Sail Training International

What Sail Training International does

Sail Training International is a UK-registered charity (no. 1096846) and company limited by guarantee headquartered in Gosport, founded in 1956 to organise The Tall Ships Races and Regattas — an international sailing event series now in its 70th year. The organisation operates as the global coordinating body for sail training, connecting young people aged 14–25 with sail training vessels through the Find Your Adventure portal, a Vessel A-Z directory covering four vessel classes (A–D), and a worldwide network of National Sail Training Organisations (NSTOs) spanning 25+ countries. STI also runs the YB satellite tracking service for its fleet, the Blue Flag environmental certification scheme (53 vessels enrolled, in partnership with FEE since 2011), and an annual International Sail Training and Tall Ships Conference.

Its core product is The Tall Ships Races and Regattas — flagship events that draw 50–60+ vessels and 8,000+ crew and trainees per cycle, with the 2017 Baltic edition alone attracting 4+ million visitors. Underlying technology is deliberately light: STI does not develop proprietary technology products; its digital surface is a content and event-coordination website, blog, email newsletter, and standard social media channels, with YB tracking provided by a third party. The organisation's distinctive technical contribution is its event governance — the Rule of Rating, Safety Management System, International Sail Endorsement Scheme, and four-class vessel rating regime that standardise participation.

STI's business model is non-profit and event-driven. Revenue is not directly generated from participants (berth prices are set by individual vessel operators); instead, income flows from host port partnerships (e.g., Aarhus, Harlingen, Stavanger), corporate sponsorship and bursary funding (Royal Navy of Oman since 2012, Marlow Navigation Netherlands, John E. Burnett Family), donations, and event coordination fees. All surpluses are reinvested into bursaries supporting disadvantaged youth — over £100,000 was allocated in 2019 alone, and the Oman Bursary alone has disbursed over £450,000 since launch. STI serves three primary segments: young people aged 14–25 seeking experiential learning, disadvantaged youth funded through bursaries, and people with disabilities supported via the John E. Burnett Bursary. Operational scale is modest — 11–50 staff at the Gosport headquarters — and the Tall Ships Races 2026/2027/2028/2029 calendar indicates stable, multi-year programme continuity.

Name

Sail Training International

Legal name

Sail Training International

Website

https://www.sailtraininginternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sail Training International is a UK-registered charity that organises The Tall Ships Races and Regattas and coordinates a worldwide network of National Sail Training Organisations, connecting young people aged 14–25 — including disadvantaged youth and people with disabilities funded through bursaries — with sail training vessels across 25+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development & Sailing Events

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Navigation, Seamanship & Offshore Operations (EDAOANAE), Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

Keywords

• Sail training events
• Tall ships racing
• Youth development programs
• Maritime experiential learning
• Bursary funding schemes

Headquarters

HQ city

Gosport

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Organisation and Coordination: Sail Training International organises The Tall Ships Races and Regattas, generating revenue through event coordination, participant fees, and port partnerships. The organisation is a registered charity (no. 1096846) and company limited by guarantee (no. 4686048).
2. Donations and Sponsorship: The organisation receives donations and sponsorship to support its mission of youth development through sail training. Over £100,000 was allocated to supporting young people with fewer opportunities in 2019 alone through funds and bursaries.
3. Bursary and Grant Management: Sail Training International manages various bursary funds including the Oman Bursary Fund, Youth Development Fund, Canada Legacy Fund, and Research Fund. These funds are supported by partners and donors and distributed to eligible participants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sail Training International is a not-for-profit international charity that organises and coordinates The Tall Ships Races and Tall Ships Regattas, the world's largest regular gathering of traditional sailing vessels. It operates a global network of National Sail Training Organisations (NSTOs), maintains vessel directories and booking portals, runs the Blue Flag environmental certification for sail training vessels, and administers multiple bursary funds (including the Oman Bursary, Youth Development Fund, Canada Legacy Fund, and Marlow Navigation Bursary) to enable young people aged 14-25, particularly those with fewer opportunities or disabilities, to participate in sail training voyages.

Product overview

Sail Training International operates a platform-and-event structure centered on The Tall Ships Races and Regattas, which serve as the flagship experiential learning programs for young people. The organization provides a suite of services including the Find Your Adventure booking portal, Vessel A-Z directory, YB Tracking for fleet monitoring, and the Blue Flag environmental scheme. Financial support is available through multiple bursary programs (Youth Development Fund, Canada Legacy Fund, Oman Bursary). The Sail On Board sub-brand handles trainee-facing adventure discovery, while Local Sail Training coordinates with NSTOs worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Tall Ships Races International sailing race series for Tall Ships serving as the organization's flagship event, bringing together thousands of young people and vessels from around the world for competitive racing and cultural exchange.
• Tall Ships Regattas

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £100,000 allocated to supporting young people with fewer opportunities in 2019 alone
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011In 2011, Sail Training International worked with FEE to extend the Blue Flag Scheme to include sail training vessels. The scheme shows that vessels have pledged to protect the seas they sail on, with 53 vessels signed up to date.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tall Ships Youth Trust: UK-based charity that operates its own fleet of tall ships to provide sail training voyages for young people aged 12-25, including disadvantaged youth. Directly comparable in mission (youth development through tall ship sailing), funding model (charity with bursaries), and target demographic to Sail Training International.
• Jubilee Sailing Trust: UK charity operating two tall ships specifically designed to enable disabled and non-disabled people to sail together. Directly comparable as a sail training charity focused on inclusion and accessibility, mirroring STI's bursary-supported access model.
• Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO): UK-based industry body representing sail training organisations and charities. Comparable as a coordinating body in the same sail training ecosystem that STI operates within, with shared focus on youth development and member organisation support.
• Ocean Youth Trust South: UK charity providing sailing opportunities for young people aged 12-25, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Directly comparable as a sail training charity with similar bursary-supported model and target demographics.

Broad incumbents

• Clipper Ventures: Commercial organization operating the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and clipper race training program. Comparable as a major international sailing event organizer with a training component, though operates on a commercial rather than charity model.
• World Sailing: International federation governing the sport of sailing worldwide. Comparable as the global umbrella organization for sailing that oversees international sailing events, including youth development pathways, providing the regulatory framework within which STI operates.

Regional players

• Sail Training Association Netherlands (STAN): National sail training organization in the Netherlands coordinating tall ship sailing opportunities for Dutch youth. Comparable as a member of STI's global NSTO network, providing the same sail training coordination role on a national basis in continental Europe.
• Europa Passage Sailing Foundation: German sail training charity offering youth development voyages on traditional sailing vessels. Comparable as a European sail training charity with similar mission of youth personal development through tall ship experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TallShipsRaces
• Facebookfacebook.com/SailTrainingInternational
• Instagraminstagram.com/tallshipsraces
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/chloeleb85
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sail-training-international

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sail Training International