Chair meets Duchess of Edinburgh

Our chairman Michael Strachan was honoured to represent the Set Sail Trust, which sponsored the recent visit to Guernsey of the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO), and their patron Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh to start their Guernsey to Poole Small Ships Race. 

Photo credit: Chris George

140 young people are crewing 12 sailing yachts in a ‘friendly’ race back to Poole. Their enthusiasm was infectious.

Photo credit: Chris George

Set Sail Trust and ASTO share similar aims to encourage youth to get on the water, believing that providing the opportunities to do so will help develop a broad range of qualities beyond technical sailing skills.

Soft skills – qualities highly valued by employers, such as confidence, team work, communication, leadership and resilience

Awareness of and appreciation for the natural world – in today’s smartphone saturated world, time on the sea is unmatched as a way to understand the complex and power of the oceans an enormity of the natural universe.

Responsibility – the sea takes no prisoners – respect her and learn how to be prepared for any situation.

A sailor himself, Michael is passionate about sharing his love of the sea, hence IAM’s support long term support of the Set Sail Trust and flagship Pilot Cutter programme.  There is much to learn from ASTO, and it sets the bar high for its future ambitions and the Trust will be discussing how to continue to work with them in the future.

Photo credit: Chris George

Thanks to HRH Duchess of Edinburgh for taking the time to support such a special charity and for Chris George for the photos.

Photo credit: Chris George