A record 440 delegates from more than 30 countries around the world attended Sail Training International’s annual international conference, 16-17 November, in Liverpool (2008 European Capital of Culture) UK. Delegates attended from Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and the USA as well as from throughout Europe. Sail training organisations and vessel operators as well as delegates from close to 50 host ports gathered for the two days of presentations, discussions and networking. ‘Filling the ships’ was the theme for sail training delegates, and ‘Attracting the fleet and crowds’ for attending event organisers. In the post-conference questionnaire survey the overwhelming majority of delegates rated the conference as ‘Excellent’.
Solo round the world yachtsman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, gave the keynote speech at the conference. He focused on the power and influence of the sail training experience and the importance of challenge in the lives of young people around the world. “For many young people,” he commented afterwards, “a sail training voyage has a profound and often life-changing impact. Everyone at the conference knows this, and it was great to see the synergy underpinning this at the conference”
Sail Training International President and Chairman, Nigel Rowe said: "Sail Training International is growing fast in terms of our impact on the international sail training activity as well as the number of events we organise. The record attendance at our conference and the high rating from attending delegates reflects this."
Sail Training International presented six new awards this year to recognise ‘excellence, innovation and achievement’:
• Sail Training Organisation of the Year – for a sail training vessel that has demonstrated excellence in ‘innovation’ and ‘best practice’ in sail training for young people. Operator of a large vessel: Young Endeavour Youth Scheme, Australia. Operator of a smaller vessel: Ocean Youth Trust, Scotland.
• Sail Trainer of the Year, for a professional sail trainer to encourage and recognise high-performing individual who delivers the sail training programme for young people at sea. Over 25 years: Captain Chris Blake OBE, Bermuda. Under 26: Robert Shaw, UK.
• Sail Training Volunteer of the Year, for a volunteer in the sail training movement who has made an extraordinary contribution to the organisation they serve through their skills, talent, time and dedication. Over 25 years: Robbert Jan van den Oord, the Netherlands. Under 26 years: Emily Forbes, Canada.
The conference was hosted and sponsored by the City of Liverpool, with additional support from Hayes & Parsons Ltd, Traditional Boats & Tall Ships magazine, Maltacourt Ltd, and the Tall Ships Atlantic Host Ports of Bermuda, Boston, Halifax and Belfast. A reception was also hosted by the four ports that will be hosting The Tall Ships’ Races 2008, Liverpool (UK), Maloy, Bergen (Norway) and Den Helder (Netherlands)
Solo round the world yachtsman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, gave the keynote speech at the conference. He focused on the power and influence of the sail training experience and the importance of challenge in the lives of young people around the world. “For many young people,” he commented afterwards, “a sail training voyage has a profound and often life-changing impact. Everyone at the conference knows this, and it was great to see the synergy underpinning this at the conference”
Sail Training International President and Chairman, Nigel Rowe said: "Sail Training International is growing fast in terms of our impact on the international sail training activity as well as the number of events we organise. The record attendance at our conference and the high rating from attending delegates reflects this."
Sail Training International presented six new awards this year to recognise ‘excellence, innovation and achievement’:
• Sail Training Organisation of the Year – for a sail training vessel that has demonstrated excellence in ‘innovation’ and ‘best practice’ in sail training for young people. Operator of a large vessel: Young Endeavour Youth Scheme, Australia. Operator of a smaller vessel: Ocean Youth Trust, Scotland.
• Sail Trainer of the Year, for a professional sail trainer to encourage and recognise high-performing individual who delivers the sail training programme for young people at sea. Over 25 years: Captain Chris Blake OBE, Bermuda. Under 26: Robert Shaw, UK.
• Sail Training Volunteer of the Year, for a volunteer in the sail training movement who has made an extraordinary contribution to the organisation they serve through their skills, talent, time and dedication. Over 25 years: Robbert Jan van den Oord, the Netherlands. Under 26 years: Emily Forbes, Canada.
The conference was hosted and sponsored by the City of Liverpool, with additional support from Hayes & Parsons Ltd, Traditional Boats & Tall Ships magazine, Maltacourt Ltd, and the Tall Ships Atlantic Host Ports of Bermuda, Boston, Halifax and Belfast. A reception was also hosted by the four ports that will be hosting The Tall Ships’ Races 2008, Liverpool (UK), Maloy, Bergen (Norway) and Den Helder (Netherlands)