News / Sail trainees
FOUR young Shetland sail trainees e to join the crew of the three-masted barque Alexander von Humboldt II as she takes part in the 2013 Tall Ships Races.
A further ten teenagers will join Shetland’s own tall ship, Swan, during a two week journey along Norway’s spectacular coastline, departing from Lerwick on 26 June.
The Alexander von Humboldt II meanwhile will sail across the Baltic Sea from the Danish harbour of Aarhus to the Finnish capital Helsinki, the first leg of the annual tall ships race.
Under the guidance of their crew, sail trainees learn a wide range of hands-on skills, including traditional seamanship, navigation, setting sail, watch keeping, maintenance and domestic duties.
Alex II trainee Ailish Parham said: “I am really excited about travelling to places I have not been before and mixing with people from different cultures.
“This will give me the chance to experience what it’s like to sail onboard a different ship compared to Swan with a large international crew. The whole experience will be a fantastic new challenge for me.”
Sail Training Shetland chairman Peter Campbell said since its formation in 2009 the charity had supported almost 90 sail training placements.
“The selection of trainees recruited for this summer’s sailing adventures are a great mix of young ambassadors from all over Shetland, who I am sure will all take away positive life changing experiences from their journeys, which in the longer term will greatly benefit our community,” he said.
More information can be found at www.sailtrainingshetland.com
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