Next weekend (Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November), the key players of the sail training world will gather in Halmstad, Sweden, for the highly anticipated annual International Sail Training and Tall Ships Conference 2016.
Over two days, the very best sail training minds will attend seminars and workshops, collaborate with likeminded people, and celebrate the past year’s successes. We’re looking forward to meeting future host port representatives, vessel operators, sail trainers, National Sail Training Organisations (Members), sponsors, and many more. As usual, we’ll finish on a high by recognising and celebrating hard work and achievement within the sail training world, at the prestigious Annual Awards Ceremony.
About the Conference
The conference will be held at the beautiful Tylösand Hotel, which is located on the south-west coast of the Kattegat Sea, just outside Halmstad. The hotel doubles as the largest art gallery in Sweden and it boasts internationally renowned pieces. Fans of 80s and 90s pop-rock band Roxette are in for a particular treat – vocalist and guitarist Per Gessle is one of the Tylösand Hotel’s owners.
Halmstad itself is no stranger to Tall Ships – it was the finish port for the Tall Ships Races 2011, and it’ll welcome the international fleet as the start port of the Tall Ships Races 2017.
The conference is a “must attend” event, which is open to everyone involved in sail training for young people. Over the weekend, we’ve scheduled a huge number of tailored and thought-provoking programmes to meet the needs and interests of the world of sail training. It’s the perfect opportunity for all sectors of the international community to meet, network, share practical advice, talk to experts, and offer each other support.
Essential Sessions
There are 30 sessions scheduled to take place, covering a wide range of subjects. You can check out the full programme here, but we’ve picked a few of our recommended highlights, below:
1. Welfare and Safety of Trainees
Of course, the welfare and safety of trainees is our highest priority. We want everyone to be secure and protected while they take part in an adventure under sail.
This session will share good safeguarding practice and discuss how we can guarantee trainee safety. It’ll be particularly relevant for host ports, members, vessel operators, and sail trainers.
It’ll be presented by Rui Santos, who was recently Project Manager at Portuguese Sail Training Organisation Aporvela. Rui will be joined by Frankie Hartwell, Operations and Marketing Manager for UK-based Maybe Sailing.
2. Culture, Mission and Business – Tall Ships and Organisational Sustainability
This interesting session will be presented by Catherine Collins, Executive Director of non-profit Sound Experience, which owns and operates the historic schooner Adventuress.
During this session, she’ll explore the development of sustainable Tall Ships operations. She’ll discuss how earned and fundraised income, and the importance of a strong mission statement, can help achieve this.
3. Making Sail Training Accessible
Our goal is to make sail training accessible for everyone… so we think this session is essential! Robbie Crow and Darren Naggs from the Jubilee Sailing Trust will talk about how to run an accessible sail training voyage.
During the session, delegates will discover how vessels can meet the needs of most disabled people… with minimal effort.
4. Research 1: Literature Review – The Way Ahead
This is bound to be an interesting session – it’ll discuss findings from recent research from the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO) and STI.
Presented by Lucy Gross, general manager of ASTO, and Murray Henstock, STI Trustee, the session will provide an opportunity to explore the future of research within both organisations.
Delegates can look forward to a hands-on workshop, which will explore how existing research can benefit programme development, promotion and trainee recruitment.
Sail Training International Annual Awards Ceremony
Every year, we meet hundreds of exceptional individuals who truly shine in the world of sail training. They make a significant contribution to our industry and are dedicated to helping young people from around the world to take part in an adventure under sail. The Annual Awards Ceremony is a fantastic opportunity to recognise these special individuals/organisations for all their hard work.
The award categories include:
- Sail Training Organisation of the Year (Large Vessel Organisation and Small Vessel Organisation)
- Sail Trainer of the Year (over 25) and Young Sail Trainer of the Year (25 or under)
- Sail Training Volunteer of the Year (over 25) and Young Sail Training Volunteer of the Year (25 or under)
- Sultan Qaboos Trophy (a gift from His Majesty the Sultan of Oman)
- Boston Teapot Trophy (awarded to the ship which covers the greatest distance)
- Host Port Trophy
- Janka Bielak Medal (awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to international peace and understanding through sail training)
We’ll publish the winners from the Annual Awards after the ceremony takes place. Good luck to everyone!
Next Steps
Interested in attending the International Sail Training and Tall Ships Conference 2016? We have a few last-minute places available. Click here to book your space.
Already attending? Firstly, we look forward to seeing you! You can download the conference programme here.
You can also join our STI Conference Halmstad 2016 LinkedIn group – it’s a space where delegates can get together to network, share information, and discuss ideas before, during and after the conference. Even if you can’t attend, you’re welcome to join the group to catch up with news from the conference.