captain Liam Keating and the crew of Stavros S Niarchos
Photo: Sail Training International
ASTO had a unit in Albert Dock where Craig Burton carried out an intensive marketing campaign for UK Sail Training. In the four days the ASTO stand gave out a wide range of promotional material to many thousands of visitors who showed a keen interest in the Sail Training opportunities available in UK. We hope that this will in time show itself in terms of more bookings on ASTO vessels.
Race 1 from Liverpool to Mål‾y in Norway was extremely challenging with the places changing daily as the fleet experienced a variety of weather conditions on the route. ASTO vessels did particularly well. OYT Scotland's Alba Explorer had a fast race and won line honours in just 3 days 12 hours 42 minutes and 12 seconds which gave her a well deserved first place in Class C. Toby Marris brought Jolie Brise of Dauntsey's School home first in Class B and was also 1st Overall on Corrected Time. Stalwart ASTO supporters, the Captain's Daughters, did outstandingly well against strong opposition in the spinnaker class to take first place; and this in Assarain II, a chartered boat on their first Tall Ships' Race! Assarain II's captain, Clare Thorpe, received the prize for the youngest skipper at just 22 years 9 months and 27 days. Another ASTO winner was Moosk with the prize for the youngest crew with an average age of 18 years and 11 months.
The fleet are at present on Race 2 from Bergen to Den Helder.
Lots more news and photographs from this year's races on the Sail Training International website.
Ellen MacArthur Trust announce plans for Round Britain 'Voyage of Discovery'
16 August 2008
On 4th August ASTO's Business Manager, Craig Burton, and Chairman, Ron Dadswell, attended the launch in Cowes of The Ellen MacArthur Trust's 2009 'Voyage of discovery.'
The project, which is supported by Skandia will begin in May next year. 100 young people in recovery from cancer will sail around the UK as part of The Ellen MacArthur Trust Skandia Round Britain 'Voyage of Discovery.'
The voyage will stop at 20 ports around the UK starting in Cowes on the Isle of Wight and then heading east to Dover, St. Catherine's Dock (London), Ipswich, Hull, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Fort George, Fort William, Largs, Belfast, Isle of Man, Liverpool, Holyhead, Cardiff, Torquay, Southampton (Boat Show), finishing back in Cowes in September 2009. The young people will visit hospitals and young person's principal treatment centres, across the UK, who have helped them recover from cancer and leukaemia.
Plans for ASTO members' vessels to sail in company as part of the 'Voyage of discovery' will be announced shortly.
Craig Burton and Ron Dadswell help Ellen MacArthur launch her Round Britain 'Voyage of Discovery'
ASTO Members to receive subsidy for International Sail Training Conference
6 June 2008
ASTO's board of Trustees voted to award a 50% conference fee bursary to every UK Sail Trainer attending the International Sail Training Conference.
Recipient Sail Trainers must be active with an ASTO member organisation. It
is hoped that this measure will ensure that the UK continues to be well
represented at the international conference, which is being held in Halifax,
Nova Scotia, 14th - 15th November.
In addition to this bursary, Sail Training International has allocated a
limited number of travel bursaries, each worth €500.
Urgent request from The Captain's Daughters
9 May 2008
Due to the death of the owner of Sail Irelands Charters and the subsequent sale of the company, we are now looking for a new boat. As our deposit may not be fully refundable, we can now only offer £10,000. We need a boat with 10 berths and catagory 1 stability for the duration of July and August. Please contact us as soon as possible if you, or anyone you know, can help. We need a boat confirmed before the end of May - this is the deadline given from the Race organisers.
Also, download this Poster, print it off and put it on your nearest noticeboard. More details in this document and on The Captain's Daughters' website.
Sail Training International Conference to be held in Canada
23 Apr 2008
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.
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.
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.
Read the full press release.
Youth Skills Course and Downwind Sailing Master Class
20 Feb 2008
As part of the 2008 Skippership Scheme a 2 day group skills course aimed at working with young people on Sail Training vessels has been commissioned with Fairbridge Training. The course is available to ASTO members and non-members alike.
- When: 24 to 25 March 2008
- Where: Fairbridge Liverpool
- How: Download the information sheet and booking form to apply for a space on this course.
ASTO has introduced a downwind Masterclass element to the 2008 Skippership Scheme. It is being held between 12th and 15th of May in the Solent. There are limited extra places available. Contact the ASTO office for more details
Skippership Scheme
27 Oct 2007
The selection process for the 2008 Skippership Trainees is now under way. Click here for more information and an application form.
Tall Ships Youth Trust fleet changes
6 Sept 2007
In order to diversify their work with young people and to achieve long term financial stability, the Trust are selling one of their two 60m brigs and using the funds freed up to acquire four 22m ocean-going yachts. A FAQ document (PDF) is also available.
OBE for Ron
22 Aug 2007
ASTO's Chairman Ron Dadswell has been awarded the OBE in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List, in recognition of his services to Sail Training.
Ron's first career was as a Deck Officer in the Merchant Navy. In 1967 he joined the Army, retiring as a Colonel in 1992. Ron started in sail training in 1975 with a two-week voyage as navigator on the STA schooner Malcolm Miller. This was followed by many voyages on both Malcolm Miller and Sir Winston Churchill, sailing as navigator or chief officer, including several Tall Ships' Races. He has also sailed on a number of other sail training vessels including Lord Nelson, Tenacious, Stavros S Niarchos, Bark Endeavour, Kaisei and Henryk Rutowski as well as a number of smaller yachts.
