Sail training and its volunteers celebrated aboard Sørlandet
A CELEBRATION of sail training in Shetland was held on Tuesday night aboard the Norwegian tall ship Sørlandet.
Folk representing organisations that have made significant contributions to local sail training opportunities, including the Association of Sail Training Organisations, The Swan Trust, Lerwick Port Authority and local charity Sail Training Shetland, were invited along.
At the event, Peter Campbell, who was earlier this year recognised with a lifetime achievement award from Sail Training International, spoke passionately about sail training and the benefits it offers to individuals and the community.
“Over 35 years ago, there were some in our community who had the foresight to raise funds to buy The Swan and completely restore her,” he said.
“For so many young people, it has since offered them a chance to not only learn the skills necessary to sail a Fifie herring drifter, but also to grow from the adventure and to learn teamwork, resilience, and life skills.
“Recent studies have also shown that sail training improves young people’s mental health and can even improve school attendance.”
Campbell said that sail training in Shetland depends on the volunteers who make it “such a success”.
“It is often volunteers who maintain vessels, assist as crew, and who lead fundraising efforts and making the arrangements for sail trainees,” he added.
“We must applaud the efforts of everyone who volunteers to support our sailing training activities.”
Campbell said it was a “pleasure to celebrate the contribution of so many volunteers and the successes of sail training”.
Sail training was an activity which “continues to have an important role in shaping the lives and futures of our young people in our community,” he said.
Sail Training Shetland, which was set up in 2009, has supported more than 600 young people to take part in Tall Ships’ Races on board local sail training vessel Swan and other larger ships.
Shetland News stepped aboard the Sørlandet earlier this week, with Maddison Reynolds meeting the crew and students aboard the boarding school at sea.
No internet but shooting stars and orcas – life aboard the tall ship Sørlandet
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