Dunkirk 2023 Conference Programme

Speakers: Magda Makowska, Robertas Petraitis, Marianne Saukkonen, Madis Ralman, Kimmo Hyyppa

This session will look ahead at The Tall Ships Races 2024. The Race Director will give an overview of the Baltic Race Course and the technical aspects involved in it.

The Project Managers of each of The Tall Ships Races 2024 Host Ports : Klaipeda; Helsinki, Tallinn, Turku, Mariehamn and Szczecin will then offer a preview of their events including what is planned and what can be expected of their beautiful cities.

Information will be given on the in-port programme and activities planned for the crews and trainees, services available to the ships and also insights into opportunities for vessels to generate an income whilst in their port.

We will hear how the teams are working together to ensure that next summer’s events in the Baltic will be safe, enjoyable and a good option for any vessel operators considering their plans for summer 2024.

The team from the Delfsail 2024 Endorsed Event will also offer a detailed preview of their Event, which is taking place ahead of the start of the Tall Ships Races 2024 and of all the opportunities it will offer the fleet for the start of the summer 2024 sailing season.

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About the Speakers

Magda Makowska is Sail Training International’s Race Director. As Race Director for The Tall Ships Races, Magda is responsible for advising on technical aspects of sail training within Sail Training International and liaising with Host Ports on the infrastructure, in-port facilities and port programme for The Tall Ships Races.

Marianne Saukkonen is the Project Manager of The Tall Ships Races Helsinki 2024 in Finland next summer. She has an extensive background in big city events and event production and works permanently for the Helsinki Events Foundation.

Kimmo Hyyppa was project manager of The Tall Ships Races Turku 2009, 2017, 2021 (cancelled), and is the project manager for the upcoming race series in 2024. He was also project manager for The Culture 2011 Tall Ships Regatta, producer in The Cutty Sark Tall Ships’ Races 2003, event coordinator for the City of Turku Central Administration, and event co-ordinator in the city central administration, major city festivals and other major events.

He is a Master of Arts (musicology, University of Turku), former member of the South-West Finland Art Council and the board of Finland Festivals organisation and had a Military career in the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon between 1982 – 1985.

Speakers: Harry Allaway, Georg Fimpel, Sylvia Jacobsen

Volunteers are a vital part of The Tall Ships Races. Whether volunteering in a host port, for a sail training organisation, a vessel or for Sail Training International, they generously offer their time, skills and expertise which are indispensable to the success of our Events.

In this session, two long standing volunteers will share their stories with us. Delegates will be able to hear first-hand why they do it, what motivates them, why they keep coming back and what, over the years, have been their biggest challenges as well as the best moments of their Tall Ships Races experience. .

Arendal’s Project Director, Sylvia Jacobsen will join them to offer her insight on how to successfully keep volunteers engaged; on the best practices to maximise their value and motivate these vital stakeholders at the heart of our community.

This session will provide a valuable background and inspiration to anyone who relies on volunteers to achieve their Event deliverables and also to those who would like to find out more about what the volunteering experience in our community can offer.

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About the Speakers

Harry Allaway left school at 16 and joined the scouts as a scout/leader. He went on to become a volunteer skipper with Scouts Offshore, now just called Offshore, for some 20 years and then volunteered for Sail Training International from 2004 until now.

Career wise, Harry was a technician working for the UK Government, both central and Ministry of Defence.

A self-confessed ‘Volunteerer nerd’, in recent years Sylvia Jacobsen has built a brand and developed a new and successful training concept for volunteers in Norway, leading several major projects and was Project Manager for The Tall Ships Races Arendal 2023.

Fun facts about Sylvia:

• She created a ‘Volunteer bear’ together with a Danish company
• She has written two books about recruitment and volunteer management
• She confesses to having made a lot of mistakes in leading volunteers and LEARNED from it!

Speakers: Ben Clark, Kristian Thrane, Sverre Knutsen, Tora Klevås

Developing a strong brand identity is a crucially important factor when delivering large scale events like The Tall Ships Races. It can help you connect with your audience, stand out in a crowded market and support fund raising and sponsor engagement.

With a history stretching back over 60 years, The Tall Ships Races has developed a brand that appeals to millions of European visitors and thousands of trainees across the world every year. This provides event hosts the opportunity to align themselves with a marquee international event that also carries a unique charitable affiliation.

Making the most of The Tall Ships Races brand requires a consistent delivery and complementary event theme throughout its development and delivery cycle. From cities who have hosted several Tall Ships events in the past, to those hosting for the first time, being able to present a carefully developed brand will ensure that all target audiences and stakeholders are engaged in the most effective way possible.

This session will focus on how creating an effective theme and branding can maximise the value of a Tall Ships Races Event for a Host Port and how this can be delivered, whether working with internal marketing teams or external agencies.

The session will combine experiences from previous Host Ports in creating a successful event visual identity and workshop activities for attendees.

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About the Speakers

Ben Clark is a graduate of Portsmouth University, having studied English Literature and Language, and joined Sail Training International in May 2016, where he is now Marketing & Communications Manager. He has previously worked in the maritime industry with intelligence company Dryad Maritime and has also worked as a marketing consultant for a number of start up companies.

