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IRISH SAIL TRAINING

STV Asgard II

SV Celtic Mist
The importance of Sail Training is realised in Ireland however at the moment there is no Class A vessel available under Irish Flag State.  Why?


One has to go back to March 07, 1981 when the STV Asgard II was commissioned.  She was operated by the Department of Defence under a para-civilian company called Coiste an Asgard.  She served well training cadets and opening up sailing in a Brigantine to several generations of Irish youth.  Then on September 11, 2008 she sank in the Bay of Biscay.  It was later determined that most likely she had struck a semi-submerged container, flooded and sank.  Fortunately all hands got off safely.  What is not so fortunate is that due to politics and indecision by the Irish Government and Coiste an Asgard the vessel was not salvaged.  By most nautical standards there were at least two opportunity windows to have done this but sadly it never happened.  At this late stage it is a rather pointless discussion and the target now is to find or even built a replacement vessel.  Since the Department of Defence decided to close down Coiste an Asgard and has announced it is not interested in operating a STV in the future others have taken up the gauntlet.  To this end two organisations have been formed they are, "Sail Training Ireland For Youth Development" (STIYD) and "Tallship For Ireland" currently both may be found on Facebook ®.


So what do Irish Youth do now?  Well through the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) places may be found for them in the STV's of other nations.  This was done in July when groups of Irish trainees sailed in STV's departing from the Port of Waterford for the Tall Ship Races of 2011.  Also thanks to the family of the late Charles Haughey former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) his yacht SV Celtic Mist was donated to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). The ISA is able on occasions to place youth in this vessel.


As an interested Irish-American seafarer NAUTICAL LOG will be pleased to act on behalf of persons willing to help in the acquisition or construction of a suitable vessel for Ireland's youth and needing more information.  Please understand actual funds should NOT be sent to NAUTICAL LOG - we will record pledges only.


Good Watch.

Please remember our fellow seafarers held captive by pirates off Somalia.

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