Sail Training Heritage

Sail training heritage is the practice of preserving traditional square-rigged and gaff-rigged seamanship by training young crews aboard tall ships, coordinated internationally by Sail Training International, the body that organizes the Tall Ships Races (originally the Tall Ship Races from 1956). It blends character development with hands-on rigging, watchkeeping, and navigation under sail. National programs include Britain’s Sail Training Association, Australia’s Young Endeavour, and the German Gorch Fock. The movement keeps classic rigs and the skills to work them alive as living maritime heritage rather than static museum display.