by Peter Mello

For over 30 years the American Sail Training Association (ASTA) has supported and promoted sail training in North America. It all started back in 1972, when Captain Barclay Warburton III, along with his two young sons and a couple of friends, sailed from Newport in his small brigantine Black Pearl across the Atlantic Ocean and joined the USCG Training Barque Eagle as the first American participants in the European tall ships races. So taken by the youthful energy, friendly competition and goodwill engendered in the European events, as well as how his sons’ lives were influenced by their sailing experience, Warburton enlisted several Newport community leaders and signed the articles of association founding the American Sail Training Association in 1973.

ASTA’s strength comes from its membership which has demonstrated phenomenal growth over the years. What started out as a handful of vessels is now an international organization with more than 250 vessels hailing from more than 20 countries, sailing the world’s oceans and proudly flying the ASTA flag! There are also 500 individual members who faithfully support ASTA’s mission and programs. Today ASTA is the oldest and largest sail training membership association in the world.