ASTO Patron HRH The Countess of Wessex visits UK Sail Training fleet
by Anna Wardley 7 Sep 2014 11:54 BST
5 September 2014
HRH The Countess of Wessex at the finish of the the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta, gets a selfie with Leading Sea Cadet Morgan Smith © onEdition
HRH The Countess of Wessex, Patron of the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO), visited the UK Sail Training fleet at the Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Festival on Friday (5 September).
Over 280 young people from a wide range of backgrounds sailed in the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta on board 19 boats operated by ASTO members.
The Countess of Wessex joined the trainees on board the Sail Training vessel, John Laing, operated by the Ocean Youth Trust South for a short passage down the Thames from HMS President to Wood Wharf, Canary Wharf where most of the ASTO fleet is berthed.
ASTO Chairman James Stevens then introduced The Countess of Wessex to the trainees who sailed from Cornwall to the capital under the ASTO banner.
Commenting on the visit, Stevens said: "I was delighted that our Patron HRH The Countess of Wessex met many of the trainees who were on board our ASTO Sail Training vessels in the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta. I'm also thrilled that she was able to attend our reception on board the Jubilee Sailing Trust's tall ship Tenacious to congratulate the ASTO skippers - not only for achieving great results in the race but also for the vital work they do providing challenge and adventure for young people."
The ASTO fleet posted outstanding results in the race, with the Cirdan Trust's Duet taking the overall win according to provisional results. Among the trainees on board were three 15-year-old police cadets from Enfield.
Also on board was 18-year-old Hannah Collins, a cadet instructor also from Enfield. "This was the first time I've ever sailed and I'm so pleased to have had the chance to experience it. I was a bit apprehensive when we set off from Falmouth but once I got into it I relaxed and started enjoying it," she said.
"I had a fantastic time and it was really great to have such support and trust from the team. It was also inspirational and, to win the event overall, made it all worthwhile. To be honest I would never have dreamed of taking part and I certainly didn't realize the gravitas of the event before I got on board," she added.
"I learnt a lot about technique and also about leadership development skills which will help me with my career in the future," said Hannah, who hopes to become a police commissioner in the future.
For further information about Sail Training, ASTO and its member organisations visit www.asto.org.uk.