ASTO fleet out in force for Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta
by Anna Wardley 1 Sep 2014 09:48 BST
31 August 2014
Over 280 young people take part in record-breaking spectacle on UK Sail Training vessels
The 44-strong fleet taking part in the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta crossed the start line on Sunday after lining up for a spectacular Parade of Sail in Falmouth Bay, which attracted unprecedented crowds and spectator craft.
Almost half of the vessels competing in the regatta are members of the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO), the UK's Sail Training umbrella organisation.
Over 280 young people from a wide range of backgrounds are sailing on board 19 boats operated by ASTO members.
"'It has been a fantastic day out on the water in Falmouth with boats of all shapes and sizes taking part in this historic regatta. None of the young trainees on board will ever forget being part of such a spectacle and it will be a highlight of the year for our many ASTO member organisations from all over the UK who are taking part," Lucy Gross, ASTO General Manager, said.
As the fleet paraded behind 110-metre Polish tall ship Dar Mlodziezy under glorious sunshine and blue skies, Falmouth Bay was packed with the largest flotilla in living memory and around 100,000 people lined the shore and key vantage points according to local organisers.
Falmouth Harbour Master Mark Sansom confirmed it was the largest number of craft he has witnessed in over 20 years with the Falmouth Harbour Commissioners and Falmouth Tall Ships Chairman John Hick concurred saying that; "without a doubt there were more craft, and more people on the water than any of us have seen in living memory."
ASTO organisations from all over the British Isles are taking part including vessels from Scotland, Wales, East Anglia and the South of England, and at least half of the trainees on board each boat are under 25.
Among the trainees taking part is 17-year-old Isobel Johnson from Southsea in Hampshire. Isobel, who is deaf, is sailing as part of the team on the 60-ft cutter, Thermopylae Clipper operated by the Discovery Sailing Project.
Isobel said that sailing in a previous Tall Ships Race from Riga, Latvia to Szczecin, Poland was "one of the best experiences of her life".
"Just because you're deaf doesn't mean you can't do it, in fact all the more reason you should do it; to show the world you can do it. And of course it will be hard, nothing is ever going to be easy, but it will be worth it - truly," Isobel said.
Megan Lake, 17, from Plymouth is one of the young trainees sailing on board Pegasus operated by The Island Trust. Megan is the head girl at the Marine Academy Plymouth, and she said she was "really excited" about taking part.
"I've never been to London and it's going to be one of the best views arriving by boat," she said. "For me the biggest challenges are going to be not getting too tired or seasick."
A number of the young people on board have received ASTO bursaries to support their participation. One of them is 22-year-old Shrouk El-Attar sailing as a trainee on Challenge Wales. Shrouk is a refugee from Egypt who has lived in the Welsh capital for seven years, where she studies electrical and electronic engineering at Cardiff University.
"I wouldn't have been able to do this if it hadn't been for the bursary and I'm really incredibly excited about taking part," she said. "I would love to sail for a living," she said.
On board the Sail Training vessel Swan Rob Kay from Kilstyth in Scotland is sailing with his 20-year-old son Jordan who has Down's syndrome. The pair has already sailed 900 miles from the boat's home port in the Shetland Isles to get to Cornwall and will complete their round Britain voyage when they sail back to Shetland after the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta. Rob and Jordan are due to get home on 17 September just in time for the referendum on Scottish independence.
"We saw the Tall Ships Race in Greenock three years ago and we thought what a brilliant idea, we must that," Rob said. "It's been a big challenge for Jordan but then it has for all of us. One of the reasons I decided to do it was because I turned 60 and it seemed like a good milestone to take on a new challenge," he said. Rob and Jordan are raising funds for Carers UK during the voyage and to date have raised £900. For more information visit www.justgiving.com/rob-kay3
The Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta marks the first time a Tall Ships Race has been held from one British port to another and the fleet is expected to arrive in London on Thursday or Friday.
For further information about ASTO and its member organisations see www.asto.org.uk.
The Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta Is organised by Sail Training International. The fleet will finish the race off the Isle of Wight before cruising in company to London, where the 44 diverse sailing craft are expected to arrive on Friday 5 September. For more information visit www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/tallships.