Pioneer Sailing Trust

07/09/2026

07/09/2026

We still have this drawing board looking for a home! Does anyone want it, or know someone who does?

07/09/2026

Thank you James Crisp Photography and Katie Bees for catching Pioneer CK18 in action during this year’s Colne Smack and Barge Race!

Thank you to for organising another great race!

⛵️ ❤️

03/09/2026

⚓ Welcome to Pioneer Sailing Trust!

We’re delighted to welcome two new full-time apprentices who have joined us this week to begin their Level 3 Heritage Engineering Technician Apprenticeship here at Pioneer Sailing Trust. 🎉

Meet Isaac and Milo! 👋

Over the course of their apprenticeship, they’ll have the opportunity to learn the wide range of practical skills, knowledge and traditional techniques needed to begin a career in boat restoration and heritage engineering.

Their training is a little different from a traditional apprenticeship. Each month, one week will be dedicated to structured training here at Pioneer Sailing Trust, where they’ll join our visiting apprentices and develop their skills alongside others. For the remainder of the month, they’ll be employed here at the Trust, gaining invaluable hands-on experience working on real-world restoration and engineering projects.

This combination of formal training and practical experience means our apprentices can learn their trade while contributing to the preservation of historic boats and maritime skills for future generations. ⚓🔨🌊

We’re incredibly excited to see them develop over the coming years and look forward to supporting them as they begin their careers in heritage engineering and boat restoration.

A huge thank you to the for supporting our apprenticeship programme and helping us to invest in the next generation of skilled craftspeople.

Welcome aboard — we’re looking forward to seeing where your journey takes you! 👏⚓

03/09/2026

💛 Su***de Prevention Month — You Are Never Alone

This Su***de Prevention Month, Pioneer Sailing Trust is proud to stand alongside those working to raise awareness, encourage conversations, and remind people that it’s okay to ask for help.

We believe that sometimes, a change of surroundings can make a real difference. 🌊

Through our sailing experiences, we try to give people the opportunity to step away from everyday pressures, spend time on the water, learn something new, and simply be around others in a positive and supportive environment.

There’s something about being out on the water — the fresh air, the open space, working together as a crew and having a shared purpose — that can help people feel connected and remind them that they’re part of something.

We know that sailing isn’t a solution to mental health struggles, and we’re not here to replace professional support. But if we can provide a safe space, a listening ear, a sense of belonging, or even just a few hours where someone can breathe and feel part of a team, then we believe that matters.

This month, let’s keep talking, keep checking in on the people around us, and never underestimate the importance of simply asking:

“Are you okay?”

💛 If you’re struggling, support is available:

📞 Samaritans — 116 123
Free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

📞 Shout — text SHOUT to 85258
Free, confidential support by text, 24/7.

📞 NHS 111 — select the mental health option
For urgent mental health support in England.

🚨 If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E.

You matter. You are valued. And you don’t have to face things alone.

🌊 Sometimes, simply getting out on the water, being part of a crew and having someone beside you can be the first step towards feeling connected again.

***dePreventionMonth ***dePrevention

02/09/2026

01/09/2026

Maritime Heritage Weekend at Ipswich Heritage Harbour! ⚓️

We’re incredibly excited to be bringing Pioneer CK18 alongside Ipswich Harbour’s Common Quay, joining Excelsior and Sailing Barge Victor for a fantastic weekend celebrating Ipswich’s rich maritime heritage.

📅 Saturday 12th September
⏰ 11am – 4pm
📍 Ipswich Heritage Harbour

This special weekend, organised as part of Ipswich Maritime Trust’s Heritage Weekend, is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together, step aboard some of the vessels that have shaped our maritime story, and celebrate the skills, traditions and people that continue to keep our heritage alive.

Events like this give families, visitors, volunteers and local organisations the chance to connect with the harbour, learn something new, share stories and experience these historic vessels up close. Most importantly, they help ensure that our maritime traditions and skills continue to be passed on to future generations. 🌊

George and the crew will be around throughout the weekend to welcome you aboard Pioneer CK18, give tours and chat about the work we do at Pioneer Sailing Trust — including our apprenticeship programme, which helps young people develop practical skills, confidence and experience while keeping traditional maritime skills alive.

And there’s plenty more to see and hear!

🪓 Sutton Hoo Ship's Company will be showcasing a fascinating tree-splitting demonstration, giving visitors a glimpse into the traditional skills and techniques used in historic boatbuilding.

🎶 The Shefarers Shanty group will be singing at the start of each day, helping to set the perfect atmosphere for a weekend celebrating life on the water.

With Pioneer CK18, Excelsior and Sailing Barge Victor together at Common Quay, it promises to be a fantastic celebration of Ipswich’s maritime past, present and future.

Come down, bring your family and friends, meet the crews, explore the vessels and help us celebrate the maritime heritage that makes our community so special.

We can’t wait to see you there! ⚓️🌊