Charity brings international friendship to the Black Sea

Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Sail Training International, is promoting international friendship and understanding in the Black Sea this May with the spectacular SCF Black Sea Tall Ships Regatta.

Sponsored by Sovcomflot (SCF) – one of the world’ largest shipping companies – the event supports SCF’ social responsibility to support young people in maritime professions and bolsters the interest for the maritime industry among Russia’ youth.

Sail Training International is bringing twenty-three vessels (including eight Russian and two Ukrainian) to the region, to race from Varna, Bulgaria to Novorossisyk, Russia; cruise to Sochi, Russia and then race in a final leg to Constanta, Romania.

The International Tall Ships fleet represents eleven different nationalities – Bulgaria, Russia, Malta, Netherlands, Pakistan, Ukraine, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK. 

Sail training adventure

The vessels will be sailed by over 1000 trainees from around the world, all taking part in the adventure activity of sail training, confronting demanding challenges at sea, both physical and emotional. 

Sail Training is an activity that inspires self-confidence and personal responsibility and promotes an acceptance of others, whatever their social or cultural backgrounds. Those who undertake Sail Training on Tall Ships find it a positive life-changing experience.

Winter Olympic legacy

The SCF Black Sea Tall Ships Regatta is part of the sporting legacy of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, supported by President Vladimir Putin.

Russia’ Deputy Minister of Transport, Viktor Olersky said, äóìThe Sochi 2014 Games rejuvenated the city of Sochi and contributed to the economic, cultural and environmental development of the entire Krasnodar Region. It has left an invaluable legacy and the arrival of the international SCF Black Sea Tall Ships Regatta fleet shows that.äó

Making maritime history

Robin Snouck-Hurgronje, Event Chairman, Sail Training International, said, äóìThis special event is also making its mark in the maritime history books. The largest sail training ship in the world, Sedov (Russia) is joining three other Russian ships in the race – Mir, Kruzenshtern, Nadezhda – to sail and race against each other for the first time in maritime history.äó

Event and race dates:

Varna, Bulgaria Wednesday 30 April  – Saturday 3 May

Race 1

Novorossiysk, Russia Friday 9 – Monday 12 May

Cruise-in-Company

Sochi, Russia Wednesday 14 – Sunday 18 May

Race 2

Constanta, Romania Saturday 24 – Tuesday 27 May

The event is the first of three Tall Ship race events being held this year. 

This summer The Tall Ships Races in the North Sea will see up to 100 international Tall Ships visiting The Netherlands, Norway and Denmark.  Then late August, early September up to 50 international Tall Ships will be taking part in the Falmouth – Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta. 

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Photos and interview opportunities: Available on request