ASTO

Morvargh Sailing Project is a proud member of the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO), the national body that brings together Sail Training providers across the United Kingdom.

ASTO exists to support, represent, and strengthen Sail Training as a sector. It provides a shared framework that helps organisations like Morvargh deliver experiences that are not only inspiring but also safe, purposeful, and grounded in recognised good practice. For parents and partner organisations, this offers an important layer of reassurance. It means that Morvargh is part of a wider professional community, working to common principles rather than operating in isolation.

Our commitment to high standards and meaningful youth development was recognised nationally in 2026 when Helen Mary R was awarded the prestigious MCA/ASTO UK Sail Training Vessel of the Year. The award recognised not only seamanship and safety standards, but also the organisation’s long-term commitment to creating life-changing opportunities for young people through Sail Training.

Morvargh Sailing Project exemplifies the very best of Sail Training in the UK. Helen Mary R demonstrates not only high standards of seamanship and safety, but a deep and sustained commitment to the personal development of young people. This award recognises a programme that delivers meaningful impact through challenge, responsibility, and care.

Kerry, Chief Executive of ASTO

Across the UK, ASTO brings together around thirty Sail Training organisations, collectively operating more than fifty vessels. This includes everything from large square-rigged tall ships to smaller offshore yachts like Helen Mary R. While each organisation is independent, they are united by a shared commitment to using the sea as a platform for learning, responsibility, and personal growth.

For parents and teachers, this scale matters. It shows that Sail Training is not a niche or isolated activity, but a well-established national movement with decades of experience behind it. Young people taking part are not stepping into the unknown; they are joining a wider community that has supported thousands of participants across the country.

In practice, this means Morvargh benefits from ongoing dialogue with other experienced operators. Knowledge is shared openly across organisations, from approaches to safeguarding and risk management to how best to support young people through challenge and reflection. This culture of collaboration helps maintain high standards across the sector and allows organisations to learn from one another in a meaningful way.

A key part of this collaboration takes place through ASTO’s annual conference. Each year, Sail Training organisations from across the UK come together to share experience, reflect on current challenges, and take part in sessions focused on improving practice. These gatherings are not about competition; they are about collective learning. Topics often include safeguarding, youth development, leadership, inclusion, and safety at sea. For Morvargh, this provides valuable space to step back from day-to-day delivery and ensure that what we offer continues to evolve and improve.

For us, being part of ASTO means knowing that, even as a small social enterprise, we are supported by a wider community that shares our belief in doing Sail Training properly.

Matt Barraud, Director of Morvargh

For teachers and youth leaders, this connection is particularly important. Sail Training is often very different from classroom-based learning, and it can be difficult to assess quality from the outside. ASTO membership signals that a provider is engaged in continuous improvement, informed by national conversations around youth development, inclusion, and educational outcomes. It offers confidence that the experience is structured, intentional, and aligned with recognised approaches to personal development.

ASTO also plays a key role in making Sail Training more accessible. Through initiatives such as the Hammond Innes Bursary, funding is distributed to member organisations to support young people who might otherwise be unable to take part. This includes those facing financial barriers and young people with additional needs. For Morvargh, this support is significant. It allows us to offer places to young people from a wider range of backgrounds, ensuring that opportunity is not limited by circumstance.

The organisation itself has a long history. Established in the early 1970s, ASTO emerged from a recognition that Sail Training organisations could achieve more by working together than alone. Since then, it has helped shape the development of Sail Training in the UK, contributing to improved standards, stronger safeguarding practices, and greater recognition of the sector’s educational value.

For Morvargh, being part of ASTO is about more than membership. It is about belonging to a community that shares a belief in the transformational power of Sail Training. It connects us with others who understand that growth comes through responsibility, shared effort, and time spent beyond familiar environments.

This connection strengthens what happens on board. It ensures that our voyages are not only adventurous but also carefully considered in their support for young people. It reinforces our commitment to doing things properly; to creating an environment where challenge is balanced with support, and where every young person is given the opportunity to step forward and grow.

For families and partner organisations, ASTO membership offers a clear signal. It shows that Morvargh is part of a trusted, established network committed to quality, safety, and meaningful outcomes. It reflects a shared responsibility across the sector to protect and develop Sail Training for future generations.

At its heart, both ASTO and Morvargh believe in the same simple idea. When young people are trusted with real responsibility, supported by a strong team, and given space to reflect on their experiences, they grow. Sail Training creates that environment in a way few other settings can.

If you want to find out more about the work ASTO does in representing Sail Training you can visit their site here https://asto.org.uk/