Kristian Thrane is Event and Content Manager at Aarhus Events (City of Aarhus). In the past 15 years, he has worked with PR, Comms and Marketing on several large-scale international events hosted by the city of Aarhus. These include European Capital of Culture Aarhus 2017 (as Community Manager), AAL Forum 2019 (as Head of Communications), and The Ocean Race Stopover Aarhus 2023 (as Communications and Marketing Manager).

In his spare time, Kristian enjoys spending time with his family, listening to Pink Floyd, quiz nights, karaoke and a friendly game of poker.

Sverre Knutsen was born and raised in Arendal, and loves his hometown. Sverre has 15 years of experience in strategic marketing and specializes in digital marketing. As a marketer, he is passionate about the good idea and likes to think outside the box.

He has led several agencies and worked with many of the biggest brands in Norway. After Sverre moved home to Arendal to start a family, he has had the job as general manager of the Center company Arendal by.

Tora Klevås is Head of the Cultural Department, municipality of Fredrikstad. Tora participated in sailing from Esbjerg to Harlingen in 2022 (onboard Roald Amundsen) and from Kristiansand to Shetland (onboard Patricia) in 2023.

Speakers: Magda Makowska, PIA Nyberg, Leopold Korytkowski, Jeanette Blijdorp Jonker, Tanya Bootsman

This session will look ahead at The Tall Ships Races 2024. The Race Director will give an overview of the Baltic Race Course and the technical aspects involved in it.

The Project Managers of each of The Tall Ships Races 2024 Host Ports : Klaipeda; Helsinki, Tallinn, Turku, Mariehamn and Szczecin will then offer a preview of their events including what is planned and what can be expected of their beautiful cities.

Information will be given on the in-port programme and activities planned for the crews and trainees, services available to the ships and also insights into opportunities for vessels to generate an income whilst in their port.

We will hear how the teams are working together to ensure that next summer’s events in the Baltic will be safe, enjoyable and a good option for any vessel operators considering their plans for summer 2024.

The team from the Delfsail 2024 Endorsed Event will also offer a detailed preview of their Event, which is taking place ahead of the start of the Tall Ships Races 2024 and of all the opportunities it will offer the fleet for the start of the summer 2024 sailing season. Jeanette will be presenting via video with members of the Delfsail 2024 team taking questions.

About the Speakers

Magda Makowska is Sail Training International’s Race Director. As Race Director for The Tall Ships Races, Magda is responsible for advising on technical aspects of sail training within Sail Training International and liaising with Host Ports on the infrastructure, in-port facilities and port programme for The Tall Ships Races.

Pia Nyberg is the Project Manager of the Tall Ships Races Mariehamn 2024, in the Åland Islands.
She has extensive experience in project management, marketing, and customer service.

Leopold Korytkowski is the Director of Tourism and Events in Żegluga Szczecińska Turystyka i Wydarzenia. He was Project Manager of The Tall Ships Races Szczecin in 2013 and 2017 and will be again in 2024. He also held the role of Project Manager for the Baltic Tall Ships Regatta 2015, and Sail Szczecin from 2012, 14, 16, 18, 19,20, 21, 22 and 23.

In 2011 he headed the European Swimming Championships Szczecin and in 2019 the European Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships Szczecin. He was also Tournament Director of the Szczecin Open – ATP CH125+ from 2013-onwards and was voted the Best Men’s Challenger in the World for 2016 & 2019 editions.

Jeannette Blidjorp Jonker and her husband and other members of his Rowing Club were invited by STAN to become Liaison officers for the first Tall Ships event in Delfzijl back in 1986. The first time ever in Delfzijl, this STA event – although small – became very successful, thanks to a number of enthusiastic volunteers.

Her husband was on duty that particular week as a pilot and suggested that she should take his place instead… This decision started the beginning of a long career in Tall Ships events as an organiser, first at DelfSail, later followed by requests of other ports. This was never planned and happened more or less by coincidence, but changed her life forever!

She is proud to have been asked to organise the 7th edition of DelfSail in 2024, and, although Delfsail is an Endorsed Event in this edition and no Race Port, she loves the challenge to support the great ideals of Sail Training International.

Speakers: Eline Kristiansen, Rachael Graham, Arjen Mintjes

The Tall Ships Races as a journey with young trainees at the heart of it. This session will focus on the best practices to ensure that young trainees have the best possible experience and can enjoy everything that sail training and a voyage on board a Tall Ship can offer them to the full.

From trainee recruitment, voyage planning, which ship for which young person, transport to and from the host ports, chaperoning, mentors, in port trainee activities such as the sports and cultural programmes, the crew parade, prize giving and crew party, and crew changes. In other words, everything you need to consider to ensure that young people taking part in The Tall Ships Races are safe, cared for and have fun, from the moment they sign up for their voyage until they return home at the end of it.

