Calling Shetland Trainees

Building on the success of The Tall Ships Races 2011 event hosted in Shetland, Sail Training Shetland is offering 16 sail training placements which will be available during the summer of 2012. 

Sail Training Shetland has launched the application process for young people between the ages of 15-25 to apply to take part in one of three unique adventures. 

Placements offered will be onboard Shetland’ own sail training vessel Swan in ‘Nordic Sail’ between Denmark, Sweden and Norway from Sunday 24 June to Monday 9 July 2012.  Other placements are on a Class A Tall Ship on a leg of The Tall Ships Races 2012, presented by Szczecin and organised by Sail Training International, in the Bay of Biscay.  The first leg is 14 days from 7 July and the second 12 days from 21 July. 

Erin Simpson, a trainee who took part onboard Swan in last year’ Tall Ships Races said, äóìWithout hesitation, I would encourage anyone thinking about taking part to go for it!  I know that I would have regretted not applying.  I have heard so many people say äóìI wish I applied.äó  It only takes a few minutes to download a form and an evening to complete, compared to how much you could gain from the experience.äó

Interested individuals should return their completed application forms by 5pm Friday 30 March 2012.  The selection process may involve a short sailing event onboard Swan during the weekend of 5 and 6 May. 

Sail Training Shetland will meet the majority of costs for the lucky participants, including race entry fees and return travel fares from Shetland to the points of embarkation and disembarkation.  Once selected, each trainee will need to make a contribution towards their costs, as well as any funds that they will need for personal expenses.

Peter Campbell, Chairman of Sail Training Shetland commented – “Once again Sail Training Shetland is delighted to be able to offer young people the chance to participate in sail training activities which have proved extremely popular in recent years.  Successful applicants will have the opportunity to meet with young people from across Europe in two major sail training events of 2012, Nordic Sail and the Tall Ships Races 2012.  I would encourage any young person considering applying to submit their application form as soon as possible.  Our feedback from previous trainees has been extremely positive and all have expressed an interest in taking part again.”

Sail Training Shetland would like to thank all its grant funders, sponsors and supporters to date and would encourage anyone with an interest in sail training to get in touch regarding future sponsorship opportunities.     

For further information, guidance notes and application forms for these sail training opportunities, please visit www.sailtrainingshetland.com