For immediate release For information,
text or accompanying image via e-mail, contact:
Peter A. Mello, ASTA Executive Director
p: 401-846-1775; e: peter@sailtraining.org

Newport, R.I. (October 24, 2005) The American Sail Training Association announced it's 2005 Annual Sail Training Awards which will be presented at the 33rd Annual Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships in Bay City, MI on November 4th. “This year we have an incredibly deserving group of award recipients,” said ASTA executive director Peter A. Mello. “These organizations and individuals have dedicated themselves to positively changing young lives through education and leadership development programs aboard tall ships.”

The ASTA Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to CAPTAIN David V.V. Wood, USCG (Ret.) of Newport , RI . This Award is presented to an individual who has dedicated their life's work to getting people to sea under sail and preserving the traditions and skills of sail training. CAPT Wood had a celebrated 30 year career in the US Coast Guard including a four year tour of duty as Commanding Officer of the USCG Training Barque EAGLE, during which “America's Tall Ship” made a historic first visit to Leningrad, USSR in 1989, celebrated the Coast Guard's Bicentennial during 1989-90 in all ten of the original Revenue Cutter ports, and represented the US in the Columbus Quincentenary Regatta in 1992. Following retirement from active duty, CAPT Wood became a director of the American Sail Training Association in Newport , Rhode Island and was its Chairman from 1998-2001. He also served as US National Representative to the International Sail Training Association, and was a Trustee of that organization from 1999-2002. He holds an unlimited USCG license as Master, Auxiliary Sail Vessels, Any Gross Tons, Oceans, and has occasionally returned to sea aboard sailing ships to keep his skills current. He is currently Director of Maritime Education and Training at the Northeast Maritime Institute in Fairhaven, Massachusetts.

The ASTA Sail Trainer of the Year Award will be presented to Captain Tim Pyron of Toronto Brigantine, Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada. This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the field of sail training during the past year and who demonstrated leadership by means of empowerment and inspiration.

The ASTA Sail Training Program of the Year Award will be presented to Tabor Academy, Marion, MA for the Orientation at Sea Program onboard the SSV Tabor Boy. This award is presented annually to an ASTA member organization for a program which most significantly contributed to the development of seamanship, navigation skills, teamwork, and leadership skills during the past year.

The ASTA Education Program of the Year Award will be presented to Bayshore Discovery Project, Bivalve, NJ. This award is presented annually to an ASTA member organization for a program which most significantly contributed to the educational credibility of program under sail during the past year.

The Perry Bowl will be presented to schooner Talofa, La Paz, Mexico as the top finishing ASTA member vessel in the 2005 TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Pacific Coast Race Series.

The 2005 ASTA Port of the Year Award will be announced at the Annual Awards Banquet. This award is presented to a city/municipality which demonstrates significant support of ASTA, an ASTA Member Organization, or furthers public recognition of sail training. Finalists for the 2005 Award include Victoria, BC, Canada; Tacoma, WA; Port Alberni, BC, Canada; and Oxnard, CA.

The American Sail Training Association, founded in 1973 in Newport, RI, is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage character building through sail training, promote sail training to the North American public and support education under sail. An international institution with more than 250 tall ships and sail training vessels from more than 25 countries and navigating all of the world's major bodies of water, ASTA's areas of interest are youth education, leadership development and the preservation of North American maritime heritage and traditions. ASTA organizes the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE®, an annual series of sail training races, rallies and maritime festivals, hosts an Annual Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships, and publishes SAIL TALL SHIPS!, the definitive guide to sail training and adventure at sea. Additionally, ASTA raises money for and administers scholarships and grants directly supporting youth education and leadership development programs that shape young people's lives and build tomorrow's leaders. More information is available online at: http://tallships.sailtraining.org

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