Rachael Graham from Hartlepool and Arjen Mintjes from Harlingen will share their pro tips and lessons learned, while Norwegian Youth Council Representative Eline Kristiansen will offer the perspective of young trainees – the worries and challenges and importantly the best solutions and strategies to overcome them.

About the Speakers

Eline Bredal Kristiansen started her sail training journey as a trainee back in 2011 and has since then participated in eight editions of The Tall Ships Races. Her passion for sail training brought her to the Youth Council in 2017 where she has been representing Norway until this day.

In addition to being a trainee, Eline has been a mentor on three different ships and also assisted in trainee organisation for The Tall Ships Races Stavanger in 2018. In 2019 she started the initiative Vitamin Sea Sail which provides scholarships to young people who wish to experience being at sea.

Speakers: Sjaak Smeding, Charlotte Kirk Elkjær

At a time when sponsorship is becoming ever more important for host cities when organising big events such as The Tall Ships Races, host cities representatives will endavour to share their experiences in securing funding through sponsorship for their particular host port Events.

We will share insights into sponsorship models, lessons which have been learnt and what the important considerations are when it comes to securing sponsorship for our Events.

We will hear how Harlingen’s Business Club model has succeeded in engaging with local businesses in order to secure a committed and essential source of fundraising and engagement, which make The Tall Ships Races in Harlingen a winning formula.

We will also learn how the sponsorship model which Aarhus adopted for another large sailing event can be adapted and used to achieve the same level of sponsorship success for their Tall Ships Races Event in 2026.

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About the Speakers

In his daily life, Sjaak Smeding, he is CEO of his family business, married to Sue and father of three daughters. He loves sailing and has been member of the board of Harlingen Sail since its inception in 2014. For the past three editions he has been responsible for the trainee and public programming of the event. As of last year he is happy to be chairing the board of Harlingen Sail and looks forward to again being one of the host ports for the Tall Ships Races in 2026.

Charlotte Kirk Elkjær is a Chief Advisor at the City of Aarhus, Denmark where she works with attracting, developing and delivering large international events.

Charlotte was the Stopover Director for the Ocean Race Stopover Aarhus 2023 and was the Project Director of The Tall Ships Races Aarhus in 2013 and 2019. She has vast experience in collaborating with many national and international partners when creating events and has a strong knowledge and experience in working with sustainability at events.

Speakers: Magda Makowska, Jeroen Franken, Emma Miller, Gemma Ptak, Knut Hansen, Sylvia Jacobsen

The Race Director of the Project Managers of The Tall Ships Races 2023 will share an overview of the event overall and of the individual in-port activities in particular. Delegates will be able to get a first hand account of how each of this year’s host ports prepared and delivered their Tall Ships Races events including what worked well, what proved challenging, what they would do differently next time, and the impact the event had on the host cities and their communities.

This will be an invaluable session for any delegates representing contracted host ports and also ports and cities who are considering hosting a Sail Training International Tall Ships event in the future.

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About the Speakers

Magda Makowska is Sail Training International’s Race Director. As Race Director for The Tall Ships Races, Magda is responsible for advising on technical aspects of sail training within Sail Training International and liaising with Host Ports on the infrastructure, in-port facilities and port programme for The Tall Ships Races.

Jeroen Franken is a retired Captain of the Royal Netherlands Navy. He took on the job of Director Sail Den Helder 2023 in 2019 to organise The Tall Ships Races 2023 and Den Helder 2023 with his team of mainly volunteers. Den Helder was the start of The Tall Ships Races 2023 and attracted 37 tall ships for a crowd of 275.000 visitors. He is proud of this achievement that was executed more or less within the budget constraints of €2.2 M.

Emma Miller was Project Manager for The Tall Ships Races 2023 Host Port of Lerwick. She runs her own event management and consultancy company, Realta Events Management, and has an ongoing interest in maritime activities. She established Shetland Boat Week and Shetland Maritime Heritage Society, and is now working with Shetland’s own Tall Ship Swan to develop strategic and community partnerships for the ongoing benefit of the ship, and trainee development.

Knut Hansen is Project Manager for The Tall Ships Races Fredrikstad 2023. He began working on the project on 1st November 2021. Previously he was Sponsor Coordinator for The Tall Ships Races Fredrikstad in 2014 and Sponsor Manager in 2019. He has experience working on large events since 2000.

Sylvia Jacobsen’s career includes coordinating and executing a range of successful concepts, events, projects, and organisational development for entities such as Norway’s largest municipalities, NGOs and festivals and now leading The Tall Ships Races Arendal 2023.

Fun facts about Sylvia:

• Stood on stage in front of 14,000 people.
• Tamed a wild horse.
• Created a volunteer beer in collaboration with a local Danish partner.
• Love coffee.
• Authored two books on leadership and volunteer recruitment

Speakers: BEN CLARK, MURRAY HENSTOCK, DR VERNON HARTEN-ASH

The value of research cannot be understated. Whether we use it to examine and improve our programmes, provide convincing statistics and data to potential funders or share exciting findings with the community one thing is certain, the gathering and analysing of data can be an exciting opportunity to peer into the mechanisms of the sail training environment.

