All aboard for Sail Trainees!

Sixteen young adults from throughout Shetland are all set to experience life at sea for an exciting adventure as they join the Swan, Europa and Alexander von Humboldt II as sail trainees. 

Ten trainees left Lerwick onboard the Swan last Sunday (24 June) to sail across the North Sea to join other traditional sailing vessels from Scandinavia taking part in ‘Nordic Sail’, with the Swan being the only visiting boat. Forming in Hals, Denmark, the 29-strong fleet will race to Uddevalla, Sweden, with the event ending with a second race to Risør, Norway before the Swan heads back to Shetland, returning on 9 July.

The lucky trainees on the Swan are Vaila Henderson (15), Robbie Jamieson (15), Lauren Johnson (16), Ryan Leask (16), Thomas Meadows (18), Callum Mustard (18), Ailish Parham (16), Michaela Peterson (15), Ellie Simpson (15) and Erin Simpson (17).

Nordic Sail is renown for its friendly atmosphere and is organised by the Sail Training Associations of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Over 400 crew will be taking part in the event between 28 June and 7 July 2012, with activities organised in each port for the visiting crews, similar to a Tall Ships event.

The other six trainees are due to take part in the The Tall Ships Races 2012, presented by Szczecin, organised by Sail Training International. Jack Jamieson (20), Daniel Lawson (19) and Scott Sandison (18) will be setting sail on Europa from the Netherlands as part of a European Youth-in-Action programme on the race between St Malo and Lisbon from 7 to 21 July, with Kristen Jeromson (21), Michelle Robertson (23) and Emma Rochester (18) joining the newly built Class ‘A’ German Tall Ship Alexander von Humboldt II on the leg between Lisbon to Cadiz before returning to Lisbon as part of the Cruise-in-Company from 21 July to 2 August.

All of the Shetland trainees will work closely with the crew of their allocated ships, undertaking tasks such as watch-keeping, setting sails and other domestic duties which they will share with other trainees.

Peter Campbell, Chairman of Sail Training Shetland said, “This year will see the total number of young people participating in our annual sail training schemes reaching eighty since the Charity’s formation in 2009. We are delighted that we have again been able to recruit a spirited group of young people from around Shetland. I am confident that all of our trainees will take away something positive from their experiences and will be great ambassadors for our community.  

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all our grant funders, sponsors and supporters; D H Marine (Shetland) Ltd, Malakoff Limited, Sail Yell, Lerwick Port Authority, J. R. Hutton Consulting Ltd, Ocean Kinetics Ltd, The Swan Trust, Lerwick Community Council, Shetland Tall Ships, The Co-operative Membership Community Fund, The Merchant Navy Association of Shetland, Rotary Club of Shetland, L & M Engineering, Tay-CAD and NB Communication for their generous and valued support.”