Colleen Awarded Vevoe Trophy

The presentation of the Vevoe Trophy took place on Friday evening at the Scalloway Boating Club. This trophy is presented annually to the Swan trainee of the year. The Swan Trust is delighted to have so many enthusiastic and capable trainees coming forward each year to learn the skills of sailing a large vessel on long passages, and this year was particularly special with Lerwick featuring as a host port for the Tall Ships races and cruise-in-company.

The Swan trainee of the year in 2023 is Colleen Grains, from South Whiteness. Colleen took part in the Tall Ships leg from Fredrikstad to Lerwick, which included a leg from Cullivoe to Lerwick when Colleen took up the option of joining the crew of Urania from Holland. Throughout the passage Colleen was a valuable part of the team on both boats, as well as interacting well with the other boats' trainees and crews.

Colleen was presented with the trophy by Aubrey Jamieson, Superintendent of the Fishermen's Mission in Shetland, at the function which was well attended by Swan trainees, volunteers and trustees.

Colleen is the 11th winner of the Vevoe trophy, since it was presented by the Simpson family in memory of Willie who passed away in 2011. Willie was a member of the family who owned the Swan in Whalsay and who not only was a crewman on board in her fishing days, but also periodically skippered her in her new role as a sailing vessel after restoration. Willie was also a very valued member of the Swan Trust throughout.

The Vevoe Trophy is on permanent display in the foyer of the UHI Shetland campus in Scalloway, and is a replica of the original wheel from the Swan, made by the late Laurence Robertson in Unst, with help from Peter Mouat, as well as from Ian Smith and Maurice Manson in Lerwick. It is too large to be handed out annually, so the Swan Trust commissioned Terry Atkinson to create an original plaque of the Swan under sail, in cold-cast bronze, which becomes a permanent possession of the winner each year. A unique feature of this plaque is a circle of original timber from the Swan pre-rebuild, so is at least 123 years old. Both the Vevoe trophy and bronze plaque can be seen in the photo of the presentation.

Congratulations to Colleen and many thanks to all our volunteers and supporters who help make sail training happen in Shetland.