Yet gathering and analysing the data can take valuable time and often requires the help of trained analysts who can dig through the qualitative and quantitative information to find significant links and outcomes. In this interactive session we will explore the current state of research in the sail training community and share updates of the Sail Training International Research Library.

Together we will explore different strategies of gathering data and how making use of AI can help streamline the process allowing us to quickly and efficiently review large data sets in order to generate easy to use and digest information tailored to our purposes.

We will explore opportunities to collaborate on communal data gathering and examine what tools Sail Training International could develop to assist the sail training community in their ongoing efforts to find, gather and analyse appropriate data to help drive continual improvement and increased engagement with, and support of, the sail training industry.

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About the Speakers

Ben Clark is a graduate of Portsmouth University, having studied English Literature and Language, and joined Sail Training International in May 2016, where he is now Marketing & Communications Manager. He has previously worked in the maritime industry with intelligence company Dryad Maritime and has also worked as a marketing consultant for a number of start up companies.

Murray Henstock’s journey into sail training commenced as a trainee in Australia in the year 2000. Since then, he has remained dedicated to the sail training and adventurous learning arena. Currently, as a full-time high school science and STEM teacher, Murray is working to bridge the gap between educators, students, and educational outcomes through outdoor education, experiential learning, and sail training.

Murray actively contributes to the international sail training community as an advisory trustee to Sail Training International. Leveraging his expertise in education, youth development, and research, he supports various initiatives, including the development of STI Safeguarding Guidelines and the oversight of the STI Research Working Group.

Murray’s involvement in research began in 2007 when he collected primary data for Vessel 17 in a seminal University of Edinburgh study. He continued this research with his own investigation into the impact of sail training on student engagement with education and learning. Currently, Murray collaborates with STI to curate a growing body of research that can benefit the sail training community.

His previous work encompasses various facets of sail training, including trainee learning, youth development programs, onboard facilitation techniques, and group dynamics for both youth development programs and corporate training initiatives. He is particularly focused on applying the Design Thinking process to sail training organisations in response to the post-COVID changes within the community.

Vernon Harton-Ash qualified as a doctor in Birmingham, UK and served for nine years as a medical officer in the Royal Navy. On leaving the RN he joined the NHS for a short time as an Accident and Emergency physician and GP before joining the pharmaceutical industry.

Commercial roles have included clinical research, medical education, and marketing. In 1995 he founded his own management consultancy to provide specialist services to international pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. He has worked for a number of large global companies including Roche, Pfizer, GSK and Bayer. He exited the company in 2021.

Additional roles have seen him working as a Non-Executive Director for a variety of organisations from small start-ups to larger, established genomic companies based in Cambridge. He frequently lectures at the university in Cambridge on business matters. In 2014 he was elected to the Chair of the Council of the Royal Yachting Association.

He served as Deputy Chair of the RYA until 2019. In his spare time Vernon is a keen yachtsman, working as an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor for Shearwater Sailing School, in the East of England. He is a volunteer member of the staff on SV Prolific, a 30m ketch, with Ocean Youth Trust, providing adventures under sail for young people. Since 2021 he has supported Sail Training International with preparations for Covid management during races and more lately the question of proving the impact of sail training on the life outcomes for young sailors.

Speakers: Magda Makowska, Paul Bishop MBE

All captains present at the conference are invited to participate in this workshop which will see a review of Sail Training International’s Racing & Sailing Rules.

These fundamental regulations have been at the core of all of Sail Training International events from the very beginning and have evolved over the years to ensure first and foremost the safety of racing between our diverse fleet. They also provide clear guidelines to captains on the rules applied in The Tall Ships Races and Regattas in order to provide a safe stage for competing and thriving.

This workshop follows the feedback we received at The Tall Ships Races 2023 from participating captains, and it will aim to review the existing rules with a view to enhance the racing experience for all those involved.

The workshop will be the first stage of the review process, where captains together with representatives from the Sail Training International Race Operations Committee representatives will have the opportunity of suggesting and discussing potential adjustments, which will then be formally considered for the 2024 Racing & Sailing Rules that will be published before The Tall Ships Races 2024.

This session is open to Captains only.

About the Speakers

Magda Makowska is Sail Training International’s Race Director. As Race Director for The Tall Ships Races, Magda is responsible for advising on technical aspects of sail training within Sail Training International and liaising with Host Ports on the infrastructure, in-port facilities and port programme for The Tall Ships Races.

Paul Bishop MBE has had a life-long career sail trainer and Tall Ships Race organiser. He started his career as a professional skipper in his early twenties and went on to take up a number of management and leadership roles within sail training organisations. He was responsible for all maritime technical aspects of The Tall Ships Races and Regatta as Head of Race Directorate for Sail Training International from 2006 until 2020.

He continues to remain deeply involved in the Tall Ships Races and Maritime Festival community with his company, Tall Ships Global Consultancy Limited. He was awarded an MBE in the 2023 King’s New Year Honours list for his work with young people through Sail Training.

