Trainee Experiences

 
 

A trainee recalls 2005

I was lucky enough to participate as a trainee on board Jeanie Johnston when Waterford hosted The Tall Ships Races in 2005 and it was a tremendous experience to sail from Waterford to Cherbourg-Octeville in France.

We met the President of Ireland, Mrs McAleese, beforehand and another Waterford trainee and I recorded video diaries of the sail training experience for broadcast on Sky News so there was lots of interesting activity aside from the sailing!

The other Irish trainees and I joined the ship before it left Waterford so we had some time– including a memorable overnight – to adjust to life on board. While the fleet was still on the quays in Waterford, we also had the chance to participate in the Crews Parade through the city centre.

Another highlight for me was the Parade of Sail which, coincidentally, brought us past my home on the coast in Co Waterford. I will never forget the great atmosphere as we sailed down the River Suir alongside other Irish Tall Ships as well as dozens of magnificent vessels from around the world. Crews came to Waterford from as far away as Indonesia, Portugal, Russia, the United States and Brazil with each country bringing something different and special to the overall group.

We got a great chance to get to know our ‘shipmates’ as the race start in 2005 was delayed somewhat because – to my surprise – there wasn’t enough wind in our sails! When we did get underway, life was busy on board and there was certainly very little hanging about as we worked together with the permanent crew.

It was a terrific experience overall and there was more excitement in Cherbourg-Octeville where the visiting crews were very well received by the local community and over 500,000 visitors from around France and beyond. Just as in Waterford before we left, there was a great atmosphere on the streets and a mix of sports, street theatre and concerts.

Overall, I’d highly recommend the magic of the sail training experience and the fact that The Tall Ships Races is returning to Waterford in 2011 provides a great opportunity for Irish young people to sign up as a trainee and do something that you really will never forget.

- Patrick Bance.

 
 
After two years of preparations involving an estimated 13,760 hours of voluntary effort, Waterford successfully hosted The Tall Ships Races 2011 from June 30-July 3.
It’s estimated that 500,000 people enjoyed the spectacle in the city and along the Suir Estuary. To all those individuals and organisations that made this huge international event possible and to the people of Waterford who embraced the occasion brilliantly – thank you. To those who visited Waterford, we look forward to welcoming you back soon and invite you to visit www.discoverwaterfordcity.ie to keep up-to-date on what’s happening in Ireland’s oldest city. To the sail training family at the heart of The Tall Ships Races, we look forward to your return!

Here we showcase a small selection of Dylan Vaughan’s photography from four magical days.