International Sail Training & Tall Ships Virtual Conference

SPEAKER: Mike Richmond

Richmond Event Management CEO, Mike Richmond, will discuss the types of approaches he has adopted to ensure customer safety for the management of crowds and vessels open to visitors and how these can apply to social distancing and overall Covid-19 Plans.

Mike started his career in the events industry as Events Manager at Bristol City Council. In 1996 He left to start his own company, Richmond Event Management Ltd, which specialises in event concept and design, programming, logistics and production. Major projects include The International Festival of the Sea, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, Bristol Harbour Festival, ceremonial naval vessel launches for BAE, Air/Sea Displays for Trafalgar 200 and HM The Queen’s Jubilee Visit to her Armed Forces.

He is also the co-founder of event safety consultancy The Event Safety Shop Ltd and is a Safety Co-ordinator for Glastonbury Festival and was Silver Commander 2004-2016.

SPEAKERs: Carol Shannon, Gencer Emiroglu, Emma Harley

This session will focus on inspiring people to take part in sail training through the examples of sail trainers and ship operators from around the world.

Carol first sailed on STS Leeuwin II in 1989 – sponsored by her employer as part of a leadership development program. Carol saw the extraordinary impact of a week at sea on her fellow voyage-trainees and resolved that this was an organisation she wanted to be part of – no sailor then and no sailor now – Leeuwin Ocean Adventure for Carol is about the impact on young people and Leeuwin’s capacity to give people from diverse backgrounds the skills to make good choices in life to enable them to be better citizens.

Gencer is an internationally licensed sailing instructor who specialises in development training. Since his first introduction to sail training in Barcelona in 2013, Gencer has regularly joined sail training races and regattas with Turkish Sail Training vessel STS Bodrum. He has also designed and implemented youth development programmes with STS Bodrum as Turkey’s only sail training ship.

SPEAKERS: Rachel Miller & Phil Horton

This session will look at the environmental considerations around Sail Training and ways in which ships operating around the world can do so in a sustainable way. It will provide practical information that Captains, crews and trainees can use to reduce their carbon footprint on board and help to protect the oceans and seas they sail upon.

Rachael Zoe Miller is an expedition scientist, inventor, National Geographic Explorer and Explorers Club Fellow working to protect the ocean. She is the Founder of Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean, a nonprofit working on the problem of marine debris and co-inventor of the Cora Ball, the world’s first microfiber-catching laundry ball.

Phil is a Chartered Engineer and started his career working for the BBC and later moved to the Centre for Alternative Technology in mid Wales, where he worked on sustainable building alongside leading the construction of a 2,000m2 eco-education centre. After working for a renewable energy co-op, he decided to combine his 20 years of work in sustainability with his love of sailing and moved to the Royal Yachting Association as its Sustainability Manager. 

This session enables members of the Ships Council to meet and discuss future strategies and projects. Please note that non-member vessel operators are warmly invited to attend the relevant forum – just contact conference@sailtraininginternational.org.

SPEAKER: SUE CHESHIRE

This practical workshop is aimed at anyone who is involved in Sail Training; whether you sail as sea staff in any capacity, or you have a shore-based support or leadership role. The workshop will take place over two sessions and will be limited to 20 delegates. It will look at the essential needs that we must satisfy for good mental health, and offer suggestions for ways to support those who are struggling.

Sue Cheshire is a qualified Human Givens therapist and has also taught English, Philosophy and Critical Thinking to students aged 16 to adult.

If you would like to take part in this session, please email conference@sailtraininginternational.org to register your interest. Please note attendance is on a first come, first served basis.

SPEAKER: Ben Hardy

Richmond Event Management Managing Director, Ben Hardy, will discuss his experience of meeting a range of operational requests and challenges and how these form part of planning for large scale public events. He will highlight the best practice and the contingencies he puts in place to cover most eventualities.

Ben is the Managing Director of Richmond Event Management Ltd, an event management specialist, making great events happen across the UK.

Since 2010 Ben has led the operational delivery of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Now entering its 42nd year the Fiesta attracts an annual audience of 500,000 visitors, a social media reach of 4.2 million and print/broadcast reach of 166 million. Notably Ben has driven the events turnover, diversified its income base and enhanced the events security, crowd and traffic management plans.

In addition to the Balloon Fiesta, Ben has been involved in delivering a number of large scale public events including Torbay Airshow, Weston Air Festival, FIFA World Cup Screenings, Clifton Suspension Bridge 150th Anniversary Firework Display, Bristol Harbour Festival, Bristol 10k, Bristol Half Marathon, M-Shed launch, Sky Ride, BrisFest, Park and Slide, BBC Food Connections, Tour of Britain, National Armed Forces Day (Liverpool, 2017 and Salisbury, 2019), the arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth to HM Naval Base Portsmouth, Illuminate Bradford and the Global Parliament of Mayors.

SPEAKER: ANDY WRIGHT

This seminar will discuss the journey from an application to joining the RNLI as crew to becoming a substantive crew member – prepared to save lives at sea 24 hours a day, whatever the weather. Looking at the recruitment, management and training stages of the application process, this session will provide an excellent insight to effectively working with volunteers.

Andy has been involved in sail training for 27 years, starting as crew on Rona II with the Rona Sailing Project.  This has enabled him to follow his passion for working and teaching in the outdoor industry.  He has worked for for Further and Higher Education colleges on Diploma and Degree programmes and worked with the Royal Yachting Association as a Trainer (Sail, Motor and Powerboat), Examiner and RYA Centre Inspector.

Andy Specialises in Instructor training and development.  His current role is an Area Lifesaving Manager for the Royal National Lifeboat institution (RNLI), responsible for the management of six lifeboat station in the South West of UK.

Back in November, we hosted an online seminar previewing The Tall Ships Races 2022 with the help of representatives from the Host Ports – Esbjerg, Harlingen, Antwerp and Aalborg – and the Cruise-in-Company organisers, STAB.

You can view the recorded seminar below, and if you have any questions regarding the event you can contact us at office@sailtraininginternational.org

Representatives from each of The Tall Ships Races 2023 – Den Header, Hartlepool, Fredrikstad, Lerwick and Arendal – preview their events and discuss opportunities open to vessel operators looking to take part and participate.

You can view the prerecorded previews below, and if you have any questions regarding the event you can contact us at office@sailtraininginternational.org