Speakers: Vanessa Mori, Paul Bishop MBE, Ruis Santos, Roger Waggott, Moises Jorge-Naranjo, ALAN JAMES (Representing falmouth)

The Race Director and the representatives of the Host Ports of The Tall Ships Races Magellan-Elcano will share an overview of this unique event with delegates. As an event which was originally planned to take place in 2020, its postponement has presented a number of challenges to all involved. These included a smaller than expected fleet, budgetary limitations, and general uncertainty.

Despite all of the above, the ports worked hard to make the second event of the summer a huge success which was enjoyed by captains, crews and trainees alike and which captivated the attention of local visitors in all four host cities. This will be an insightful account of how despite the many challenges, a small fleet can be just as successful in delivering an exceptional Tall Ships Races event.

Facilitator Alan James will deliver Falmouth’s presentation on behalf of the Host Port.

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About the Speakers

Vanessa Mori has been the Commercial Director at Sail Training International since 2018 and is part of the permanent staff team based in the UK. Having experienced the transformative effect of being a sea first hand, as well as always having worked in an international environment including international book publishing, teaching and marine safety, she is a great believer in the power of sail training for people of all ages.

By working closely with our stakeholders, Vanessa is committed to ensuring that The Tall Ships Races and Regattas and the Annual Conferences remain relevant and sustainable for all those involved, whilst at the same time delivering on Sail Training International charitable aims: to encourage youth development and international friendship and understanding.

Paul Bishop MBE has had a life-long career sail trainer and Tall Ships Race organiser. He started his career as a professional skipper in his early twenties and went on to take up a number of management and leadership roles within sail training organisations. He was responsible for all maritime technical aspects of The Tall Ships Races and Regatta as Head of Race Directorate for Sail Training International from 2006 until 2020.

He continues to remain deeply involved in the Tall Ships Races and Maritime Festival community with his company, Tall Ships Global Consultancy Limited. He was awarded an MBE in the 2023 King’s New Year Honours list for his work with young people through Sail Training.

Rui Santos is executive director at Aporvela, Portugal’s National Sail Training Organisation since 2009. He holds a Msc in History and another in Information Science. His role at Aporvela ranges from organising sailing trips, to promoting sail training, recruiting trainees, developing new programmes and organising The Tall Ships Races.

He is currently in charge of the Magallanes_ICC and Exploraterra projects, both funded by INTERREG POCTEP. He was part of the team that delivered The Tall Ships Races Magellan-Elcano Lisboa 2023. In 2012 he received Sail Training International’s sail trainer of the year award.

Roger Waggott comes from a background of ocean racing and sailing including seven Atlantic crossings and one of the Pacific. Although born in the U.K. he has been living in El Puerto Santa Maria, Cadiz since 1990. Roger has much experience in event organisation. He has worked in the Spanish Public Administration for more than 15 years and has organised many World and European Sailing Championships. In 2003 he was one of the directors of the inaugural ISAF World Olympic Sailing Championships.

More recently he has been an integral part of the team in Cadiz that organised the 2006, 2012 and 2016 and 2023 Tall Ships Races in Cadiz. He was also project manager of the 2023 ILCA 4 European Championships.

He has also organised the Sail GP Inspire event in Cadiz and is a Commissioner for the World Speed Sailing Record Council.

Speakers: Vanessa Mori, Jack Dignan, Robbert van der Oord, Lena Weweler, Gemma Ptak

In a time where the sail training industry is experiencing both change and competition, it becomes increasingly paramount to adapt and broaden our horizon when seeking to recruit young people to take part in The Tall Ships Races and the wider sail training calendar.

This worship-style session serves as a platform for the discussion and exploration of initiatives aimed at expanding our reach to a larger demographic of young individuals.

Within this session, delegates will look into recent success stories and insights from Host Ports and organisations that have made significant progress in this area.

Collaboratively, we will identify the specific demographic of young people that we intend to engage. Through group discussions, we will then aim to formulate a series of initiatives to capture the interest of these select individuals. Furthermore, the session will shed light on funding opportunities, providing valuable information on how to translate these ideas into tangible projects and extend them beyond this conference.

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About the Speakers

Vanessa Mori has been the Commercial Director at Sail Training International since 2018 and is part of the permanent staff team based in the UK. Having experienced the transformative effect of being a sea first hand, as well as always having worked in an international environment including international book publishing, teaching and marine safety, she is a great believer in the power of sail training for people of all ages.

By working closely with our stakeholders, Vanessa is committed to ensuring that The Tall Ships Races and Regattas and the Annual Conferences remain relevant and sustainable for all those involved, whilst at the same time delivering on Sail Training International charitable aims: to encourage youth development and international friendship and understanding.

Jack Dignan has been the UK representative of the Sail Training International Youth Council since 2017, and also the secretary of the board between 2018 and 2020, since then he has been the chairperson of the Youth Council. His first sail training voyage was in 2014 with Ocean Youth Trust South, later going on to become a trustee for the organization until 2020.

