Chief organizer:
SAIL TRAINING
INTERNATIONAL
Sail Training International is committed to educating young people through sailing and maritime experience and encouraging them to pursue the sailing and maritime field more broadly in later life. Young people aged 15-25 from all over the world are welcome, regardless of nationality, culture, religion, gender, or social background.
Sail Training International is a charity (non-profit) organization whose members come from all over the world. In order to achieve its goals, a number of activities promoting the field are constantly implemented by the organization:
-
Conferences and seminars are held
-
Regattas are organized for the purpose of learning to sail
-
Professional publications and video presentations are issued
-
International research is being carried out
HISTORY
The first sailing offshore regattas were organized in 1956, when historic sailing ships sailed from Torbay, Great Britain to Lisbon, Portugal.
The aim of open seas sailing was to keep alive and preserve historic sailing ships and maritime traditions. At least half of the crew had to be young people aged 16-25, who will have the opportunity to gain both sea and sailing experience and experience teamwork skills while sailing on the regatta.
The regatta was originally held every two years and was called Operation Sail. In the period 1973 - 2003, the regatta was organized annually. At that time, the competition was named Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race, according to the main sponsor. During this period, in 1992, the Tall Ships Races fleet also visited Tallinn.
The Tall Ships Races is the world's largest sailing regatta for teaching young people, which attracts tens of thousands of people to explore the sailing ships every year. The fleet of the regatta consists of large sailing ships, historic sailboats, and modern ocean yachts. The composition of the large fleet varies from year to year, often depending on, for example, the location of the ports hosting the regatta. The regatta consists of 2-3 offshore races, where the three fastest sailboats in the fleet will be determined.
Almost 10,000 young people from 30 to 40 countries take part in the regatta every year. Young people aged 15-25 are selected from hundreds of applicants in their home country, and quite a few of them get to make their first sea voyage in this regatta. Participating in The Tall Ships Races learning regatta gives young people an experience of teamwork, puts them to the test in new and surprising circumstances, and takes them on adventures where they can obtain skills and make friends for life.
The Tall Ships Races was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
NATURE CONSERVATION
Sailing with wind-powered movement is, by nature, one of the most environmentally friendly modes of transport. The Tall Ships Races regatta also recognizes environmental friendliness and the protection of the marine environment.
Much of The Tall Ships Races fleet bears the Blue Flag sign. A sign that proves that the vessel is sailing in an environmentally friendly manner.
On these vessels, captains and ship officers share knowledge of environmental and marine management, and the activities of the entire crew have been guided by the perspective of the sustainability of nature and the marine environment.
Port visitors can also participate in the development of nature conservation:
-
Take advantage of Tallinn's free public transport
-
Move on cycle and pedestrian tracks on foot, by bike or scooter
-
Use things repeatedly: take your own water bottle or coffee thermos with you
-
Sort garbage where possible
-
Consume wisely
