Sail Training Shetland 2025 Review and Plans for 2026
With 2025 drawing to a close, we look back at what has been another successful year for Sail Training Shetland and forward to what to expect in 2026.
As always, our volunteer committee was hard at work long before 2025 started, so we were ready to open our 2025 scheme in February, to Shetlanders aged 15 to 25.
29 applications were received from young people throughout Shetland and all were offered a place in stage one of our selection process, a day sail aboard Sheltand's own Tall Ship, Swan LK243. Through this the participants got a glimpse into life at sea and an understanding what the spirit of sail training provides, and we got to learn more about them to help us select 16 to go onto stage two, taking part in the Tall Ships Races 2025.
The Trainees all threw themselves into the day sails and really excelled individually and as a crew. We were blown away with their attitude and enthusiasm as well as the positive feedback about the days both from the trainees and the Swan crew.
Six trainees were selected to participate in Race 3 of the Tall Ship Races 2025, in pairs onboard the Tall Ships Excelsior, Sörlandet, and Alexander von Humboldt II, sailing between Aberdeen and Norway, finishing in Kristiansand. A further ten trainees joined Swan to take part in Race 4 from Kristiansand to Esberg, Denmark, with an added voyage sailing home across the North Sea back to Shetland. We also facilitated Stornoway Port Authority to place 10 trainees from the Western Isles on Swan for Race 2 Dunkirk to Aberdeen. You can read more about the 2025 Tall Ships Races here.
Upon their return from the races the trainees, and their families, provided feedback. This not only helps us evaluate the experiences our trainees are getting aboard the ships but also the wider benefits of our sail training opportunities. The feedback from both trainees and their families was very powerful, demonstrating the positive changes in the trainees following their experience. As always this feedback is invaluable in helping us attract ongoing support from existing and new sponsors and supporters. It also shows that all the time and energy we put in as a volunteer committee is truly worth it.
Our 2025 scheme was rounded off with one of our Trainees, Stella Manson, being named Swan Trust Sail Trainee of the Year and by welcoming two former sail trainees to our committee.
We’re now looking forward to 2026, and have already booked Swan for taster day sails in preparation for launching our 2026 scheme in February next year. We are also in the process of securing sixteen places aboard various Tall Ships in the 2026 Tall Ships Races, taking part in Race 3 between Stavanger, Norway, and Aalborg, Denmark.
These opportunities are only made possible through donations, fundraising, sponsorship and the other support we receive. If you would like to support us, you can help us fundraise while you shop, make a donation, or enquire about sponsorship.
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