International Sail Training and Tall Ships Conference 2023: Annual Awards
The International Sail Training and Tall Ships Conference 2023 saw delegates across the world of Sail Training and Tall Ships gather together in Dunkirk, France. Alongside a programme of informative sessions, the two day conference once again recognised significant achievements across the world of Sail Training with the Annual Awards…
And the winners were…
Sail Trainer of the Year: Robert Postuma
Awarded to a professional sail trainer over 25 to encourage high-performing individuals who deliver sail training to young people.
Robert started his sail training career in 2005 and is a much respected and loved member of the Sail Training Community and participant in The Tall Ships Races. His passion for sail training inspired him and a long-standing high school friend of his, Arjen Toller, to purchase their very own vessel and joined the sail training community.
As regular participants in The Tall Ships Races and Regattas over the years these two friends whole-heartedly supported the work that Sail Training International promotes to encourage youth development and have constantly upped their game in Sail Training each year to offer many young people their experience of a lifetime.
Sadly, earlier this year, the sail training family tragically lost Arjen, but not before he had started a nomination for Robert, which was then completed and submitted on his behalf by his wife.
Young Sail Trainer of the Year: Callum McGill
Awarded to a professional young sail trainer to encourage high-performing individuals who deliver sail training to young people.
Callum started his sail training journey in 2018 as a trainee, he then went on to volunteer as Leading Hand – during which time he made an impression on both trainees and crew for his remarkable work ethic, cheerful personality, and innate ability to connect with young individuals and inspire them to pursue their dreams. As a young role model, this person exemplifies stepping out of one’s comfort zone as an exciting adventure rather than a daunting prospect.
His dedication to the spirit of youth development, instilling resilience and responsibility whilst fostering a deep appreciation of the ocean is remarkable.
Sail Training Volunteer of the Year: Ander Astudillo Lopez
Awarded to a sail training volunteer to encourage high-performing individuals who deliver sail training to young people.
Ander is probably the Liaison Officer with most experience of volunteering for The Tall Ships Races across Europe this century. He has been a Liaison Officer for 10 editions of The Tall Ships Races so far in A Coruna, Harlingen and Den Helder and also volunteered as an LO for Sail Amsterdam in 2015.
He is described as a problem solver, an organiser, and his wonderful sense of humour makes him the Liaison Officer any ship would wish for to help them resolve any issue they may encounter. He is an excellent team player and always generous with his time and skills, which are a huge asset to the running and delivery of any event he is involved with.
Young Sail Training Volunteer of the Year: Gordon Royal
Awarded to a sail training volunteer under 25 to encourage high-performing individuals who deliver sail training to young people.
Gordon started as a volunteer for the Excelsior Trust at the age of 17. Having grown up dinghy sailing and developing a passion for life at sea. He decided to leave school to attend UKSA on the Isle of Wight to gain qualifications to work for the super-yacht industry and later became deckhand for a local wind farm. During this time he continued to volunteer during his holiday and was happy to support them wherever he was needed.
Though in full time employment, Gordon still chooses to spend his rotation leave volunteering on board with The Excelsior Trust, where he has been one of their most regular volunteer deckhands on their sail training trips, and has displayed particular skill working with young people who have additional support needs.
Greatest Loyalty Award: HNLMS Urania
Awarded to the vessel that in the opinion of the Race Management Team, Volunteers Directors and Trustees, has shown great loyalty towards The Tall Ships Races over many years.
Urania has participated in almost every editions of The Tall Ships Races since she was built in 2004, missing only one event. She is always a welcome and welcoming participant in our Events, and this beautifully designed and elegant Class D vessel never fails to make a big impression within the Tall Ships Fleet and host ports we visit.
As well as regularly participating in the Tall Ships Races and Regattas, we are particularly grateful to this vessel, her captain, and her crew for all the support they regularly and generously offer to the rest of the tall ships fleet and, when needed, to the Sail Training International Race Team as well.
Best Newcomer Award: Milpat (France)
Awarded to the vessel that in the opinion of the Race Management Team, Volunteers, Directors and Trustees has made the greatest contribution to The Tall Ships Races in their first year of participation.
Milpat was the only French vessel who took part in The Tall Ships Races this year and it was an absolute pleasure to observe the excellent sail training happening on board and the happy faces of the young trainees who were lucky enough to be part of the voyage.
The vessel is operated by the Fecamp Vieux Greements Association (AFDAM) and in their quest to make sail training accessible to all young people – regardless of their financial circumstances – they fully covered the cost of their trainees’ voyages, only asking for a contribution of 2Euros to join their organisation.
We were delighted to welcome this vessel as part of our fleet this year and we very much look forward to welcoming her again in the future.
HOST PORT TROPHY: Fredrikstad (Norway)
Awarded to the Host Port which has recruited the largest number of trainees and made the greatest contribution to sail training this year.
This year the Host Port award went to the Norwegian port of Fredrikstad, who invested an impressive 200,000 Euros to ensure that as many young local people were able to experience a sail training voyage. Fredrikstad continues to improve the quality of their event every time they host it and this year they once again went the extra mile in their planning and delivery of the event.
A huge well done to all the team in Fredrikstad and we look forward to returning back to the beautiful city with the Tall Ships fleet again soon.
Sail Training Organisation of the Year (Large Vessel): Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Norway)
Awarded to a sail training organisation, operating larger vessels, that demonstrates excellence in “innovation” and “best practice” in sail training for young people.
This year the vessel operator of the year award goes to one of the world’s largest sail training ships who regularly participates in our Events and is invariably one of the stars of the show when we are lucky enough to have her in The Tall Ships Races fleet.
