Marcia Carter shares details of this upcoming event. Ed
The annual Small Ships race returns to Cowes this Saturday 1st October.
Organised by Gosport-based charity the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO) it brings many different Sail Training vessels together for this one day race. Like the big tall ships races, half the crew have to be under 25 years of age.
Aimed at smaller members
While the UK fleet of tall ships includes such big beasts as the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s Tenacious (currently in Australia) and the Sea Cadets’ new brig Royalist this race is especially aimed at the smaller members: it will see classic pilot cutters such as Jolie Brise race classic yachts like Gipsy Moth IV and modern glass fibre ketches.
Island youngsters
Local Island youngsters will be on five of the 26 vessels taking part: small tall ship Caroline Allen will have a crew from Cowes Sea Cadets; big wooden gaff ketch Tectona will have students from the Isle of Wight College on board; yacht Alexander Fairey will be crewed by a group from the Challenge & Adventure charity based in Newport; two UKSA yachts will sail with ten Island youngsters; and Cowes based charity The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust will be on their yacht Moonspray.
The crew that has come the furthest to take part are probably those on yacht Scaramouche from Greig City Academy based in Tottenham, London.
Where to view
Best place to see them all is from in front of the Royal Yacht Squadron, on Saturday at 09:15, when the entire fleet will parade past before the start at 10:30.
Image: © Max Mudie/ASTO
