Camaraderie wins in The Tall Ships Races

The mission of the Tall Ships Races is to develop and educate young people through sail training, and alongside that there is an overwhelming sense of goodwill between the fleet itself.  This is demonstrated time and again by selfless acts between crews and vessels.  Examples from the Antwerp to Aalborg race include the schooner Eendracht (Netherlands) warning the rest of the fleet of heavy squalls following as they hit them first having sailed further west than the rest of the fleet, enabling others to reef or furl some sail before the squalls hit so as not to be overpowered.

UK west country vessels Provident and Pegasus buddied up after Pegasus lost her starter motor.  86-year-old gaff ketch Provident heard on a communications report of the problems the gaff cutter Pegasus was having and offered to chaperone her from the second waypoint to the finish and then into Aalborg, towing her for the last stretch.    The camaraderie between the two vessels is fantastic and a further cementing of friendship for the two skippers, who’ paths have crossed on many occasions for over 20 years.  

Pic:  Long time buddies, Diggory and Ben, skippers on Pegasus and Provident.  

To view the current provisional placings of the race, click here.

All results remain provisional until declaration forms have been submitted and reviewed by the race committee in Aalborg.

To see more images from The Tall Ships Races, click here.

The Tall Ships Races is presented by Szczecin and organised by Sail Training International.