An Invitation to host the International Sail Training and Tall Ships Conference 2011
Sail Training International holds a conference in November every year. It is organised for sail trainers and the owners/operators of sail training vessels, representatives of ports that are contracted to (or wish to) host Tall Ships Races and Regattas in future years, the organisers of events endorsed by Sail Training International, and others interested in sail training and events for sail training Tall Ships. In recent years the Conference has been held in La Coruña, Spain (2005) Szczecin, Poland (2006), Liverpool, UK (2007), Halifax, Canada (2008), Istanbul, Turkey (2009) and this year is being held in Stavanger, Norway.
The Conferences typically attract over 400 delegates from 32 countries around the world. The average rating by delegates of conference content and facilities is close to ‘Excellent’.
The Conference in 2011 is once again expected to attract circa 400 delegates from circa 30 countries, close to half this number being sail training operators and most of the rest representing some 40-50 ports. Usually 30-50 delegates bring their spouses who do not attend the conference but do attend the social functions. The Conference will run over two days, Friday and Saturday . The programme will be a mix of Plenary Sessions for all delegates and Work Shop sessions on specialist topics relating to the practice of sail training and the organisation of events for Tall Ships. The conference will conclude with a Gala Conference Dinner on the Saturday evening.
The Conference will be preceded on the Wednesday by various board meetings, and on the Thursday (morning) by meetings of the Sail Training International Class A Tall Ships Forum (for circa 50+ representatives of the big square rigged sail training Tall Ships) and a meeting of the International Youth Forum (20+ young representatives from the national sail training organisations aoud the world. In the afternoon the Sail Training International ‘International Council holds one of its two annual meetings (circa 35 people from 25 countries).
Bidding to host the 2011 conference
If a city wishes to bid to host the International Sail Training and Tall Ships Annual Conference in November 2011, we request a commitment to provide conference meeting rooms with facilities and catering for all delegates; A welcome reception and Conference Gala Dinner; Hotel accommodation for Sail Training International Directors and conference team and adequate discounted accommodation for delegates and in particular for young sail training delegates.