|
Starting from Alicante, after passing through Barcelona and Toulon, Tall Ships’ coming from all Europe are sailing to Porto Antico in Genoa where they will stay from July 28th to 31st. Four days full of events, organized for both public and crews.
Thousands of youngsters have been sailing for fifty years in the North seas, in Atlantic crossings, and in the Mediterranean, on board of big vessels called Tall Ships, or “boats with big trees”, learning sea life; over three thousand every year take part in the Tall Ships’ Races. Sail training is an extraordinary activity for young people, of both sexes, who want to discover the educational and cultural values bound to sea. It is lovely to see the lively and happy faces of the youngsters, disembarking from the vessels in the ports; they don’t speak the same language, but they understand each other. It is a cultural event, a school of life, an experience to be repeated. A mutual knowledge that goes over geographical, political and racial barriers.
Everything takes origin from the northern passion of sailing in any sea with any kind of weather. In 1956 Bernard Morgan, lover of sailing and boats, put together 21 big vessels to race from Torbay to Lisbon: this was the first Tall Ships’ Race. Sail training takes place, today all over the world in many different types of vessels, and the spirit of Morgan is now present in “The Tall Ships’ Races 2007 Mediterranea” For most who undertake sail training, it is a positive life changing experience. Sail training is a growing adventure activity with a record of considerable success in youngsters for character and ability for the challenges of life. Because of these ethical and human values, most sail training vessels are owned and operated by charities or foundations, schools or universities, governments or other institutions.
They generally seek to reflect the breadth of social backgrounds in society at large in the crews they attract. Many have funding programmes to grant the participation of those who could not otherwise afford it. Some also run special programmes for those with physical, mental or social difficulties. Sail Training International is a charity with worldwide membership and global reach. Its purpose is the development and education of young people of all nationalities, religions and social background, through sail training. STA-I (founded in 1996 by the Italian Military Navy and Yacht Club Italiano) operates in Italy with the same aims of STI, and is the organizer of the “Tall Ships’ Race 2007 Mediterranea” in Genoa. The city of Genoa is preparing to receive the Tall Ships from all Europe and to live, together with the captains and the crews, sporting, cultural activities and a crew parade through the streets. An experience that will last in the heart of the city.
|
