Part of the Crew – Not Just a Passenger
Unlike a conventional cruise, on a Classic Sailing voyage you become part of the crew for the duration of your voyage. Fear not, this doesn’t mean you have to know everything (or anything!) in advance… nor does it mean you’ll be swabbing the deck or peeling the spuds (though you absolutely can if you want to!)
Rather that if you’d like to get stuck in, you can have an incredibly rewarding, educational and active time on board.
Joining in with raising and setting sails, steering the ship and even going aloft makes your sailing holiday infinitely more enjoyable. You are not there just to passively observe, but to become an integral part of a beautiful machine! You’ll find that you can do so much more than you might have imagined – there are activities for everyone. By the end of the trip, you will have formed friendships with your fellow sailors that would have taken so much longer to forge had you not been working side by side on deck, not to mention an incredible boost of confidence and sense of achievement.
“Absolutely brilliant sailing, have been on a complete “high” ever since, which couldn’t be removed even when sitting on the underground and walking under grey London skies”
Anna P
No Experience Necessary
‘Hands On’ sailing is at the core of all our sailing holidays. Everyone can join in, and is encouraged to do so within the limits of their ability. You won’t be asked to do anything you have not been trained to do, and training always begins right at the start of the voyage. The ships’ friendly, professional crews are the experts of their vessels and are always on hand to guide and encourage.
Classic Sailing have never aimed our activity holidays exclusively at sailors. We have introduced thousands of people to sailing and travelling by wind power. If you are already hooked or an experienced sailor there are plenty of challenging voyages too.
Read more about starting out in traditional sailing in the following articles:
First Time? On Your Own? Not For Long!
Top Tips for Your First Traditional Sailing Holiday
See All our Articles on First Time Sailors
So What Does ‘Hands On’ Sailing Mean in Practice?
Do I have to Do Everything?
There is quite a difference in terms of required participation from vessel to vessel and sometimes between different voyages. If you find a voyage you fancy, take a look at the voyage description carefully. The section ‘what to expect’ will give an idea of how that ship operates. Some boats have rotas for everything, others rely on their professional crew for cleaning, deck scrubbing and anchor watches.
If you are doing a passage making voyage that involves long days or overnight sailing then the guest crew are usually split into watches. You might be on duty for 4 hours and off for 8 hours (or something similar). This might sound daunting, but watch keeping is such an integral part of life at sea we would HIGHLY recommend getting involved. Not only do you get to see everything that goes into operating these beautiful ships, but you are also forced to take time away from your book / phone / knitting and just soak up the environment. Unbelievable night skies, fascinating marine traffic and the most weird, wonderful and life affirming of conversations. Plus, being a lookout is your absolutely best chance to spot wildlife.
All ships will tailor your involvement to your ability. While being challenged is a great feeling, you won’t be pushed too far outside of your comfort zone if you don’t want to be. Don’t fancy climbing the rigging? That’s fine, there’s plenty of useful stuff to be done at deck level. Finding it hard to haul on the lines? Not a problem- you might spend a bit more time at the helm instead.
Can I do Everything?
If there is something specific you want to achieve whilst on board, that’s fantastic! Maybe you’d like to improve your navigation skills? Take a sun sight? Climb the mast? Steer through a tack? Successfully get down below, make a cup of tea and bring it back on deck without spilling a drop?!
Get in touch to find out if the voyage you’re looking at can tick the box you want ticking. We’re very happy to advise. We would also recommend writing it on your voyage booking form, or mentioning it during your first evening on board ship. That way the crew can find a suitable time to help you, and you’ve got the best chance of making it happen.
We love keen sailors and try-everything types but our professional crews are only human. They can only fit in so many experiences and learning opportunities in one day. As a rule, the crew all love people and take pride in teaching them about traditional sailing, wildlife and the places they visit. HOWEVER, their top priority is safety. There will be times when you are asked to stand out of the way while they get something sorted. Please don’t take offence to this. If the crew are a bit brisk with you, there is very likely something that needs doing IMMEDIATELY for the sake of everyone’s safety. A common example of this is mooring the ship. Unless conditions are very light, this is an operation best left to the professionals. The weight on the mooring lines can be immense and safe handling is essential.
“We were a small crew of 5 and I was the only novice sailor. Amazing how quickly you can get to know people when you have a shared focus and enthusiasm… Coming out of Falmouth was extremely choppy, I wanted to pull my weight in such a small crew, so I offered to make the tea… Then came the call, ‘Ready about – tack!’ and mate said ‘OK, tack the cups!’ And I moved the cups to the other side so they didn’t spill.”
Louisa N
‘Sail Training’ for Adults
Traditionally rigged vessels use only blocks and tackles and human power to set sail. All the boats we promote are classed as ‘sail training’ ships, so you will definitely get ‘hands on sailing’ when you sign on. The professional crew will train you and help you set sails, steer the ship, keep watch and even help with the navigation. They are highly skilled at bringing out your natural talents and creating a happy crew out of a bunch of strangers.
There is a common misconception that sail training ships only take youths, the disadvantaged and naval cadets. Several of the ships we work with do have a mission to develop the lives of young people, but the concept of adult sail training goes far beyond a fundraising exercise. At least half of the fleet has adventure charter holidays for all ages as its primary motive and some were purpose built for it. The insatiable demand for adult adventure charter voyages is why we set up Classic Sailing in the first place.
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