European sailing adventures for fourteen Shetland trainees

Fourteen young adults from all across Shetland will become trainee crew members onboard Shetland’s own sail training vessel Swan and German Tall Ship Alexander von Humboldt II, in two separate sailing adventures this summer.

Swan will depart Lerwick early on Tuesday 1 July with ten trainees bound for Nordisk Sjelads, an event gathering a fleet of traditionally rigged vessels in Skagerrak / Kattegat region. During this two week voyage, over 300 crew will congregate for planned and impromptu celebrations in host port locations at Stavern in Norway, Skarhamn in Sweden and Aalborg in Denmark.

In a separate adventure starting on Friday 4 July, four trainees will cross the North Sea in Race One of The Tall Ships Races 2013 between Harlingen, The Netherlands and Fredrikstad, Norway. Their home for the duration of this fourteen day journey will be the magnificent three masted barque Alexander Von Humboldt II, built in 2011 and the newest vessel in the Tall Ships fleet.

Under the guidance of their crew, sail trainees learn a wide range of hands on skills including traditional seamanship, navigation, setting sail, watch keeping, maintenance and domestic duties, providing each individual the opportunity to learn about themselves through the adventure of being at sea.

Peter Campbell, Chairman said “Since the charity’s formation in 2009, over one hundred sail training placements have been made possible. This year’s trainees are a great mix of young people from all over Shetland who I am sure will all take away positive life changing experiences from their journeys which in the longer term will greatly benefit our community.” 

Through charity fundraising and business sponsorship, Sail Training Shetland supports annual sail training opportunities for young people aged between 15 – 25 years. Sail trainees reap the benefits of their experiences through increased self-confidence, independence, team working, communication skills and testing their personal and physical boundaries, with some going on to pursue careers at sea.