Head of maritime school: Children need to respect the sea, not fear it

At the Sõru Maritime School on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa, children gain their first knowledge of sailing, behavior at sea, and safety. Currently, about 20 students are enrolled, but demand is high with more applicants than places.

One student, Alfred Onno, has been attending for nearly three years. He says his interest came from home: "My father is also a seaman. He taught that we need more seafarers." According to Onno, steering a sailboat requires activity, and "there's definitely some hustle."

School head Katrin Visnapuu says growth is limited by the boat fleet size and coach workload. Safety is a core focus. Children are not taught to fear the sea but to respect and understand it. "Panic is the worst thing for safety — they must respect it and get to know it," she explains.

Learning begins before boarding a boat. Students first learn to observe weather conditions and plan activities. "They must always check the forecast, consider wind direction, think through their actions, how to leave and return to dock," Visnapuu says.

Despite strong interest, the school struggles to find instructors. Visnapuu notes this is a nationwide issue in Estonia. "Finding sailing coaches is a major challenge. Perhaps young people don't see it as a viable career path." The school also promotes maritime careers and has seen its first graduate from the Estonian Maritime Academy as a ship's officer.

18-year-old sailing coach Fredy Saarkoppel spends summers on his small yacht in Sõru harbor. The boat is his home from June to August. "I came a bit earlier this year, at the end of May," he says. The yacht has a cabin with essentials for daily life.

Saarkoppel's connection to the sea began at the same school where he now teaches. He says he has a calling for the sea. "It gives me confidence that I'm doing the right thing." Living on the yacht allows him to sail more often and enjoy harbor life with social events like Sõru Jazz and Hiiu Country Festival.