The impact of The Tall Ships Races: Anna and Cécile speak out

Anna and Cécile both became involved in The Tall Ships Races as ambassadors for the city of Antwerp. In the summer of 2025, Anna sailed from Dunkirk to Aberdeen aboard the Morgenster. Cécile de Bruykere travelled on the Thalassa in 2021. They created content on board, which was used to promote The Tall Ships Races.

Tough moments and incredible views

For Anna and Cécile, it is a trip they will never forget. It’s the sunsets and the friendships above all, but also the hard work that lingers.

Anna: "The Tall Ships Races were a special experience for me. I was on duty from 4 to 8 a.m. and from 4 to 8 p.m. That rhythm suited me surprisingly well. Every morning we watched the sun rise over the sea, and we often saw the morning star too. That is a nickname for the planet Venus, as it appears as a bright star at sunrise. As it happened, that was also the name of the ship I was sailing on: the Morgenster (‘the Morning Star’)."

Cécile: "When I first stepped aboard sailing ship Thalassa, I was introduced to the purity of sailing. I forged friendships with people from all over Europe. Once you're on board, you leave the outside world behind and become reliant on yourself and your fellow trainees. There's nothing more magical than watching the sun rise and set while surrounded by nothing but open water."

Anna: "Of course, there were some tough moments, too. In bad weather, the work could be really physically demanding, and we also had to help clean for an hour every afternoon. But there were also moments of real quiet. With almost no mobile signal, it felt like we suddenly had a lot more time. I also started doing things again that I used to enjoy, but no longer have time for. Drawing, for example."

Anna: ‘What I loved doing most was climbing the masts." That really gave an incredible view of the sea. I also enjoyed steering the boat, trimming the sails and filling in the logbook, because it really made you feel part of the sailing experience."

Forever drawn to the water

For Cécile, the trip was life-changing. "I felt so at home at sea that I decided to change course, literally and figuratively. The Tall Ships Races made me discover my true passion. I decided to give up my nursing studies and started studying nautical sciences at the Antwerp Maritime Academy."

Anna is also studying maritime sciences at the Maritime Academy. "Before I decided to take part in The Tall Ships Races, I spent a long time weighing up the Maritime Academy and Industrial Engineering. I’m glad I ended up choosing the former. I learned a great deal, both theoretically and practically. For example, I did an internship aboard the Dar Młodzieży, a tall ship on which I lived for a month. Cécile was one of the coaches who guided us through the process. "In the future, I want to work at sea, although I’m not yet sure exactly what kind of ship I’d like to work on in the maritime sector."