Cornwall Marine Network Seeks Crew for 2014 Tall Ships Regatta Falmouth based Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) has partnered with regatta organisers to offer young people from Cornwall a once in a lifetime chance to participate in next year’s Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Regatta by signing up to be a trainee member of the crew.

Next August a fleet of a fleet of up to thirty magnificent Tall Ships will race from Falmouth to the Isle of Wight, before cruising in company to Royal Greenwich in the heart of London where the ships will be welcomed by thousands of people lining the River Thames.

Mark Beckett of Cornwall Marine Network comments, “CMN is extremely proud to be involved with supporting the prestigious Tall Ships 2014 event. It is a wonderful opportunity for young people right across Cornwall and further afield to take part in a truly once in a lifetime experience.”

Taking part in the race provides trainees with an opportunity to challenge themselves and find adventure. Eighteen-year-old Siri Taxbro from Norway summed up her experience of sail training: “The friendships, the people, the mood, the crew, the food, the experiences. I felt like I’d seen more of the world in a couple of weeks than I’d seen in 18 years. Everything thrilled me, even the drama on board was cool. It was like being part of a reality show without being evicted! Also, there was so much to learn about yourself. You think you know yourself but it turns out you have a side you didn’t know existed. I thought I would get tired of some people on board but after two weeks I still loved them all.”

The opportunity to take part in the race as a trainee is not restricted to young people. Anyone can sign up and experience the thrill of sailing on a tall ship, taking an active role in every aspect of running the vessel. Regardless of age or experience, trainees will find themselves a responsible, able and valuable member of the ship’s crew.

Trainees will join their ship in Falmouth and be part of the spectacular parade of sail before the race start on 31st August. The Tall Ships will then race along the south coast to the finish line off the Isle of Wight. The Tall Ships will make their way to Royal Greenwich for a further five days of festivities. Whilst in London there will be a series of planned activities, including a large party at the O2 Arena and the traditional parade through the streets, which is always a colourful and noisy affair. The events in London promise to be memorable and form the centrepiece of one of London’s major events in 2014.

Costs for taking part in the Regatta as a trainee ranges from £500 to £1000. However, there are a number of funding opportunities and interested individuals are encouraged to express their interest with Cornwall Marine Network.

To date a number of ships have registered to participate in the Regatta and are taking crew bookings. Many ships encourage different nationalities on board, creating a real melting pot of cultures which has resulted in some life changing moments for trainees.

Sam Groom, Festival & Events Manager at Visit Cornwall, Cornwall Development Company’s tourism service, comments, “We are really pleased to be working with CMN again as an Official Partner for the Regatta. Such a major event relies on the support and expertise of a number of key organisations working in partnership to maximise the economic, cultural and social benefits for both visitors, Falmouth and Cornwall. “ Further information about taking part in this exciting opportunity to sail on a Tall Ship can be found at http://www.falmouthtallships.co.uk/crewing/ or by contacting melanie.cock@cornwallmarine.net or calling 01326 211382.

For the latest information about the Regatta in Falmouth see www.falmouthtallships.co.uk, join us on Facebook ‘Tall Ships Falmouth 2014’ or follow us on Twitter @tallships_2014 Image: Trainees on board a Tall Ships, Tall Ships Youth Trust Ends