Fifteen youngsters, boys and girls, mainly from the Cottonera area will become the first group of participants to experience a new, exciting initiative meant “to provide life skills, personal development, teamwork, empowerment and the promotion of individual responsibility through the medium of sail training.”
This project will be known as the Malta Sail Training Association (MSTA) and is the brainchild of Ben Stuart, General Manager of Grand Harbour Marina, who has been working on the idea for the past four years.
Stuart’s novel approach found a strong base of cooperation and enthusiasm from a group of collaborators.
In August 2010, the inaugural meeting was held and eventually a committee was formed made up of Chris Grech, chairman, Robert Aquilina and Ann Fenech, members, and Stuart general secretary.
“The idea replicates other organisations abroad but is tailored towards Malta.
“Local interest was most encouraging. This came from various quarters. However, most overwhelming was the response of the Local Councils of the harbour area.
“They even sent a flyer to all houses in to explain the concept of the whole idea,” Stuart said.
The first trip of the MSTA is scheduled for this weekend and, by courtesy of its owners, the Tall Ship Brigantine Florette, built in 1921, will be hosting the new initiative which is bound to give the young participants a taste of the historic way of sailing.
The trip was oversubscribed as MSTA had a total of 32 respondents.
“Ours is a gesture of support to a noble initiative,” remarked Captain Ronald Haynes of Historical Tallship Sailing Ltd, owners of Brigantine Florette.
The youngsters, whose average age is 17, will be living their first-ever sailing experience and learn about pulling the right ropes, hoisting the correct sails, understanding weather predictions and manoeuvring a boat as part of a crew.
Teamwork is an aspect so instrumental in the formation of a strong and commanding character.
With their initiative, the MSTA aims to provide life skills and increased confidence and opportunities to many young Maltese, ensuring them of a career path in the sailing industry and assisting them to become responsible, active members of the society.
Furthermore the association is keen to develop and promote Malta as a centre for skills and craftsmanship to service the yachting industry.
The trip will start and end at Grand Harbour Marina.
Brigantine Florette will host the Malta Sail Training Association cadets on their first expedition.