“I'm looking forward to climbing the masts”

The Tall Ships Races is an annual regatta that has been held in European waters since 1956. The purpose is to give young people a unique journey at sea. A journey across borders, cultures and religions.

When Aalborg is the final port for The Tall Ships Races from July 30 to August 2, there will be 1,250 crew members from all over the world on board the ships. The vast majority are young people aged 15-25 who have signed up as trainees. As trainees, the young people are a permanent part of the crew on board the ships. They are given shifts on deck and in the kitchen, and they learn everything from moorings and sails to dealing with seasickness.

19-year-old Oskar Walter lives in Aalborg and is going on his first sailing as a trainee.
“I want to learn to sail, and I see being a trainee during The Tall Ships Races as a good way to get into the environment. I’m looking forward to climbing the masts, and I’m a little worried about seasickness, but that’s not stopping me from wanting to go sailing. I’m also going to play a concert with my band “Origo” as part of the music program down on the waterfront.”

17-year-old Helene Raal is also fresh from a new summer holiday experience.
“I’ve applied to be a trainee to have some cool experiences and meet other young people. I think the most challenging thing will be that we have to speak English to each other, because we are from many different countries. I’m looking forward to making new friends and to the huge party that will be held for all the crew members when we get to Aalborg,” says Helene Raal expectantly.

There are also trainees who have more sailing experience. Among others, Emma Friis Poulsen, who is 20 years old and currently studies in Aarhus.

“I have sailed pretty much my entire childhood, both in motorboats and sailboats. I started sailing optimist dinghies and moved up to bigger and faster boats as I got older. After high school, I sailed with the School Ship in the spring of 2025. Even though I found out that I won't make a living from sailing, I only became more determined to continue sailing when the opportunity presents itself. I am so looking forward to feeling the wind, the waves beneath me and freedom again, maybe even a trip in the rig! I am also looking forward to the atmosphere, the people and the sight of all the beautiful ships in the harbor of Aalborg,” says Emma Friis Poulsen.

The 100 young trainees that Aalborg Municipality is sending will sail with Eendracht, Gulden Leeuw, Loa, Morgenster, Sørlandet, Statsraad Lehmkuhl, Thalassa, Wylde Swan and Jens Krogh.
The 100 trainees will be sent to Stavanger on July 23rd – they will meet in Salling (near Nytorv) at 4 pm and will be driven away in two buses at 5 pm. The young people will receive goodie bags from Business sponsor Malik Energy before departure.

The Salling Foundations, Lauritzen Foundation, D/S Orient´s Foundation, Melsen Foundation and Unglivfonden have provided financial support to send the 100 trainees off

• Aalborg is hosting The Tall Ships Races for the seventh time.
• Aalborg has hosted in 1999, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2022 and now again in 2026.
• 42 of the world's most beautiful sailing ships will dock in Aalborg.
• There are five host ports for The Tall Ships Races 2026: Aarhus, Harlingen (Netherlands), Antwerp (Belgium), Stavanger (Norway) and Aalborg, which is the final port.
• The race is organized by Sail Training International.
• Aalborg Municipality is sending 100 young trainees aged 15-25 from Stavanger to Aalborg. The main purpose of The Tall Ships Races is to give young people a unique journey at sea.
• There are 1,250 crew members on the ships.
  There will be lots of concerts and entertainment during The Tall Ships Races on the waterfronts in Aalborg and Nørresundby.
  When Aalborg hosted The Tall Ships Races in 2022, there were approximately 650,000 visitors, according to Nordjyllands Beredskab.
  Follow the latest news at www.tsraaalborg.dk