Ron was Race Director for The Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races from 1992-95 and for the Mediterranean Races in 1996 and 2000. He was also advisor to the City of Osaka on Sail Osaka 1997. He was appointed a Trustee of ASTO in 2000 and was elected its Chairman in 2001 when he also became the UK Country Representative on the ISTA International Committee.
Ron was closely involved with the creation of Sail Training International (STI) in 2002 and has been the Trustee with special responsibility for Europe since STI became a Charity in 2003.
ASTO Members successes in the STI Baltic Tall Ships' Race, Stockholm to Szczecin
6 Aug 2007
Congratulations to LSP Fleet Officer Peter Weeks and his Amory Award holders all girl crew who sailed Rona II to first place in the spinnaker class.
Photo by permission of Sail Training International.
The most coveted prize in the Tall Ships' Races series is the 'Friendship Trophy', which is awarded on the secret votes of the captains and crews of all of the vessels in this very large race fleet, to the ship's company that has done the most to promote international friendship and understanding within the fleet. The Friendship Trophy for the 2007 STI Baltic Tall Ships' race was won by the ship's company of Lord Nelson. Our congratulations to Captain Clare Cupples, her permanent crew and the trainees who captured the hearts of the very large Baltic Tall Ships' Fleet.
Photo by permission of Sail Training International
There is a high res photo of the trophy here.
For more information see the Sail Training International website.
Small Ships' Race 2007 - Torquay to St Peter Port, Guernsey
16 June 2007
The report of the Small Ships' Race from Torquay to St Peter Port is now online including photographs, results and prizes.
NEW STI TROPHIES
28 May 2007
Sail training International intend to make some new awards annually, starting this year at the STI Conference in Liverpool, that relate very directly to STI's core mission and key constituents. There will be three categories, with two awards in each:
- Sail Training Organisation of the Year
- Sail Trainer of the Year
- Sail Training Volunteer of the Year
Details are in the Press Release (PDF) and on the STI website. You are encouraged to consider the criteria for the awards and to make nominations as applicable.
The administration of this new scheme will be handled in the STI office by . Please contact her if you have any questions and please do all you can to ensure we have some nominations from ASTO members. All STI require initially is a short email or letter to make a nomination, they will then select a short list to examine more closely with the relevant National Sail Training Organisation. The deadline for initial submissions is 31 August 2007.
For Sale: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 43 - Alba Volunteer
20 May 2007
See the For Sale page for further details.
SAIL TRAINING INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2007
15 May 2007
This year's conference is to be held at the historic St. Georges Hall, Liverpool, on 16 - 17 November 2007. This two-day conference offers workshops, presentations, 'drop-in' sessions on specialist topics and plenary sessions for all delegates. The conference schedule also allows significant time for networking with other delegates from ports and sail training operators.
The theme of the Sail Training content will be "Filling the Ships" and will focus on achieving high occupancy rates.
For further information please visit the Sail Training International website.
Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009
6 April 2007
The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009 Notice of Race is now available. (PDF format)
We hope that everyone will consider entering their ships in this exciting event. Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge Ltd. and the host ports will be able to assist in the marketing of berths and, if you complete and return the Registration of Interest Form, we will add you to the list of vessels wishing to receive regular news and information to help with your planning and preparations.
HOST PORTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE TALL SHIPS' RACES 2011
27 March 2007
Organisers of The Tall Ships' Races today announced five host ports in Germany, Ireland, Norway and the UK for the Tall Ships' Races 2011
The start port will be Waterford, Ireland. From there the fleet will race to Greenock in Scotland. The fleet will then cruise-in-company to Lerwick in the Shetlands from where the fleet will race across the North Sea to Stavanger in Norway, to be followed by a third race to Cuxhaven in Germany. Read the Press Release.
Lotos At Sea
5 March 2007
At Sea Sail Training are looking for two UK participants for an international exchange on the Lotos, a Class B ketch, during Race 2 of the Baltic Tall Ships Races, Stockholm to Szczecin. This is a special opportunity for 18 to 25 year olds with a diabetic or epileptic disorder to participate in the Tall Ships' Races. More information on their website.
Young at Heart
18 December 2006
50th Anniversary Tall Ships' Races DVD
The Sail Training International DVD, Young at Heart, is now available to buy from the STI on-line shop for just £7/€10 plus delivery. The DVD includes six language versions - English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch.
This half-hour documentary of the 50th Anniversary Tall Ships Races also includes archive footage from the first ever race for sail training Tall Ships in 1956. A must see for all sail training and Tall Ships enthusiasts! More information is available here.
Sail Training International
1 December 2006
Annual International Conference
A record 369 delegates from 27 countries attended Sail Training International's Annual International Conference in Szczecin, Poland, 17-19 November. Click www.sailtraininginternational.org to download the conference newsletter or copies of individual presentations
Marine Accident Reporting Scheme (MARS)
The
Nautical Institute's MARS (Marine Accident Reporting Scheme) is a simple
voluntary and anonymous incident reporting system for use by the sail training
community. The scheme was developed with close co-operation between the
Nautical Institute and Sail Training International.
The aim of the scheme is to allow full reporting of accidents (and near misses) without fear of litigation. With this free information exchange valuable lessons may be learnt and future similar accidents avoided.
Click www.nautinst.org/sti/ to access the scheme. Instructions for its use are included and members are urged to make use of this uniquely focused facility for the sail training industry.