A PROGRAM THAT EXPANDS WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN OFFER
The Tall Ships Connections® Program provides multiple opportunities to support your club or organization and your sailors. It serves as an extension or parallel program that can offer experiences no other program can — leadership development opportunities for kids aboard a tall ship, a pathway to creating USCG-credentialed instructors in your program, and unique programming experiences for your adult members and families.
WHY THIS PROGRAM BENEFITS YOUR ORGANIZATION
Tall Ships Connections® offers a leadership development pathway most yacht clubs and sailing centers don’t currently have — and it’s built to slot in as either a parallel track or a natural next step for your sailors. It builds teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking, alongside technical training that pays off in multiple ways.
THREE TRACKS. ONE CONNECTED PATHWAY.
1. TALL SHIP SAILING
This part of the program is focused on providing experiences for kids ages 12+ in a way that aligns with, or supports, your existing youth programming. Think of it as the real adventure-sailing option. The program comes in one of two main formats:
- 3-Day Program — three days of programming combining shore-based programming with day sails.
- 7-Day Program — 2 days shore-based, 5 days on the water, including 4 overnights.
Designed to complement the programming yacht clubs and sailing centers already deliver, Tall Ships Connections builds on basic sailing skills, STEM, and maritime history through our partner organizations. The curriculum aligns with US Sailing’s Beginner and Intermediate levels and the Reach (STEM) Initiative — with a strong emphasis on leadership, teamwork, and helping sailors become the best version of themselves.
These experiences can also count toward sea time for sailors pursuing a USCG credential (more on that under Instructor USCG Credentialing, below).
Looking for something longer — a semester-long program or a different structure? Just ask. We can work to meet your needs.
2. INSTRUCTOR USCG CREDENTIALING
This track was created based on the recognition that yacht clubs and sailing centers have great sailing instructors, but many of those individuals don’t hold the USCG credentials needed to transport students, leaving programs vulnerable should something happen. This track puts your junior instructors on the path to certification by helping them begin collecting sea time through Tall Ships America’s partner, MM-SEAS, as soon as they’re able (age 16) — which also happens to align with the enrollment age for the Small Boat Level 1 Instructor course (turning 16 in the calendar year).
Candidates interested in pursuing a USCG credential voluntarily opt in during the Level 1 registration process and then track their progress: any day they spend 4+ hours on the water counts. When they’re ready, they can get their formal training through a USCG Certification Course Provider. This all means that if they’re committed to it, your instructors can be USCG-credentialed by the time they become your senior instructors — helping to fill a crucial need in your program.
3. ENGAGING EXPERIENCES
Tall Ships Connections® isn’t just for kids — it can also be used to connect with adults, whether by giving them an epic experience of their own, or by making the tracking and education toward a USCG credential available to the experienced sailor in your program who’d love to finally call themselves “Captain.” The elements all exist and can be promoted as an extension of your program, without adding extra work to your staff.
While the focus of this track is the experience itself, you can layer in an educational component focused on environmental education and/or maritime history. We also hold a number of events that provide incredibly unique experiences — such as sailing on the Great Lakes as part of our Tall Ships Challenge Series, or in the Caribbean, aboard a ship competing in one of several spring regattas.
IT’S BOTH A PROGRAM AND A PATHWAY
Tall Ships Connections® isn’t just about providing experiences and credentialing. It’s also about helping connect the dots from sailing programs to the maritime workforce. Through this program, we provide a pathway to opportunities — whether that means joining the tall ships community, launching a maritime career, or simply growing as a sailor and a leader. We collaborate with national partners to provide training, resources, and unique experiences, and to connect your sailors with the larger maritime community — the employers and educational institutions, like the maritime academies, that allow a passion to turn into a profession.
WHERE TO START
Tell us what you’re looking for, what dates you’re targeting, and how we can help. Our ships — like your sailing programs — come in every size and focus. We can also explore financial options with you, including strategies for finding support from your community to make these life-changing experiences a reality.
Ready to see what this could look like for your program? Please tell us a little bit about you and we’ll follow up with more info!
