News

The Swan Trust is delighted to have received funding from the Shetland Islands Council Coastal Communities Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to enable them to undertake a three year project which will help build community links and deliver their strategic priorities

The Swan has featured in Ahoy Portsoy - the first ever digital Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, with a film narrated by Swan Trustee and Author of The Cod Hunters book, John Goodlad.

Members of The Scalloway Peerie Club enjoyed a visit to the Swan to learn about this unique classic sailing vessel and Shetland’s maritime heritage.

Sail Training Shetland and The Swan Trust are offering an exciting new opportunity onboard Swan, for 13-23 year olds. “Sail Training Taster Days” will offer young trainees a day sailing experience on Swan as well as the opportunity to learn more about Sail Training Shetland and taking part in The Tall Ships Races. Day sails will take place 28th, 29th and 30th July. Applications open Saturday 26th June, closing Friday 9th July.

The Swan Trust has received a funding boost with all the royalties from sales of The Cod Hunters book being donated to the Trust.

The Swan Trust is delighted that Lerwick has been selected for the third time to be a host port for the spectacular Tall Ships Races. Sail Training International, operator of the Tall Ships Races, has announced the selected host ports for the 2023 series, with the Races expected to visit Lerwick from 26-29 July.  The isles previously hosted the event in 1999 and 2011.

Successful local tour guide, writer and blogger Laurie Goodlad, shares her memories of Swan, including her first trip to Norway in 2002, aged 15, and taking part in the 2004 Tall Ships Races.

Joseph Kay has spent the majority of his career as a fisherman, laterally as the second skipper on the Donvale. Now working on the Whalsay Ferry, he continues to be an avid supporter of the fishing industry. Here he shares some of his memories of the Swan, his time at the fishing, and stories from those who crewed the Swan, and similar vessels, in the days of sailing herring drifters.

The Swan Trust has been awarded £17,800 through the Historic Environment Recovery Fund, which was launched last year to support the recovery of Scotland’s historic environment sector from the impacts of COVID-19.

Andrew Halcrow, The Swan Trust’s first and longest serving skipper, shares his memories of developing The Swan Trust’s youth work.

The Swan Trust is among 26 projects to receive support from The Shetland Charitable Trust for 2021. This funding will support The Trust in maintaining and operating their classic sailing ship, The Swan, enabling them to deliver life changing sail training and volunteering opportunities.

Swan volunteer and talented artist Gilly B details her experience with The Swan Trust, and how Swan has inspired her work. During the years she has sailed with Shetland primary school children; older youth trainees taking part in Nordic Sail, Shetland - Denmark - Sweden - Norway - Shetland; and with American knitters on a charter for Shetland Wool Week. She is also a regular at our maintenance sessions, caring for and maintaining Swan.