About
The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009 is being organised by Sail Training International and the American Sail Training Association. The event is a spectacular odyssey for Tall Ships around the North Atlantic Ocean of more than 7,000 nautical miles following the traditional route taken by sailing ships of a by-gone age.
Ships and crew can participate in the whole series, or just a part of it. Sailing in the Challenge will be exciting and competitive … and host ports in mainland Spain, the Canary Islands, Bermuda, the US, Canada and Northern Ireland are preparing a fabulous welcome for the fleet and trainee crews.
Sail Training International 
The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009 is organised by Sail Training International, a not for profit organisation based in the UK but with membership in 26 countries worldwide (see below), together with the American Sail Training Association.
As well as the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge, Sail Training International organise the annual summer series of The Tall Ships Races in European waters, an event that has been taking place since 1956, as well as other races and regattas. The aim of the organisation is to help young people benefit from the sail training experience, which we do through being the leading provider of races and events, conference and seminars, publications, research and other services for the international sail training community.
Our members are the national sail training organisations of Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK and USA.
American Sail Training Association 
The American Sail Training Association (ASTA) is the national sail training organisation of the USA and is the biggest of Sail Training International’s members. A not for profit organisation, ASTA is focused on youth education, leadership development and the preservation of the maritime heritage ofNorth America.
In addition to organising the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series, ASTA manages scholarship programs to make sail training experiences more affordable for young people, grant programs to assist crew of ASTA member vessels with the costs of professional development courses and licensing requirements and publishes SAIL TALL SHIPS! A Directory of Sail Training and Adventure at Sea.
About sail training
Sail training requires participants to confront many demanding challenges, both physical and emotional. It is an activity that inspires self-confidence and the acceptance of personal responsibility, promotes an acceptance of others whatever their social or cultural backgrounds, and develops a willingness to take controlled risks. For most who undertake sail training on Tall Ships it is a positive life-changing experience.
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 subsidise the participation of those who could otherwise not afford it. Some also run special programmes for those with physical, mental or social difficulties
Sail training takes place all over the world and in many different types of vessel. Some of the most effective programmes take place on small vessels with the benefit and intimacy of working on board within a small team. Different challenges confront those who undertake sail training on the huge and glamorous square-rigged ships, with much demanding work aloft as well as on deck.
Sail training is a growing adventure activity for the young and old everywhere, with a record of considerable success in developing men and women of character and ability for the challenges of life.
Sail training is an adventure activity for people of all ages and abilities. It includes instruction in all aspects of sailing but its purpose goes far, far beyond this. Sail training uses the experience of being at sea principally as a means to help people learn about themselves, discover hidden strengths and talents and understand the value of working as a team. In some programmes today it forms the setting for much wider aspects of education at sea.
