International crews celebrate the start of The Tall Ship Races 2013

Young people sailing in The Tall Ships Races 2013 celebrated the start of this year’s exciting event with a spectacular Crew Parade, which sang and danced its way through the streets of Aarhus, Denmark.

The Mayor of Aarhus welcomed the international crews to the city, together with the Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson, and Event Chairman Christer Samuelsson.

The following eagerly awaited prizes were then awarded:

Most spectacular arrival into Aarhus – Gotheborg (Sweden)

Best presented ship alongside in Aarhus – Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Norway)

Vessel furthest from her home port – Cuauhtemoc (Mexico)

Oldest vessel in the fleet – Caroline af Sandnes (Norway)

Best crew parade Class D – Rona II (UK)

Best crew parade Class C – Esprit (Germany)

Best crew parade Class B – Johann Smidt (Germany)

Best crew parade Class A – Roald Amundsen (Germany)

Winner of the street basketball – Iskra Orp (Poland)

Winner of the Sailors Match – Shabab Oman (Oman)

Winner of the Bicycle Polo Match – Shabab Oman (Oman)

Best use of social media – St Iv (Estonia)

St Iv produced an inspiring five minute video promoting The Tall Ships Races 2013. Sail Training International has used this video in a lot of its promotional material and it’s an excellent example of vessel marketing.

Rethink with Aarhus Prize – Tenacious Jubilee Sailing Trust (UK)

The ‘Rethink with Aarhus Prize’ is awarded to an organisation that leads the sailing world in the ethos of inclusion and accessibility. This organisation was set up to allow disabled and able-bodied trainees to sail together on an equal basis. This organisation is promoting their very special ethos around the world encouraging more organisations to rethink their approach to inclusion and accessibility. “

Most innovative initiative – Gulden Leeuw (Netherlands)

Awarded to the sail training ship that has developed their own version of the S.T.A.N sail training programme since 2010. Their programme empowers young trainees to fully use their initiative to a point where they run every aspect of the ship by day five of the voyage.

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Editor’ notes:

What is sail training?

Sail Training is an adventure activity, which includes far more than sailing instruction. Participants are required to confront demanding challenges, both physical and emotional. It is an activity that inspires self-confidence and personal responsibility. It promotes an acceptance of others, whatever their social or cultural backgrounds, and develops a willingness to take controlled risks. Those who undertake Sail Training on Tall Ships generally find it a positive life-changing experience.

About Sail Training International (STI)

STI is the international voice of Sail Training, a registered charity (not-for-profit organisation), which has worldwide membership and activities. Its purpose is the development and education of young people through the Sail Training experience, regardless of nationality, culture, religion, gender or social background. It organises the annual Tall Ship Races and other international Tall Ship sailing events.  STI members are 29 national Sail Training organisations around the world and STI’ head office is in Gosport, Hampshire, UK.

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