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Gordonstoun takes to the seas for world famous tall ships event

Gordonstoun students are taking part in this year’s Tall Ships Races – as one of only two UK schools taking part in the world-famous event. Two crews are sailing Gordonstoun’s 80ft long Ocean Spirit of Moray yacht, along with 49 other vessels, on the month-long journey through the English Channel and North Sea.

Vessels from Oman, the Uruguayan navy and Peru are among those taking part in the challenging route, beginning in Le Havre, France, and eventually finishing in Esberg, Denmark.

For the first time since 1997, the race will stop at Aberdeen, with organisers predicting the four-day stop will be the biggest tourist event in Scotland this year.

The Ocean Spirit of Moray, with two masts, is a fully equipped ocean-going yacht used as a sail training vessel for Gordonstoun students to introduce and prepare them for sea expeditions in all weathers.


Twelve girls and ten boys from Gordonstoun - aged between 14 and 18 years - are taking part in the race. The event is a major endurance challenge, with every student being part of a 24-hour “watch system” on the vessel to ensure the Ocean Spirit of Moray continues sailing night and day.

The first crew took part in the first half of the race from Le Havre sailing via Dunkirk and will arrive in Aberdeen on 19 July. The second crew will then sail from the Granite City via Kristian sand before arriving in Denmark on 6 August.

The races are designed to encourage international friendship and training for young people in the art of sailing.

Robin Baker, Sail Training Operations & Training Manager at Gordonstoun, said:

'It’s a hugely challenging race. For each leg we don’t stop until we reach the finish, sailing during the day and overnight. We have a watch system with students taking a turn to be three hours on and three hours off, followed by three hours on standby. The students must fit in some sleep when they can. This teaches the students that the boat comes first followed by the crew, then the individual.

'The students don’t have a lot of personal space, they have their own bunk and that’s about it. After 24 hours they get used to working in such a confined space and you can see in the camaraderie how they look out for each other.

'This event is perfect for Gordonstoun students, with its diverse international participation and challenging programme. Ocean Spirit of Moray will be alongside vessels from as far as Uruguay and Oman. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students'.

Open ocean sailing is part of the curriculum at Gordonstoun, beginning with three days in prep school and up to seven days in senior school. The students competing in the Tall Ships Race will be accompanied by up to five staff, including a Skipper, First Mate and two or three watch leaders.

The vessels will be competing in four classes with a prize giving for each leg. There is an overall prize winner and a ‘Friendship Trophy’, given to the crew who has “contributed most towards international friendship and understanding” during the event.

Erika Procter, First Mate, added:

'The advantage of doing Tall Ships with a school group is that they all know each other before the set off, which isn’t the case for many other crews. Because all Gordonstoun students get ocean open sailing experience on ‘Ocean Spirit of Moray’ as part of the school curriculum, they also know the boat which helps.

'This is my first time competing in the Tall Ships and I’m really excited to take part. Going down the Channel will be a challenge, there is so much more traffic on that stretch of water, which will be interesting.

'The staff are there but we are just facilitating, it is the students that sail the boat. It’s that sense of responsibility that gives them confidence and a real sense of accomplishment at the end.'

Student William Adam, 17, said;

'I am hugely appreciative of the school for providing me with the opportunity to represent Gordonstoun and compete in the Tall Ships this year. When I joined the school in September, I never would have thought that I would have this experience over the summer holidays. I am looking forward to the skills, friendships, and experiences that I will gain along the way.”

Aberdeen previously hosted the prestigious event in 1991 and 1997. Greenock and Lerwick are among other towns to have featured in the event's history, which dates back to the 1970s.

July 2025