Sail Training International Celebrates 70 Years of The Tall Ships Races

Sorlandet, A tall ship who took part in the first Tall Ships Race in 1956 and is still taking part today © Kris Romanski

2026 marks a huge milestone for Sail Training International, as they celebrate 70 years of The Tall Ships Races; empowering young people through the experience of sail training.

The first Tall Ships Races took place in 1956 as a celebration of the worlds remaining magnificent Class A ships. Due to its unbelievable success and wide-reaching popularity, the Sail Training Committee decided to make it a regular event, which not only brought the International sailing community together, but encouraged friendly rivalry and personal development through sail training.

Fast forward 70 years and Sail Training International and their dedicated team has given over 20,000 young people the adventure of a lifetime; an experience that has helped shape their futures and career pathways.

Vanessa Mori, CEO of Sail Training International, comments; "As organisers of The Tall Ships Races, young people are at the core of everything that we do. Taking part in a sail training voyage is a life changing experience, no matter what your background, gender or nationality. Year after year, participants demonstrate how such a voyage helps build resilience and confidence, how it encourages team work, increases self-worth, develops better communication skills and importantly, it creates opportunities to foster international friendships, and understanding of cultures. We believe that this is needed now more than ever.

Witnessing the transformation of a young person as they join the races, often unsure of themselves and of what to expect, and then seeing them disembark at the end of the voyage with a newfound confidence, new friends and new self-belief is truly magical."

Throughout 2026 Sail Training International will host a series of events and initiatives to commemorate this important anniversary, including a special 70th anniversary reception onboard a tall ship during The Tall Ships Races 2026 stopover in Stavanger. A ship which took part in the very first Tall Ships Races in 1956 and which is still in operation today and will be joining us in the races this summer. This will be an opportunity for Sail Training International to recognise the commitment and dedication that all stakeholders have provided over the years and will continue to offer in the future.

Mori Continues, "As we celebrate our history and accomplishments we also look ahead to the future and in an increasingly divided world and in a digital age, where the pressures on young people are significant, the opportunities to disconnect and reconnect in different ways is now more important than ever.

We remain committed to finding new ways to reach more young people, particularly those with fewer opportunities, and to ensure that they are able to benefit from the life changing experience that is a sail training voyage'.

James George, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Sail Training International, comments, "Even this early in 2026, the year has already reminded us that life rarely follows its true course. As Sail Training International marks its 70th anniversary, we reflect not only on seven remarkable decades of impact, but on the thousands of young people whose lives have been transformed by the opportunities, experiences, and challenges of the Tall Ships Races.

This milestone isn't just a celebration of history. It's a celebration of international friendship, human endeavour, and the courage to set sail into the unknown. Values that remain as vital today as they were in 1956. On behalf of myself and my fellow trustees, Happy 70th Birthday, Sail Training International."

The Tall Ships Races 2026 series is set to return to Northern Europe this year and will begin on 24th June and continue through to Sunday 2nd August. It will offer three exciting and challenging race legs and a scenic Cruise-in-Company. Five host ports will be visited including Aarhus, Harlingen, Antwerp, Stavanger and Aalborg and a stunning welcome will be promised for the fleet and crews at every stop.

For more information about the 70th anniversary, the celebrations, how to get involved or how to support the charities mission, please visit sailtraininginternational.org