HRH visits fleet at Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Festival

HRH The Countess of Wessex, Patron of the Association of

to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta 2014 today (Friday 5 September).

Almost half of the vessels competing in the Regatta – the

first time a Tall Ships Race has both started and finished in a UK port – are

members of ASTO.  The nineteen vessels

have taken over 280 young people from a wide range of backgrounds from all over

the British Isles, and at least half of the trainees on board each boat are

under 25.

James Stevens, Chairman, Sail Training International

and  ASTO, said, “I was delighted

that our Patron HRH The Countess of Wessex met many of our trainees and also

attended the ASTO reception on board the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s accessible

tall ship Tenacious to congratulate the ASTO skippers.  They achieved great results in the race and

do  vital work  providing challenge and adventure for young

people.äó

ASTO fleet out in force on the Thames 

PROVISIONAL race results of the Falmouth – Royal Greenwich

Tall Ships Regatta 2014 shows outstanding results for ASTO members:

–       Duet, the 1912

gaff rigged yawl, operated by the Cirdan Trust has provisionally been named the

overall winner of the race. Three 15-year-old volunteer police cadets from

Enfield are trainees on the crew.

–       It was a clean sweep

for ASTO members in Class B as Duet (UK), Jolie Brise (UK) and Maybe provisionally take

first, second and third respectively

–       Stavros S

Niarchos and Tenacious are provisionally 2nd and 3rd in Class A

–       Provisionally

1st in class C are Challenge Wales and 3rd Thermopylae Clipper

–       Merrilyn

provisionally came 3rd in Class D

Lucy Gross, ASTO General Manager, said, äóìI am immensely

proud of all the ASTO member vessels and their performances in this race.  To provisionally have vessels in the top

three of all the classes and potentially the overall winner too is fantastic.

But more than that, I am really proud of all the young people on board our

vessels, for the hard work they have put in. None of the young trainees on

board will ever forget being part of such an amazing experience and it will be

a highlight of the year for our many ASTO member organisations from all over

the UK who are taking part,

For further information about Sail Training, ASTO and its

member organisations visit www.asto.org.uk

DIARY DATE:  Crew Parade and Prize Giving Ceremony

The official prize giving of the Falmouth – Royal Greenwich

Tall Ships Regatta 2014 takes place after the crew parade which starts at 1400

Saturday 6 September.   The parade starts

in Greenwich Park and winds its way down through the town centre into the

National Maritime Museum. 

–  ends –

Photo: HRH The Countess of Wessex with the Association of

Sail Training Organisations (ASTO) crews at the finish of the the Falmouth to

Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta, with James Stevens, Chai