The Toughest Fun You'll Ever Have

It takes a lot of work to sail a traditional schooner. During their week aboard the Virginia, these young sail trainees learn to work together for a common purpose. From hauling sails aloft to cleaning the galley, students learn their individual efforts contribute to a larger team. A week of sail training is a once in a life-time experience that combines adventure with real-life lessons in a team building, self discipline, and leadership. 

 

What is Sail Training?

Each summer, dozens of students come together aboard schooner Virginiafor week long sailing summer adventures. The Youth Sail Training program offers boys and girls between the ages of 13-17 the opportunity to explore the maritime world in a unique manner. Working side by side with Virginia's ten professional mariners, these teenagers help set over 6000 square feet of sail, steer a 126 ft traditional schooner and navigate using many of the same techniques used at the beginning of the twentieth century.

 

Sailing from ports in New England, each trip combines a mix of shipboard lessons in seamanship/navigation with shore-side visits to museums and cultural events. There is no set schedule beyond an arrival and departure time. Like the historic sailing ships, Virginia will go where wind and weather allow. Family and friends can keep track of student's adventures with daily online blogs written by the crew and students. Our 2007 Youth Sail Training season saw visits to the New Bedford Whaling Museum; Mystic Seaport; South Street Seaport, New York; the Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Maine Maritime Academy. In addition, students had cookouts on remote islands in Maine, saw hundreds of whales and experienced a true Maine lobster bake on Beals Island.

 

Voyages and Passages

View the Youth Sail Schedule

 

• Pricing does not include transportation to and from the vessel.
• Physician exams or current school sports physical results as well as immunization records are required for all students.
• International voyages require a passport.
• Voyages include all meals.
• Accomodations include blankets and pillows
• Students are responsible for their own sheets and towels, see Parent/Student Guide for details.
• No electronic devices will be allowed on the vessel with the exception of limited cell phone use, which will be allowed during shore excursions.

 

Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation
500 E. Main Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510
p: 757.627.7400 f: 757.627.8300

Careers | Privacy Policy