World cultural heritage: Sail Training aims to preserve the tradition of seamanship
YACHT-Redaktion
· 01.05.2023
Sailing like in the old days: taking bearings and docking instead of plotter navigation, splicing and rigging instead of prefabricated lines. Anyone travelling on a traditional ship not only learns how to sail, but also the basics of an old craft. Reason enough for the German Sail Training Association (S.T.A.G.), together with partners such as Tall-Ship Friends Germany and the German Navy, to submit an application to recognise sail training as "intangible cultural heritage". The application has now been recognised during the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Federal States in consultation with the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and on the recommendation of an independent expert committee of the German Unesco Commission.
Practising and passing on a tradition
"Sail training on traditional ships describes the practice and passing on of traditional seamanship, in particular the skills and knowledge relating to sailing, navigation, ship maintenance and ship operation with young trainees", emphasises the German Unesco Commission in the letter of recognition, and acknowledges that the training includes "values such as camaraderie, tolerance and a sense of responsibility", but also deals with environmental protection issues such as "the pollution of the seas and the avoidance of waste".
Also at the centre of Sail Training: on-board community and team building
The shipboard community and team building, which is at the centre of every training cruise, are also mentioned: "It should be emphasised that the necessary knowledge for life at sea and specialist knowledge about traditional sailing ships is passed on primarily by a volunteer core crew. Numerous training courses, seminars, harbour festivals and school projects are part of the activities to pass on knowledge and skills to future generations."
For S.T.A.G., this recognition is a major and important milestone: "It also makes it clear to outsiders what intensive work is being done to preserve the cultural asset 'traditional ship' and its professional handling," says Herbert Böhm of S.T.A.G. "Hopefully it will also help to positively influence the often incomprehensible decisions of government agencies," hopes Böhm.
- More info for Sail Training can be found at: www.sta-g.de
