With the race series returning to the North Sea and Aberdeen featured as a host port, excitement is building for what promises to be a memorable event. Ten trainees sponsored by Stornoway Port Authority have been sailing in Race 2 aboard Swan from Dunkirk to arrive in Aberdeen for this weekend’s celebrations.

Six trainees will set off this Sunday, 20 July, to take part in Race 3 of the Tall Ships Races. The race begins in Aberdeen and heads to a waypoint in the North Sea, followed by a Cruise-in-Company leg along the coast of Norway, finishing in Kristiansand. These trainees compete in pairs aboard Excelsior, Sørlandet, and Alexander von Humboldt II, where they’ll take on new challenges and share an unforgettable two-week voyage with international crews.

At the end of July, a further 10 trainees will be sailing in Race 4, from Kristiansand to Esbjerg, Denmark, aboard Swan with the added challenge of sailing home across the North Sea.

Along with their sail training experience, all trainees have the chance to fully immerse themselves in the festival activities and celebrations in their Host Ports – joining fellow trainees from across the world, sharing experiences and making friendships. This is as much a part of a Tall Ships experience as the sailing, and helps the trainees to further broaden their horizons, skills and confidence.

Melanie Henderson, Chair of Sail Training Shetland, said: “We’re again blown away by the high level of interest from young people to take part in a sail training adventure. The enthusiasm shown through the application process was exceptional, making the selections for available placements extremely difficult.

It is with great pride that we are supporting young trainees to take part in this year’s Tall Ships Races – an experience we know will be both challenging and life-changing – and at the same time continuing our partnership with Stornoway Port Authority to support their trainee logistics. We are especially excited to grasp the opportunities to be involved with The Tall Ships Races visiting Aberdeen.

As a long-established sail training charity, it is an incredible opportunity to showcase our maritime heritage with trainees participating onboard Shetland’s flagship vessel Swan to inspire the next generation of sailors across the northeast and western Isles.”

Alex Macleod, Chief Executive at Stornoway Port, said: “We’re incredibly proud to support the next generation of sailors from Stornoway as they take part in The Tall Ships Races 2025. It’s a great opportunity for them to step outside their comfort zones, learn new skills, and gain valuable life experience at sea.

“We’re pleased to continue our partnership with Sail Training Shetland to support these trainees as they join others from across the world in what is a memorable and rewarding journey. We look forward to hearing about their time on board.

“Our thanks go to everyone involved in making this possible, from the organisers and volunteers to our fellow sponsors.”

Sail Training Shetland’s volunteer committee gratefully acknowledge key sponsors’ backing, making it possible to deliver annual sail training opportunities, which this year includes main sponsor Arven Offshore Wind Farm, with Stornoway Port Authority, Shetland Islands Council, Lerwick Port Authority, Sail Yell and NorthLink Ferries.

Aaron Priest, Stakeholder Manager at Arven Offshore Wind Farm, said: “Supporting local skills development and creating long-term job opportunities for Shetland is central to our vision for Arven. Sail Training Shetland’s work aligns closely with that vision, helping young people prepare for future careers by offering life-changing experiences that build confidence, resilience and practical skills.

“We wish all the participants safe travels and an unforgettable adventure. We look forward to hearing their stories when they return.”