Sail Training International

The Tall Ships Races are an initiative of non-profit organisation Sail Training International. With its sail training programmes Sail Training International wants to offer youngsters from all nationalities, cultures, religions and social backgrounds a unique experience that changes their outlook on living together. This is why one of the main trophies of The Tall Ships Races is that of international friendship.

The race brings people closer together, just like Sail Training International’s other activities. The organisation believes that the experience of youngsters at sea is mainly a way to let people discover their hidden strengths and talents, to teach them to work in a team and to give their self-confidence an extra impulse.

Apart from The Tall Ships Races, Sail Training International organises many other races in Europe and the rest of the world, including the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge that crosses the ocean twice this summer (=2009). The past months offered the 2009 Tall Ships’ Races Baltic , with stops in Poland, Russia, Finland and Lithuania, and Delfsail 2009 in the Dutch Delfzijl. In 2010, apart from The Tall Ships Races that call in at Antwerp in July, there are two other regattas in Europe in spring and two festivals in August.

Sail Training International also organises conferences, seminars and other sail training events and publishes books and brings out DVDs. National Sail Training organisations - including the Belgian STAB - are members of Sail Training International.