Sail Training International is a UK based charity (no. 1096846) whose purpose is the development and education of young people through the sail training experience, regardless of nationality, culture, religion, gender or social background. (
The charity has worldwide membership and activities
which it achieves through a range of activities and services, including:
conferences and seminars
races and other events for sail training Tall Ships
publications and DVD presentations
international research
the Class A Tall Ships Forum (whose members are the operators of circa 70 of the world’s largest square-rigged sail training vessels) STI Youth (whose members are under the age of 26 and represent the interests of young sail trainers around the world).
The members of Sail Training International are the National Sail Training Organisations of:
Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States of America. (
See links to each country's website).
The Tall Ships Races and Regattas
Each year Sail Training International runs The Tall Ships Races, an event that was first held in 1956 (
see information on history of the races). The Tall Ships Races are held in European waters every summer and a key rule of the event is that 50 percent of each ship's crew must be aged between 15 and 25 years. Typically 70-100 Tall Ships take part in these events which consist of four days in a host port and then either racing or sailing in company to another host port.
The Tall Ships Races 2012, presented by Szczecin and organised by Sail Training International is taking place in the following ports between Thursday 5 July - Sunday 26 August: Saint Malo (France), Lisbon (Portugal), Cadiz (Spain), A Coruna (Spain) and Dublin (Ireland).
Press Contact
At each host port there is a press office where the press can obtain more information about the ships, event, sail training in general and arrange to speak to captains and crews.
Sail Training International also assists the press in gaining access to Tall Ships for filming purposes.
For further information about Sail Training International's activities, high resolution images and how to obtain accreditation at any of the events please contact: