Sail Training Opportunities For Young People
Young people from Bermuda aged 15 – 25 who would like to sail on the high seas as a trainee on a Tall Ship this year are invited to apply now for a special bursary being offered by the Sultanate of Oman.
The Sail Training Association Bermuda – the Island’s National Sail Training Organisation is working with Sail Training International [STI] to nominate up to two suitable candidates from Bermuda to sail in The 2013 Tall Ships Races in the Baltic which features visits to ports in Denmark, Finland, Latvia and Poland between July and August.
The Sultanate of Oman Bursary Scheme is aimed at helping cover the cost of voyages for young people who would benefit from a sail training experience. Other travel-related expenses may be covered by Tall Ships Bermuda on a needs basis. Young people of all abilities, including those with mental and physical challenges who have not already participated in a Tall Ships Race as a trainee are eligible to apply. Those interested in participating in a Sail Training adventure should also consider two other Sail Training events organized by STI
The Mediterranean Tall Ships Regatta 2013 which features visits to ports in Spain, France and Italy between September and October, and The Sydney to Auckland Tall Ships Regatta – the first ever STI event in the Southern Hemisphere – that will feature visits to ports in Melbourne, Australia, Hobart, Australia Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand between September and October to commemorate the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian Navy into Sydney.
Again Sail Training Bermuda will consider providing financial assistance for young Bermudians wishing to participate in either of these two events.
Chairman of Sail Training Association Bermuda, Mr. John Wadson said the Sultanate of Oman Bursary Scheme is a very generous initiative that will allow up to 100 young people from around the world to experience life on tall ships without having any prior sailing experience. Vessels participating in Tall Ships races must have 50 percent of young sail trainees as crew.
Mr. Wadson said the experience that a young person from Bermuda will gain in meeting and sailing with so many of their peers from around the world is life-changing. “It is not a holiday at sea but a defined programme of instruction in sail-handling, navigation, passage-making, safety-at-sea and ship management. The experience inspires self-confidence and personal responsibility; promotes acceptance of others whatever their social or cultural backgrounds and develops an appreciation of teamwork and friendship – the kinds of traits and transferable skills that Bermuda needs in our future leaders.”
Sail Training Association Bermuda, a registered charity, has been working since 2000 to create sail training opportunities for young people in Bermuda. In 2009, they organized the very successful Tall Ships Bermuda/Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009 that celebrated Bermuda’s 400th Anniversary of settlement and allowed 150 young people from Bermuda to sail on Tall Ships to various ports around the world including Bermuda. The association has continued to sponsor interested young people on international Tall Ship voyages each summer and on other international educational Tall Ship voyages throughout the year.
Mr. Wadson added, “We endeavour to provide young people with an experience that will forever enhance their lives and empower them to make meaningful changes in their lives and in the community.”
Applications from interested young persons to: info@tallships.bm will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
