The various groups and entities that manage the affairs and activities of Sail Training International are described below.
THE CHARITY
Members
Our Members are the National Sail Training Organisations of:
Australia & New Zealand
Finland
Italy
Portugal
Belgium
France
Japan
South Africa
Bermuda
Germany
Latvia
Spain
Canada
Greece
Lithuania
Sweden
Croatia
Hungary
Netherlands
United Kingdom
Denmark
India
Norway
United States of America
Estonia
Ireland
Poland
International Council
The International Council comprises the representatives of Member organisations and a number of others with particular expertise and experience. The purpose of the International Council is to review, contribute to and approve policies, plans and budgets for implementation by the Trustees of the Charity and Directors of Subsidiary Companies. It also acts as an advisory body to the Trustees and Directors of Subsidiary Companies and approves the membership of a Governance and Audit Committee.The Trustees are elected by the representatives of Member organisations and are responsible for managing the Charity’s affairs. They also appoint the boards of Directors of Subsidiary Companies and various Committees and Working Groups for specific projects.
Governance and Audit Committee
The Governance and Audit Committee represents Members’ interests by providing independent oversight of the financial and other systems and policies of the Charity and its Subsidiary Companies. The Committee has independent access to STI’s auditors, and to the staff and records of the Charity and its Subsidiary Companies. Its members are a qualified lawyer, a qualified accountant and a representative of Member organisations, none of whom may be Trustees of the Charity or Directors of a Subsidiary Company.
International Ships Council
The Sail Training International Ships Council was created to provide assistance and services specifically focused on the needs and interests of Class A sail training Tall Ship operators. Membership of the Forum already exceeds 60 operators, the overwhelming majority of the world’s Class A sail training fleet.
Subsidiary Companies
The board of Directors of the Subsidiary Company is responsible for managing the ‘trading’ activities of Sail Training International.
Tall Ships Races International Limited is responsible for staff and office infrastructure, the provision of financial and other services, and managing communications and marketing. It is also responsible for organising all our Tall Ships Races and Regattas and the STI annual conference and seminars.
The Race Operations Committee advises the board of directors on technical aspects of the races organised by Sail Training International, including course and port selection, racing and sailing rules and safety equipment requirements.
Organisational Structure DIAGRAM Key:
Dark blue – The charity and its constituent committees.
Pale blue – Subsidiary company wholly owned by the charity.
We are a not-for-profit international organisation which promotes sail training to young people. We enable and fund young people from different backgrounds – especially those with fewer opportunities – to have challenging experiences and opportunities to develop life skills through living, working and interacting together.
We work with ports and ships to provide experiences and contribute to host communities through our events (the best known are Tall Ships Races). We offer an inspirational international cultural experience that is a powerful symbol of a better society.
Together with our partners we plan and deliver the best Tall Ships Races and Regattas around the world. Our Tall Ship events provide life-enhancing experiences for young people and promote international friendship and understanding.
As the commercial arm of Sail Training International we seek to generate a financial surplus to fund the Charity’s broader activities in support of the global sail training community.
Sail Training International is owned by its members who represent sail training in countries around the world. These are the National Sail Training Organisations (NSTOs) and they have a say in what Sail Training International does. Each NSTO is different – some have lots of resources, while dedicated volunteers run others on a shoestring budget. What they all have in common is that they:
Support local sail training and sail training events.
Promote sail training for young people of all abilities and experience levels.
Australia and new zealand
Tall Ships Australia and New Zealand
TANZ was founded in 1996. It represents the interests of 16 sail training organisations and Tall Ship operators in Australia and New Zealand. Its purpose is to promote the development of sail training, with an emphasis on adventure training for young people at sea under sail in Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. TANZ also plays a key role in the development (for sail training vessel operators) of safety-related codes of conduct and on-board management systems, trainee and professional crew training programmes, and other related programmes.
STA Belgium was founded in 1994. It’s a registered charity with national membership. It restored, owns and operates the T/S Williwaw, and it promotes sail training for young people on many other Belgian vessels.
STA Bermuda works to provide opportunities for young people from Bermuda to become trainees on sail training vessels participating in races and festivals in Europe and North America. We believe that sail training is beneficial for the well-rounded development of the youth of Bermuda. STA Bermuda also helps adults take advantage of the same opportunities. Our motto is: Changing Lives Through Ocean Adventure.
