Ready, set, sail: SSE Renewables trainee ready to embrace Tall Ships Races opportunity
30 May 2023Ellie Lawton, a Graduate Trainee from SSE Renewables, is gearing up for a once in a lifetime opportunity as she prepares to get involved in the Tall Ships Races event, setting sail from Shetland to Norway on Friday 28 July.
As part of SSE Renewables’ support for The Tall Ships Races 2023, the energy company is sponsoring two trainees aboard a vessel during the race leg from Lerwick, Shetland to Norway. One trainee will be an SSE Renewables colleague and the other will be a local young person from Shetland.
SSE Renewables colleagues were encouraged to put forward an application and explain why they were interested in taking part. Ellie, who is currently working on Dogger Bank C, delved into how the experience would take her out of her comfort zone and allow the opportunity to learn new skills.
Since being put forward to take part in the Tall Ships Race, Ellie has undergone a training day in Shetland where she learned how to sail onboard the Swan vessel located in Lerwick. Ellie will be joining the Tall Ships vessel on its voyage on Friday 28 July and will return to the UK on Thursday 10 August.
The annual event organised by Sail Training International involves sailing in European waters to selected ports where they will host festivals that can be expected to bring between 200,000 and 1 million visitors over 3 to 4 days. Lerwick has twice previously hosted the Tall Ships Races in 1999 and 2011, this year it’s expected that between 6 and 10 tall ships will take part.
"I can’t wait to get involved in the Tall Ships event; it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity so to be selected is a great feeling. I’m looking forward to getting to know the crew that I’ll be working with and learning about their backgrounds.
Ellie Lawton Graduate Trainee from SSE Renewables
I have never experienced a real-life adventure with no knowledge of what lies ahead in an alien environment, however I’m looking forward to pushing myself to discover hidden strengths. Equally I am excited to discover hidden weaknesses because I know that by recognising these and challenging them, it will help me with my self-confidence."
About The Tall Ships Races
The Tall Ships Races is Europe’s largest free, family festival, held every summer in European waters, offering an exciting racecourse for a magnificent fleet of participating vessels, crewed by thousands of young people. This prestigious event showcases Sail Training International’s values of fostering international friendships and providing life changing experiences for young people.
Lerwick has been appointed as a host port for the 2023 races and will host the fleet between 26th and 29th July following a Cruise in Company leg where ships will have the opportunity to visit a number of guest harbours on the route from the host port of Fredrikstad in Norway. Other host ports in 2023 are Den Helder in the Netherlands, Hartlepool in England and Arendal in Norway. This will be the third time Lerwick has hosted the fleet, with previous visits in 1999 and 2011.
The event is supported by grant funding from Shetland Islands Council and EventScotland, in addition to sponsorship from local companies. Lerwick Port Authority and Sail Training Shetland provide significant in-kind support for berthing, event sites and the recruitment of young trainees.