Since then, he has sailed as a volunteer on a number of sail training vessels, and he fits in as much sailing as he can around studying for his PhD in London. Following his first tall ships race in 2016, he has been involved in promoting and getting more people sailing at numerous festivals and events since.

As of July 24th of July 2023, Robbert van den Oord has been the Director of the Windseeker Foundation.

Robbert, who has made his miles as the skipper of HNLMS Urania and as first mate on the Clipper Stad Amsterdam, was the first sail trainer to receive the Sail Training International’s Volunteer of the Year award. Since 1998 he has been the treasurer and Race Director of the Sail Training Association Netherlands (STAN). Beyond that he has been a board member of the Sail Amsterdam foundation for almost 12 years and lately he successfully guided Sail Den Helder 2023 as the Nautical Director.

In his Naval career, he has been responsible for the nautical education of Naval staff and for the recruitment of Naval staff, including several onboarding programmes for young people.

Lena Weweler is a passionate part time sail training volunteer within the Sail Training Assocation Germany with a watch leader position onboard Alexander von Humboldt II. Having started her sail training career in 2004, she sailed on numerous small to tall ships with her favourite voyages being an Atlantic crossing and sailing in Icelandic waters.

Her greatest interest lies in trainee development and motivation. In addition, Lena holds a position as Trustee in Sail Training International and is part of the three-member presidium of the Sail Training Association Germany. She works as Team Leader in Employer Branding and HR Marketing in an international construction company. Her next big project is to convince her three-year-old son of the benefits of sailing.

Speakers: Magda Makowska

All captains present at the conference are invited to participate in this workshop which will see a review of Sail Training International’s Racing & Sailing Rules.

These fundamental regulations have been at the core of all of Sail Training International events from the very beginning and have evolved over the years to ensure first and foremost the safety of racing between our diverse fleet. They also provide clear guidelines to captains on the rules applied in The Tall Ships Races and Regattas in order to provide a safe stage for competing and thriving.

This workshop follows the feedback we received at The Tall Ships Races 2023 from participating captains, and it will aim to review the existing rules with a view to enhance the racing experience for all those involved.

The workshop will be the first stage of the review process, where captains together with representatives from the Sail Training International Race Operations Committee representatives will have the opportunity of suggesting and discussing potential adjustments, which will then be formally considered for the 2024 Racing & Sailing Rules that will be published before The Tall Ships Races 2024.

This session is open to Captains only.

About the Speakers

Magda Makowska is Sail Training International’s Race Director. As Race Director for The Tall Ships Races, Magda is responsible for advising on technical aspects of sail training within Sail Training International and liaising with Host Ports on the infrastructure, in-port facilities and port programme for The Tall Ships Races.

Speakers: Gemma Ptak, Sue Smeding

The Tall Ships Races is a catalyst for engagement, it provides and international platform to tell the story of a place that starts before the ships arrive and continues for a lifetime. Ensuring community engagement, education and legacy is part of your thinking from the very beginning and will explore creative opportunities to “tell your story” and ensure you can bring your communities on the journey of The Tall Ships Races.

This will ensure that there is a lasting legacy capItalising on education, volunteering, heritage and events to maintain momentum until the next time you may host The Tall Ships Races.

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About the Speakers

Sue Smeding was born in the UK but for the last 17 years have lived in the Netherlands. Although originally a marketeer, since moving country she has worked in various fields and now works in project management for various organisations. In 2014 she was involved in The Tall Ships Races Harlingen as part of the crew programming team and expanded her remit in 2018 to include Public Programming. Lessons from 2014 showed the need for more inclusion in the event from the local community and schools and Sail InSight was developed for this purpose. In 2022 Sue was responsible for Sail InSight as well as Sail Training International’s event liaison.

Pre-booked session for ship operators and contracted and endorsed host ports to meet and plan further discussion.

Full details will be issued to those delegates who have pre-registered.

Speakers: Victor Vernede, Louise Olsen, Madis Rallman

Anyone who has sailed knows that sailing for the very first time can be scary. Imagine how much scarier it can be if your first-time experience of sail training is on an actual offshore race, in rough weather, with people you don’t know and when every single member of the crew is afflicted with sea sickness. It can be challenging to keep the crew motivated and focused on the end goal when they have their head stuck in a bucket, and when maybe you are not feeling great either.

During this session two Captains of C and D Class vessels – Victor Vernede and Madis Rallmann, together with the Danish Youth Council Representative, Louise Olsen, will share their own experiences as sail trainers used to helping first time sailors through the inevitable seasickness that most people going to sea for the first-time experience. As professional sail trainers, they know that looking after their crew, especially young trainees who are stepping on a sailing vessel for the very first time, are probably very nervous and may not know their fellow crew members very well yet is a vital part of their role.

Delegates will be able to hear of the various strategies used to encourage first time sailors to overcome the challenges of seasickness and embrace the greater experience of being on board.

This session will give insight into different strategies and approaches and also offer the opportunity for asking questions and discussing any points raised.