In August 2021, Statsraad Lehmkuhl set sail from her home port in Norway to begin a 20-month long circumnavigation of the globe with the aim of sharing knowledge and raise awareness of the importance of the ocean for our common, sustainable future.
She made a spectacular return to her home port in Norway in April and since then, as a result of the hugely positive outcomes of her One Ocean Expedition, she has been awarded significant funds by the Norwegian state to further improve her scientific capabilities in order to continue the amazing work that will see her continuing to develop her potential for sail training and scientific research.
Sail Training Organisation of the Year (Small Vessel): Sail Training Shetland
Awarded to a sail training organisation, operating smaller vessels, that demonstrates excellence in “innovation” and “best practice” in sail training for young people.
Sail Training Shetland has been a registered charity since 2009 and since then has made it possible for hundreds of young sail trainees to experience a sail training voyage. Run entirely by a committee of volunteer trustees, this organisation operates annual schemes to recruit, fund, and place sail trainees, often on ships taking part in The Tall Ships Races.
Each year, these volunteers give freely of their time to not only recruit, but also provide logistical support for each trainee’s experience. They provide comprehensive briefings, a full travel itinerary from home to ship, ship bookings, travel arrangements, promotional kit and maintain regular communication channels with trainees and their parents and guardians.
From a relatively small community, Sail Training Shetland did an amazing job this year in raising the necessary funds and making it possible for 100 local young people to participate in The Tall Ships Races.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Sari Haavisto
Sari Haavisto’s involvement with The Tall Ships Races started 30 years ago. Since then, she has been a central person at the heart of the organisation of The Tall Ships Races in her home city of Turku since their very first time hosting the fleet in 1996 and is now at the heart of the preparations for receiving the fleet for the 6th time next summer.
Since the very beginning, this person has become one of those people in the sail training community, who is not only impressively efficient, but also passionate about The Tall Ships Races and Sail Training International’s values of youth development and international friendship and understanding.
With a crystal-clear knowledge of her city’s organisation, an exceptional ability to get things done, to reach the right people and navigate all the administrative processes, she has always worked to the highest of standards in their role of project manager of The Tall Ships Races.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Helle Jespersen
Helle started her sailing career in 1982. Whilst she has worked on many different sailing vessels, to most people she are synonymous with one particular, Georg Stage (Denmark), where over the years she has fulfilled almost all positions from trainee, quartermaster, mate, chief mate and on one trip that of captain.
A key member of the Danish national sail training organisation and a huge supporter of Sail Training International and The Tall Ships Races, over the years she has played a big part in ensuring that Georg Stage took part in the Tall Ships Races, and she has been a great advocate for crew exchanges amongst the participating fleet and all the benefits such an experience brings.
Sultan Qaboos Trophy Award: Dar Mlodziezy
The Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) are old friends of Sail Training International, and for many years now Shabab Oman and Shabab Oman II has been a popular participant in the Tall Ships Races. The Sultan Qaboos Sailing Trophy is presented to an individual, vessel operator or sail training organisation for outstanding services to young people in sail training.
A regular participant in The Tall Ships Races and Regattas since she was first built in 1982, the majestic Class A vessel, Dar Mlodziezy, this summer took part in both of our Race Series: The Tall Ships Races 2023 and The Tall Ships Races Magellan-Elcano. She played a significant part in the success of all the in-port Events, starting from Den Helder at the end of June and finishing in Cadiz in the middle of September.
During this summers’ events, in addition to her permanent crew of 32, she welcomed 230 different young cadets on board. These young people were able to benefit from the excellent sail training programme she runs, learn about life at sea, meet other young people from all over the world sailing on the other ships in the fleet; they made wonderful and colourful contributions to all the in-port Events and picked up several race prizes along the way.
This ship and her crew this year once again provided invaluable support to Sail Training International by hosting our communication officers for all the race legs and assisted the Race Committee in all manner of ways, ensuring that everyone taking part in The Tall Ships Races was safe and well informed.
Janka Bielak Award: Robin Snouck Hurgronje
Awarded to the person who has made an outstanding contribution to international understanding and friendship through sail training.
Robin joined The Royal Netherlands Navy in 1967. During this 36 year career his commanded two submarines, a frigate and a fast combatant supply ship. As a cadet he experienced his first Tall Ships Race in 1968, and since then he has participated in many races as a captain/skipper of all kinds of sail training vessels. Throughout his participation, he played a leading roll in crew exchange initiatives between various ships in the Tall Ships fleet.
When he retired from active duties on board ships, he committed himself to the sail training world. He was chairman of the Sail Training Association Netherlands (STAN) for eleven years and also a member of the STAN board. In 2002 he joined the Sail Training International (STI) Race Operations Committee (ROC) as a Class A representative. In 2004 he became Chairman of the Race Operations Committee, one of the most crucial roles in organising The Tall Ships Races, and was also Deputy Chairman Director of Sail Training International/Tall Ships Races Europe.
Throughout his life, Robin has been an important driving force behind the development of sail training and The Tall Ships Races, championing the cause of youth development and international friendship and understanding.
Special Recognition Award: Ross MacDonald
Ross was the first chief executive of Sail Training International from 2006 until 2008. Following this he continued to support the work of the charity as a trustee, Vice Chair of Sail Training International and later Chair of our events company Tall Ships Race International Ltd.
Throughout this time, he selflessly dedicated his skills, time and experience gained working across major international organisations to steer Sail Training International through challenging times, including the pandemic. At every opportunity over the course of his 15-year relationship with the charity, he found many thoughtful and positive ways to improve the management and delivery of all our activities.
