Looking for a different kind of holiday?
Sailing is a journey.
You leave the cocoon of a plane, train or car and travel across the open sea. Traditional sailing isn’t just about where you go, it’s how you get there.
You join a working vessel, take part in sailing the ship and share the voyage with the people aboard.
The journey becomes the holiday.
Life aboard starts when you join
Most holidays involve travelling somewhere and then deciding what to do when you get there.
A sailing voyage works differently.
The voyage has already been planned and the professional crew take care of sailing the vessel safely. You don’t have to decide where to go tomorrow, where you’re going to eat or what you’re going to do when you arrive.
Once aboard, many of the things you spend everyday life organising simply disappear.
Instead, concentrate on the voyage. Get stuck into sailing the ship, spend time on deck and get to know the other people aboard.
Meanwhile, the vessel keeps moving and the voyage unfolds around you.
There is plenty happening, but surprisingly little you have to organise.
A holiday from organising things
Everyday life can involve organising work, home, family, appointments, travel and other people.
I used to be that high-powered executive, so busy I had a different watch for every hour of the day. That was actually true, I did have 24 watches, although collecting them was a hobby.
During my first tall ship voyage, I experienced the relief you get from simply not having to organise everything or constantly make decisions.
Much of the organising has already been done for you. The voyage has been planned, the professional crew know where the vessel is going and how to get there, and life aboard settles into the rhythm of the voyage. You don’t need to plan tomorrow’s activities, decide where to eat or work out what everyone is going to do next.
You can still be busy and involved, but without being responsible for organising everything.
You don’t have to be a sailor
You don’t need previous sailing experience to join most of our voyages.
The professional crew show you what to do. You might steer, handle sails and ropes, keep lookout or take part in watches.
There is no need for lessons or qualifications beforehand. You learn as the voyage develops.
Curious About Sailing? Your First Time Sailing article..
You’re involved rather than entertained
Having little to organise doesn’t mean having little to do.
There isn’t a programme of activities designed to keep you occupied. Instead, there is a real vessel to sail.
The wind changes. Sails need handling. Someone needs to steer. There may be a new harbour to enter or an overnight passage ahead.
Some periods are busy. Others are quiet. You decide how much you want to take part, while the professional crew remain responsible for the vessel.
What about the people?
Many people join individually.
Aboard a traditional sailing vessel, people who might never otherwise meet have something in common from the start. You live, eat and sail together.
Over meals, watches and time on deck, you gradually get to know one another.
You don’t need to organise a group before you go. You join the people who have chosen the same voyage.
Where could I go?
You might spend a few days exploring the Cornish coast, sail between European ports or cross an ocean. There are also voyages in the Arctic and other remote parts of the world.
But don’t assume further means better.
A short coastal passage still gives you the experience of leaving one place under sail and seeing another coastline or harbour appear ahead.
You haven’t simply arrived there. You have worked your passage.
Is it comfortable?
That depends on the vessel.
Traditional sailing ships aren’t floating hotels. Accommodation ranges from simple shared cabins to more comfortable private cabins.
Many of these vessels are part of a much wider maritime heritage, with historic craft from around the UK recorded by National Historic Ships UK.
Living aboard a working vessel also involves some compromises.
Choosing the right vessel is therefore important. Tell us what you are looking for and we can help narrow the choice.
What if I’m not sure sailing is for me?
Then don’t start by choosing a ship. Start with what you want from your holiday.
Perhaps you want to be active. Maybe you want an adventure of your own, with the chance to meet and travel with people you didn’t know before.
You might want to learn something, spend more time outside or simply get away from having to organise everyday life.
From there, we can work out whether a sailing voyage fits and what type of vessel might suit you.
Curious about a different kind of holiday?
You don’t have to decide that you want to become a sailor.
You only need to be curious enough to find out what sailing could offer.
Where you go still counts, but how you get there becomes part of the reason for going.
Tell us what sort of holiday you are looking for, where you might like to go and anything you’re uncertain about. We can then point you towards vessels and voyages that could suit you.
Curious about sailing? Tell us what you’re looking for..
