Three new Tall Ship Races launched
by Katharine Earley 24 Dec 2012 07:12 GMT
Tall Ships in Barcelona © Sail Training International
Ahoy skippers, would-be Tall Ship sailors and all Tall Ship fans! Sail Training International (STI) has launched exciting new opportunities to sail on the high seas and enjoy TallShips around the world.
Mediterranean Tall Ships Regatta (September-October 2013)
Race around the Med in early autumn next year and visit glamorous ports in Spain, France and Italy.
Enjoy a port festival in Barcelona from Saturday 21 – Tuesday 24 September, then race on a Tall Ship to Toulon, France arriving Friday 27 September for a port festival lasting until Monday 30 September. The second race leg then leaves Toulon and shipssail to La Spezia, Italy - arriving Friday 4 October, where the Regatta winners in each class will be announced. La Spezia is holding a port festival untilMonday 7 October.
Sydney - Auckland Regatta (September-October 2013)
Ships in the Sydney to Auckland Tall Ships Regatta will visit Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney, Australia and then race across the Tasman Sea, to Auckland, New Zealand. It is the first ever Sail Training International event to be held in Australasian waters; to commemorate the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian Navy into Sydney.
- Melbourne, Australia: 9-14 September
- Hobart, Australia: 20-25 September
- Sydney, Australia: 7-10 October
- Auckland, New Zealand: 24-27 October
SCF Black Sea Tall Ships Regatta (May 2014)
Sponsored by Sovcomflot (SCF) this is an opportunity to take part in the first event of its kind and sail across the unique Black Sea visiting fascinating ports in Bulgaria, Russia and Romania.
- Varna, Bulgaria: 30 April – 3 May
- Novorossiysk, Russia: 9–12 May
- Sochi, Russia: 15–18 May
- Constanta, Romania: 25–28 May
PLUS: The Tall Ships Races (July-August 2013)
In addition to these exciting new events the annual Tall Ships Races are also open to vessel entries until May 2013, offering the opportunity to visit Denmark, Finland, Latvia and Poland. Lots of trainee places are also available. This year's Races are looking to be twice the size of last year; an event and spectacle not to be missed.
- Arhus, Denmark: 4-7 July
- Helsinki, Finland: 17-20 July
- Riga, Latvia: 25-28 July
- Szczecin, Poland: 3-6 August
Further details about the races can be seen on the Sail Training International website.
Peter Cardy, Chief Executive at Sail Training International and himself a frequent Tall Ships racer said, "These races bring spectacle, unmatched by other events, to millions of spectators. An experience, which is utterly unique for all intrepid trainees. However you become involved the Tall Ships promise asailing experience like no other for seafarers and landlubbers alike."
Would you like to enter a vessel?
All of these events are open to any monohull sailing vessel of more than 9.14m (30ft) water line length, which meets STI's safety equipment requirements. Ships interested in taking part need to submit an entry form, which can be found here:
Interested in becoming a trainee sailor?
People of all abilities, including those with mental and physical disabilities, can take part as trainee sailors aboard the vessels, providing they are over the age of 15.
Trainees may join for all or part of the race series and all ships entering the races are encouraged to recruit trainees between the ages of 15 and 25. Trainees interested in joining a ship can register their interest here. Skippers with available berths visit the page regularly and will be in contact with you.