News

It was with a heavy heart that we learned of the passing of former Trustee and Chairman Captain Michael Gray. Here we pay tribute to him, his work in establishing the Swan as a sail training vessel and his ongoing support of the Trust.

The Swan Trust SCIO is among 27 local projects and charities to receive a total of £8.7 million funding from the Shetland Charitable Trust for 2023/24, with The Swan Trust receiving £29,000 towards its core costs for delivering its volunteering and sailing opportunities to the community, and keeping Shetland’s maritime heritage alive.

The Vevoe Trophy for Swan Sail Trainee of the Year 2022 was presented to nineteen-year-old Vaila Wright, from Lerwick. Supported by Sail Training Shetland, Vaila was one of twenty Swan Trainees who took part in the Tall Ships Races 2022, visiting Denmark, The Netherlands and Belgium, followed by the Excelsior Trust Centenary Smack Race, in Lowestoft, England.

The Swan Trust SCIO is delighted that one of their volunteers, Ian Nicolson, has been awarded the National Historic Ships UK and Marsh Charitable Trust, Marsh Volunteer Award (Individual) 2022. The Awards recognise the significant contribution volunteers make to the conservation and operation of historic vessels in the UK

The Swan Trust’s Skipper, Maggie Adamson, has been announced Sail Trainer of the Year 2022 at the Sail Training International Awards in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.

The Swan Trust has delivered a series of youth sail training taster days around the northern and western isles to build excitement among young people ahead of The Tall Ships Races returning to Shetland in 2023. Taking place in Shetland, Orkney, Ullapool and Stornoway, the training events saw over 100 young people enjoy a day aboard Shetland’s own tall ship, Swan.

Classic sailing vessel, the Swan, was in Unst and Yell recently delivering trips for the public and a number of half day sails to school pupils in the isles.

The Swan Trust SCIO, is seeking Trustees to help shape the future of the Trust and develop opportunities for everyone to interact with Shetland’s community asset, the Swan, LK 243.

The Swan is going back to her roots with a trip dedicated to fishing and seafood. Sailing from Uyeasound, in Unst, the trip will visit some of the best fishing grounds around the North Isles and everyone aboard will be responsible for catching the seafood to be enjoyed over the weekend.

Celebrating Wordplay 2022, The Swan Trust is offering a literary evening aboard the Swan in September, with a traditional dish of bacalao made by local food expert and author Marian Armitage, readings from John Goodlad’s new book The Salt Roads – How fish created a culture, and traditional music by Swan Skipper Maggie Adamson.

The crew of the Swan, LK243, have received excellent feedback from the teachers and pupils of the Bells Brae and Sound Primary Schools. Primary seven pupils from both schools came aboard over 5 days in May for half day sailing trips, learning about life aboard, how to set sails, tie knots, steer the ship and the history of Swan.

As the excitement builds ahead of the Tall Ships Races returning to Lerwick in 2023, Sail Training Shetland is delighted to announce they will support twenty young adults to take part in the Tall Ship Races 2022 onboard Swan.