Sail Training Shetland (STS) – of which Lerwick Port Authority is a sponsor – is supporting twenty young adults from the islands to take part in this year’s Tall Ship Races, adding to growing excitement over the return of the international event to Lerwick in 2023.
Having left Lerwick on Sunday 3 July, ten trainees on board the former Shetland-built fishing vessel Swan, sailed to Esbjerg, Denmark, to join the fleet racing to Harlingen, in the Netherlands, starting on Thursday 7 July,
The second group will start their travel on Friday 15 July to join Swan in The Netherlands for a Cruise-in-Company between Harlingen and Antwerp, Belgium. After enjoying the host port celebrations at both locations, the trainees will sail Swan to Lowestoft to take part in the Excelsior Trust’s Centenary Smack Race celebrations, before heading home to Shetland on Monday 12 August.
Captain Calum Grains, Port Authority Chief Executive, said: “The Tall Ships Races create life changing experiences for young islanders to build their personal and seamanship skills, and for us to continue our support for sail training since the first tall ships visited in 1999. Preparations are well underway for the third visit of the Tall Ships from 26-29 July next year.”
Formed in early 2009, Sail Training Shetland is a registered Scottish Charity and is a collaboration between The Swan Trust, Lerwick Port Authority and Shetland Tall Ships Limited.
Built in 1900, Shetland’s own tall ship Swan was restored to her former glory by The Swan Trust, a team of dedicated volunteers, and will be participating in the Tall Ships Races 2023.
Note: It was announced today that Shetland salmon farmers, Cooke Aquaculture Scotland and Scottish Sea Farms, have joined with Salmon Scotland to support Tall Ships Shetland 2023.
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