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About the Speakers

Lieutenant Commander Victor Vernède can best be described as a water sports enthusiast and naval officer. He currently combines these two roles as Commander of HNLMS Urania. He started his naval career when he joined the Royal Naval College (KIM) in 2006 as a midshipman in the Maritime Service. He completed his training at the KIM by earning a Bachelor of Military Science degree.

Immediately after his studies, he was posted to HNLMS Urania as a junior officer. During this period at sea, the ship took part in, among other things, the Race of the Classics and the Tall Ships Races. From 2012 until 2018, Lt Cdr Vernède sailed on frigates, tankers and LPDs. During these postings at sea, he held positions on the bridge, in the command centre and in the radio room.

In this period, he was also individually deployed on board the French ship FS Siroco. While posted to this ship, he participated in the European Union-led anti-piracy mission Atalanta.

In April 2022, he returned to HNLMS Urania as the commander of this sailing training ship. His main objective is to further strengthen the ties with the international maritime world during sailing competitions and international events, such as the Tall Ships Race and the Race of the Classics.

Louise Olsen is an able seaman currently working on Georg Stage as a quartermaster. She has sailed her entire life and has worked and sailed on multiple ships, and therefore seen a lot of people going sailing and being seasick for the first time.

Speakers: Emma Miller, Vidar Paderstad, Gemma Ptak, Sylvia Jacobsen

Following the insightful and open session held at the Las Palmas conference in November 2022, Sail Training International made significant changes to the host port contract to allow ports and ships more freedom to reach viable commercial solutions to make The Tall Ships Races financially viable. In this session, we will explore what these changes mean in real terms.

We will hear feedback from both ports and vessel operators, consider what is working, any changes stakeholders were able to make to The Tall Ships Races 2023, what vessel operators and Ports are able to offer and consider any challenges they each face. Ensuring that the ships are able to participate in The Tall Ships Races is at the heart of all stakeholders’ interest and this will be an invaluable session for all, which will hopefully facilitate communication and inform the next steps for the different stakeholders.

The session will be run as a workshop which will encourage participation by all and focus on enabling stakeholders to share their thoughts and experiences.

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About the Speakers

Emma Miller was Project Manager for The Tall Ships Races 2023 Host Port of Lerwick. She runs her own event management and consultancy company, Realta Events Management, and has an ongoing interest in maritime activities. She established Shetland Boat Week and Shetland Maritime Heritage Society, and is now working with Shetland’s own Tall Ship Swan to develop strategic and community partnerships for the ongoing benefit of the ship, and trainee development.

Sylvia Jacobsen’s career includes coordinating and executing a range of successful concepts, events, projects, and organisational development for entities such as Norway’s largest municipalities, NGOs and festivals and now leading The Tall Ships Races Arendal 2023.

Fun facts about Sylvia:

• Stood on stage in front of 14,000 people.
• Tamed a wild horse.
• Created a volunteer beer in collaboration with a local Danish partner.
• Love coffee.
• Authored two books on leadership and volunteer recruitment

Speakers: Jack Dignan, Aoibhinn Lynch

In this session, the Sail Training International Youth Council (STIYC) would like to invite all delegates to join in reviewing the progress and positive work they have been doing over the past few years, and developing their projects and future initiatives for 2024 and beyond.

After short presentations from each of the STIYC working groups and a look back on the work we have been doing in 2023, delegates will be encouraged to join in actively developing ideas in project groups and how we can work together over the following year to make them a reality.

We would love to see you join us for what has been a really positive and motivating session in previous years.

About the Speakers

Jack Dignan has been the UK representative of the Sail Training International Youth Council since 2017, and also the secretary of the board between 2018 and 2020, since then he has been the chairperson of the Youth Council. His first sail training voyage was in 2014 with Ocean Youth Trust South, later going on to become a trustee for the organization until 2020.

Since then, he has sailed as a volunteer on a number of sail training vessels, and he fits in as much sailing as he can around studying for his PhD in London. Following his first tall ships race in 2016, he has been involved in promoting and getting more people sailing at numerous festivals and events since.

Aoibhinn Lynch is currently the Vice-Chairperson and Irish Representative for the Sail Training International Youth Council. Growing up in a seaside town, Aoibhinn had always been interested in water sports. However, it wasn’t until her first Tall Ships voyage in 2016 that she found her passion. Tall Ships sailing has given Aoibhinn the opportunity to build confidence, develop self awareness and improve critical thinking, but most importantly, it has given her friends that will last a lifetime.

This session will enable members of the Ships Council and other interested delegates to meet and discuss future strategies and projects.

Please note that non-member vessel operators are warmly invited to attend the forum.

Speakers: Murray Henstock, Lena Wewler

Join us for a dynamic and informative session that will explore the many and varied facilitation techniques employed across the sail training and youth development programmes at sea. This session is designed for watch leaders, trainee mentors, instructors, and enthusiasts eager to explore and share facilitation techniques that could serve to elevate trainee and programme outcomes.