The Canadian STA was founded in 1984. Its membership now includes the owner/operators of 18 vessels, ranging in size from a six-metre open sloop to an 80-metre barquentine. It provides sail training programmes as diverse in scope as the vessels themselves. One of the organisation’s key priorities is to ensure a regulatory environment that is consistent with the goals and activities of sail training operators and their programmes.
DSTA was founded in 1996. It represents the interests of 30 members in Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It also represents 10 sail training vessels (ranging in size from an 18-metre ketch to three Class A full-rigged ships) and five ports. The organisation operates a grant scheme to assist trainees taking part in the Tall Ships Races.
STA Estonia was founded as a non-profit organisation by six sail training enthusiasts in 2011. It has grown every year since. Since then, it’s taken more than 350 trainees to sea and has regularly participated in the Tall Ships Races and other sail training events. The organisation’s aim is to promote and provide sail training for young people in Estonia, cooperate with sail training vessels, and organise maritime events.
STA Finland was founded in 1973. Since then, its sail training vessels have taken more than 16,800 young people to sea. These young trainees have also formed their own organisation (The Sail Trainees of Finland Association), which provides opportunities for continuing contact between the trainees, and also helps to promote sail training in Finland.
Sail Training Association France – Amis des Grands Voiliers
STA France was founded in 1990. It represents the interests of around 40 vessels and approximately 400 members (individuals, associations, charities, and vessel operators) in promoting sail training for young people through exhibitions at various maritime festivals and other events. It publishes a quarterly magazine called “Grands Voiliers Infos,” along with a monthly magazine, which help potential young trainees find opportunities to embark on sail training vessels around the world.
STAG was founded in 1984 as a not-for-profit organisation. Its main purpose is the education, development and support of young people of all nationalities through sail training. Its members include 50 sail training vessels and more than 5,000 individual members. The organisation operates a bursary programme for sail training vessels and individual trainees.
STA Hellas was founded in 2008 and became the 25th National Member of Sail Training International. It’s a non-profit organisation that aims to develop, support and promote sail training for young people in Greece.
Sail and Life Training Association Hungary (S.A.L.T.)
S.A.L.T. was founded in 2011 as a not-for-profit organisation to promote sail training in Hungary. Although the country is land-locked, S.A.L.T.’s goals are to promote the development of sail training for young people in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas. It encourages and supports Hungarian young people to participate in educational sail training programmes and to take part in the annual Tall Ships Races and Regattas, through national and international bursaries and trainee exchange programmes. It focuses on helping and supporting young people who are recovering from serious illnesses, such as cancer. Although S.A.L.T. doesn’t have its own sail training ship, it encourages small ship owners and operators to participate in sail training activities and events.
ISPA Japan was established as a non-profit organisation in 2001 as a sister organisation of ISPA based in Canada. The organisation consists of 800 graduates, 80 individual members and 7 corporate members. The mission is to provide Sail Training programs to different marine institution and promote sailing in general. Since 2015, the program has extended to young sailors focusing on youth development through Sail Training in the inter-cultural settings using both keel boats and tall ships.
STIYD is the recognised Sail Training International representative body in Ireland. Its vision is to provide Tall Ships sail training to the people of Ireland, and its aims include promoting and supporting the development of young people through the sail training experience.
STA Italy was founded in 1996 by a partnership between the Italian Navy and the Yacht Club Italiano. Its charter is to develop and promote sea training for young people, as a means to further their personal development and education. Through the cooperation of the Navy and many owner/operators of other vessels, STA Italy offers a variety of sail training opportunities to young people, including berths at no charge or ones that are highly subsidised. The organisation also operates an international trainee exchange programme, which is currently expanding.
STA Latvia was founded in 2002 by 23 sail training enthusiasts in the country. The organisation also has three members who own/operate vessels, two yacht clubs, and three maritime companies. STA Latvia’s principal goals are to develop sail training for young people in Latvia by encouraging other vessel owners to participate in sail training activities and events, and through an international trainee exchange programme.
STAN was founded in 1985. Its goals are to encourage and develop sail training for young people in the Netherlands. To achieve this, STAN organises maritime events and races for sail training Tall Ships in the Netherlands.
