Annual awards celebrate sail training stars
At the Quebec International Sail
Training and Tall Ships Conference 2016 the annual awards for significant sail
training achievement were presented to a diverse, international group of
people, vessels and ports – who have all made the sail training world a better
place.
Nancy Richardson (USA), Janka Bielak
Medal
Awarded to an individual who has made an
outstanding contribution to international peace and understanding through sail
training.
Nancy was first
motivated to sail on Tall Ships when heard Irving Johnson speak at the age of
12 and later went on to sail with Exy and Irving Johnson on the Sea Cloud.
In 1978 she was
the second woman to join the Board of Tall Ships America/ASTA and she served
for many years as chair of the Tall Ships America/ASTA Sail Training and
Education Committee. She was instrumental in establishing the International
Safety Under Sail Forum as well as the Education Under Sail Forum.
Along with
Captain Jim Gladson, she was a core influence in Los Angeles Maritime
Institute’ vision to build the Exy
Johnson and Irving Johnson.
Paul Bishop,
Head of Race Directorate, Sail Training International said, äóìShe is much loved
as a pioneer of sail training in the United States and around the world having
sailed the seven seas on 96 different Tall Ships. Only four more to go to reach
100 – any offers?äó
Best Newcomer: Young Endeavour (Australia)
Awarded to the vessel that in the
opinion of the STI Race Management Team, volunteers, Directors and Trustees,
made the best contribution to The Tall Ships Races in 2015.
Built in the UK
in 1987, Young Endeavour has been
proven to run one of the best youth development programmes in the world as
defined by the University of Edinburgh International Research project.
She
sailed half way around the globe to join The Tall Ships Races in Kristiansand
to complete race two to Aalborg. Her captain and crew made an immediate and
positive impact to the event, promoting the ideals of sail training and
international friendship.
They had been
sent on a world voyage as ambassadors of their country which they achieved in
an exemplary way during the Tall Ships Races last year. They quickly built up a
reputation for competitive racing at sea, colourful participation in the crew
parade ashore and ensuring they had a good presence at every party (strictly
for the sake of international understanding of course).
Greatest
Loyalty: Rupel (Belgium)
Awarded
to the vessel that in the opinion