During this hands-on interactive workshop, we will uncover innovative ways to inspire personal growth, foster teamwork, and develop leadership skills among trainees as well as identify techniques tailored to specific outcomes not already mentioned. Drawing on new techniques and our shared experiences we will dissect a range of new and existing facilitation methods that can strengthen the impact of youth development programmes and help trainees get the most out of their experience.

Our examination will include, (but not be limited to):

• How debriefing experiential learning can take hands-on, immersive experiences and form a lasting impression on trainees to reinforce their understanding of seamanship and self-development, mentorship and coaching, to build a sense of belonging, build confidence, and unlock the potential of each participant.
• How to take existing team-building challenges, offshore expeditions, and navigation simulations and build in debriefs and reflections to help solidify essential life skills, engage trainees in discussions about the impact of sailing on the environment to foster an appreciation for the significance of the sea, and make use of robust tools to provide constructive feedback to measure progress and enhance trainee development.

Our goal is to build upon the knowledge and skills that create transformative sail training experiences that leave a lasting impression. Whether you are involved in existing sail training programmes or looking to start a new youth initiative, this seminar promises to provide valuable insights and inspiration.

Join us for a lively and interactive session designed to support you in making difference in the lives of our future sailors and leaders.

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About the Speakers

Murray Henstock’s journey into sail training commenced as a trainee in Australia in the year 2000. Since then, he has remained dedicated to the sail training and adventurous learning arena. Currently, as a full-time high school science and STEM teacher, Murray is working to bridge the gap between educators, students, and educational outcomes through outdoor education, experiential learning, and sail training.

Murray actively contributes to the international sail training community as an advisory trustee to Sail Training International. Leveraging his expertise in education, youth development, and research, he supports various initiatives, including the development of STI Safeguarding Guidelines and the oversight of the STI Research Working Group.

Murray’s involvement in research began in 2007 when he collected primary data for Vessel 17 in a seminal University of Edinburgh study. He continued this research with his own investigation into the impact of sail training on student engagement with education and learning. Currently, Murray collaborates with STI to curate a growing body of research that can benefit the sail training community.

His previous work encompasses various facets of sail training, including trainee learning, youth development programs, onboard facilitation techniques, and group dynamics for both youth development programs and corporate training initiatives. He is particularly focused on applying the Design Thinking process to sail training organisations in response to the post-COVID changes within the community.

Lena Weweler is a passionate part time sail training volunteer within the Sail Training Assocation Germany with a watch leader position onboard Alexander von Humboldt II. Having started her sail training career in 2004, she sailed on numerous small to tall ships with her favourite voyages being an Atlantic crossing and sailing in Icelandic waters.

Her greatest interest lies in trainee development and motivation. In addition, Lena holds a position as Trustee in Sail Training International and is part of the three-member presidium of the Sail Training Association Germany. She works as Team Leader in Employer Branding and HR Marketing in an international construction company. Her next big project is to convince her three-year-old son of the benefits of sailing.

Speakers: Paul van Omen, Jonas Willems, Ashild Van Nuys, Jack Dignan, Vanessa Mori, Phoebe Whittam

It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the events we organise are grounded in sustainability. Sustainability transcends environmental concerns; it encompasses social and economic dimensions as well.

In this session, we will look into a range of perspectives that demonstrate the importance that sustainability and should underpin the organisation of our races, cruises and events. We will then move into group discussions, aimed at exploring ways to integrate these multifaceted aspects of sustainability into our Tall Ships events.

Our focus will not solely revolve around the sustainability of our events but also on making them equitable and sustainable for all stakeholders. This includes individual trainees, vessels, National Sail Training Organisations, and the host ports themselves.

Join us in this discussion as we aim to expand our collective commitment to sustainability, developing events that are not just environmentally responsible but also socially and economically sustainable.

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About the Speakers

Ashild van Nuys was Culture Programme Manager for The Tall Ships Races Fredrikstad 2023. She was responsible for programming the cultural events and crew activities for The Tall Ships Races Fredrikstad in 2023, and had the same role in 2019 and 2014.

Ashlid works for the City of Fredrikstad as a cultural advisor and developer.

Jack Dignan has been the UK representative of the Sail Training International Youth Council since 2017, and also the secretary of the board between 2018 and 2020, since then he has been the chairperson of the Youth Council. His first sail training voyage was in 2014 with Ocean Youth Trust South, later going on to become a trustee for the organization until 2020.

Since then, he has sailed as a volunteer on a number of sail training vessels, and he fits in as much sailing as he can around studying for his PhD in London. Following his first tall ships race in 2016, he has been involved in promoting and getting more people sailing at numerous festivals and events since.

Vanessa Mori has been the Commercial Director at Sail Training International since 2018 and is part of the permanent staff team based in the UK. Having experienced the transformative effect of being a sea first hand, as well as always having worked in an international environment including international book publishing, teaching and marine safety, she is a great believer in the power of sail training for people of all ages.

By working closely with our stakeholders, Vanessa is committed to ensuring that The Tall Ships Races and Regattas and the Annual Conferences remain relevant and sustainable for all those involved, whilst at the same time delivering on Sail Training International charitable aims: to encourage youth development and international friendship and understanding.