NSTA was founded in 1999. It has four membership categories: sail training vessels, past and prospective host ports for the Tall Ships Races, individuals and organisations supporting NSTA ideals, and corporate entities. The organisation promotes sail training for young people and international friendship through sail training.
STA Poland was established in 1993. It has more than 100 individual (voting) members and is co-owner and sole operator of the Class A sail training Tall Ship Pogoria. Supporting (non-voting) members include the Maritime Academy of Gdynia (Dar Mlodziezy), the Polish Navy (ORP Iskra) the Polish Scouts Union Sea Training Centre (Zawisza Czarny) and the Polish Yachting Association (Kapitan Glowacki).
Portugal’s STA, Aporvela, was founded in 1980 as a registered charity. It has three categories of membership and owns three sail training vessels, including the Caravel Vera Cruz. The organisation’s main objectives are to promote off-shore sail training, mainly for young people.
South African Sail Training for Life Skills Association
The SASLA was accepted as a full member of Sail Training International in 2008. It has 11 member organisations, with a focus on marine career development, promoting peace, environmental work, and youth development. SASLA is dedicated to providing regular sailing activities to young people, particularly those aged 11-17 years old. It also focuses on arranging international sail training opportunities for culturally diverse groups.
STA España was established in 2002. Its members include all sail training vessels in Spain, the Spanish Navy, the Royal Sailing Federation of Spain, and a number of ports. It also has 100 individual members who support the organisation’s mission. The organisation promotes sail training for young people in Spain, and encourages international friendship through tall ships events and sail training.
STA Sweden was initially founded in 1998 to support the Tall Ships Races. Today, its members include a number of Swedish ports, the Swedish Navy, and some 60 vessels engaged wholly or occasionally in sail training activities.
ASTO was founded in 1972. It represents the interests of all major UK Sail Training organisations. It has 24 full members, nine associate members, and two honorary members, operating 56 sail training vessels ranging in size from a 10-metre sloop to a 65-metre barque. The organisation grants bursary funding towards the costs of more than 70,000 berth days for young people, including disabled trainees, each year.
TSA was founded in 1973. It represents the interests in the US of 300 member sail training vessels from more than 20 countries. There are also 100 affiliate members, including museums, schools and universities, and close to 500 individual members who support the organisation’s mission. TSA raises funds and administers several scholarship programmes, as well as a professional development grant programme to support the continuing education of professional sail trainers and marine educators.
We also work with lots of other countries who have sail training vessels and participate in our events. These include:
Argentina
Chile
Indonesia
Oman
Brazil
Colombia
Japan
Romania
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Malaysia
Uruguay
Cayman Islands
Faroe Islands
Mexico
The Sail Training International (STI) Youth Council was launched in March 2009. It comprises of representatives from nearly every one of Sail Training International’s 26 member national sail training organisations (NSTOs).
The main objectives of the Youth Council are to represent a youth voice in decision making within the sail training community and to inspire, support and promote the involvement of young people in all aspects of sail training. They also aim to support sail training communities in enabling young people to become active contributors. Through their discussions they create a positive environment for the exchange of ideas and innovations and to promote individual growth through international friendships and multicultural understanding.
They also support the development and growth of alumni groups within sail training organisations to expand the network of contact between those who have been, or may become, engaged in sail training.
Background & Membership of Sail Training International Ships Council (STISC)
The Tall Ships Forum (TSF) and Small Ships Forum (SSF) are advisory groups within Sail Training International that report to the Trustees, the International Council and Members on matters arising from regulatory, operational, financial and programmatic issues. The scope of work for these two bodies is established jointly by the Forums (STISC) and the Trustees, reflecting the mandate above and, generally, matters that relate to, and support, sail training.
Membership
Membership in STISC is open to all mono-hull sailing vessels (with a length waterline of over 9.14m/30ft) that undertake some sail training for young people, and comply with all legal and relevant regulations and manning requirements laid down by their flag state/national authority and are owned and operated by charities, foundations, Governments or commercial organisations. Members will be required to complete an application form declaring that they meet these criteria.
Meetings
The Ships Council meets twice a year.
Who can attend?
A captain, or senior serving officer, of a member vessel and/or a senior member of staff or trustee/director of the vessel operator.
No more than two representatives per vessel.
Others ONLY by invitation of the relevant chairman.
