We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ian Carruthers. Having been privileged to attend his memorial yesterday, we were reminded of what a truly remarkable individual he was, someone whose vision, leadership and humanity helped shape Tall Ships Youth Trust into the organisation it is today.

Ian joined us in 2002 as a Trustee of the Sail Training Association and Chairman of our operating company, Tall Ships Limited. He arrived at a pivotal moment in our history and immediately threw his weight behind a number of transformative initiatives.

One of his most significant contributions was leading the change of our name from the Sail Training Association to Tall Ships Youth Trust, a move that better reflected our mission and ensured our work remained accessible to future generations of supporters and funders.

Ian also spearheaded a radical reconfiguration of our fleet. At a time when rising global costs made our traditional tall ships increasingly difficult to sustain, he championed an innovative plan to replace one of them with a fleet of Challenger yachts. What began as a brave and controversial idea became one of the most successful decisions in our history.

Those yachts continue to sail today, two decades on. They have allowed us to diversify our programmes, build new partnerships, and most importantly, impact the lives of thousands of young people. None of this would have happened without Ian’s foresight and determination.

But Ian was more than a visionary leader. He was a joy to work with, warm, persuasive, and always ready with a perfectly timed joke. He had a rare ability to bring people with him, even when the path ahead was uncertain.

Ian leaves behind a lasting legacy not only in the vessels that still sail, but in the countless young lives that have been changed because of his belief in what this charity could become.

We will remember him with immense gratitude, deep respect, and fond smiles.

Fair winds, Ian.