Is there a minimum age?
From time to time we have specific voyages for parent and child and there may be no lower limit. A child under 16 always needs to be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.
Some of our ships have minimum ages for vessel insurance reasons e.g. Tenacious will only accept Children 12 years and over with a parent or guardian on day sails.
Teenagers
Traditionally rigged ships are great for teenagers and blocks and tackles are a lot safer than winches you get on a typical charter yachts.
They generally need to be 16 or over to sail on their own, but youth sail training ships like Maybe sometimes do special summer holiday voyages for unaccompanied young people from 14.
Family Voyages
The simplest way is to join an existing voyage that is suitable for the age range of your family.
The following vessels take children with their patents or legal guardian subject it to being a shortish voyage.
From 12 and upwards
- · Ann of Charlestown·
- · Irene
- · Mascotte·
From 8 and upwards
- Blue Clipper
- Maybe
- Pilgrim
Oosterschelde takes children of any age.
Charter a boat with professional Skipper and Crew
The age range can often be more flexible if you charter a whole boat. To do this you need to book early as once we have people booked on a voyage we can not switch to a private charter.
Is there an upper age limit?
It is unusual for Classic Sailing voyages to place an upper age limit.
What is important is a reasonable level of health and fitness.
Every sailor whatever their age is required to complete a health and safety form. For some voyages and vessels extra medical forms may be required if you are over a certain age threshold or have a medical issue that could present a problem. We will inform you if this is required after we have studied your answers to the standard application form. See our questions on ‘how strong and agile do I have to be?’
