People with passion and hope
Whether you are looking forward to 2025 with excitement or trepidation, there is a vital ingredient that we all need for our happiness and motivation (and it is not necessarily a sailing holiday or a 150ft schooner).
It is PEOPLE. You and me. The sailors and wannabee sailors. The dreamers and schemers. The adventurers and the romantics. The eco warriors and those that just want to live their best life right now.. People from all walks of life that are drawn to the sea and sailing boats.
In 2025 we think its a good time to return to more ‘face to face’ time and less social isolation. Sailing boats are the perfect place to re group. talking, smiling, encouraging, laughing, teaching, learning and finding common ground.
Find Your Voyage.
If we can’t meet you on the water in 2025, we aim to show you who comes on our voyages and why they come. If you have taken the trouble to open our e-newsletter then we guess you are tempted, but maybe timing and circumstances are conspiring to say ‘not yet.’
As professional sailors that also have a desk job at Classic Sailing, we also have total sympathy for those stuck ashore, so we will be showcasing people that inspire us to get up in the morning and go to the office, feeling that life is worthwhile and wonderful.
Browse our Articles.
People. Camaraderie. Sociable Sailing
How can we run and enjoy voyages without the passion of people, or the companionship of our fellow humans? Not just when things get tough and the crew needs to pull together, but also in quieter moments when it’s good to share the sheer beauty of being out in the elements. How often do we sit on deck looking and listening in companionable silence as the sun sets?
Even solo sailing is better ‘shared’. Recently we have been gripped in 2024 by the video diaries of Sam Goodchild and Pip Hare as they experience racing solo in the Vendee Globe and lay bare their emotions.
inspirational people stories & everyday heroes
Throughout the year we will be featuring people stories, interviews, introductions to the ship’s crew and other specialists like riggers and sail makers who support the sailing charter industry.
You can meet Rob – the mate on square rigger Morgenster – in a video interview as he explains what he does on board each day
Video Interview with Rob the Mate.
OR you can go sailing with him this winter in the tropical Cape Verde Islands
Cape Verde Winter Sun Voyages.
Asking People what sailing does for them
We have plenty of customer voyage feedback that shows what a profound effect sailing can have on individuals of all ages. Our aim is to get our customers to explain what they love and why. Perhaps they can nudge you into trying new habits and salty activities that make you feel good in 2025
“I sailed to The Isles of Scilly to explore ashore, but it was also heaven to row around Tallulah at anchor, taking photos of the best boat in the bay. The temptations of Tresco can wait until tomorrow.” Sophie
Our Boats need people to thrive
Our labour-intensive wooden boats and traditionally rigged ships need the dedicated owners, professionals and volunteers to preserve our maritime heritage and keep vessels available for sailing, but mostly they need YOU. All the boats we work with are full time charter vessels. Sailing with paying guests as the crew is our main purpose – for both income and fulfilment.
People come sailing for complex reasons. Perhaps the traditional sailing community is a tribe you are proud to belong to, and that partly brings you back time after time. Maybe you haven’t sailed with us yet, but you want to venture out to sea out of curiosity and escapism. This year we aim to spotlight the huge range of people from all walks of life who chose a sailing holiday with classic sailing.
We need you…and we hope you need our voyages and short breaks to ‘recharge your batteries’ and re discover a bit of zest.
Who Comes on Our Voyages?.
Customer Power – Helping Your Favourite Vessels Flourish
The small businesses that operate the vessels in the Classic Sailing fleet are creative and resilient individuals, but there are many forces out there that challenge each vessels viability every year. In the last 3-4 years since the pandemic there have been some decent vessels cease trading, but equally there have been new charter vessels and owners coming into the industry that are going from strength to strength (Provident, Tallulah, Sunbeam, Twister).
Our very own ‘interviewing queen’ Jess Clay will be reporting back from the Sailing Trawler Sunbeam in the Stockholm archipelago this summer. Keep an eye out for her crew and guest interviews and videos, as she gets to grips with this volunteer run Swedish vessel that did so well during their first 1st charter season in 2024.
Swedish Summer Voyages on Sunbeam 2025.
Behind the Scenes – The Operations Managers
Often over the horizon but not forgotten, Tecla, Oosterschelde, Grayhound, Eye of the Wind, Santa Maria Manuela have survived all the economic upheavals in the last few years by being incredibly bold with big round the world routes or ocean crossing. They are tall ship success stories worth shouting about.
During 2025 we aim to interview the incredible people who stayed behind as shore managers and ran these complex logistical operations, and tear their hair out during difficult economic times, trying to find sponsorship, purpose and new economic pathways for historic ships built over a century ago.
Photo: Oosterschelde in the Pacific (Darwin 200 Project).
People Improving Equality & Access for All
Whilst both Portsmouth and Lowestoft Boat Building Colleges have closed their doors, The Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis is surviving well. As a former private business the BBA has always run attractive short courses, plus their renowned career training for the boat building industry. Now they are a charity and have built up bursary funding of their own, they are making big inroads on the equality front too, enabling more women and minority groups to enter the profession.
Supporting your favourite boat (or boat building college) is like keeping a good village pub open: Tell your friends about your trips or courses; Give the people that run them your feedback and support, and they will keep improving and surviving.
An amazing week! The accommodation was much better than ‘good’ – very cosy and comfy bunks and even electric heads and a great shower – luxury! Fantastic sailing in stunning scenery and lots of birds and wildlife, including eagles and dolphins. The food was excellent and plentiful, always delectable aromas from the galley. All in all, an unforgettable experience on a beautifully restored vessel.”
Elaine on Provident
People Power – facing the big challenges in the world
If a problem seems too big for one person to make a difference, it is comforting to know that you are not alone. People power is a favourite topic at Classic Sailing HQ and around the saloon tables of the boats at sea. Having mutual support of all our dreams and aspirations is the answer to almost everything bigger than us.
For example – Equality, peace, reducing loneliness, connecting with real people in the face of virtual worlds, achieving worthwhile careers and a purpose in life. Not giving up on saving the planets wildlife and a climate we can live with.
Sailors don’t have a monopoly on world solutions but being together on a small boat faced with the elemental forces of nature does focus the mind a bit.
If we see someone making a difference to the planet, that is boat or ocean related, in 2025, we aim to share their story.
photo Tree planting with Oosterschelde Crew and local children
People as Role Models – Who will Inspire your next career or sailing challenge?
Hearing about Classic Sailing customers that have been inspired to build or buy a boat, push their sailing boundaries, work in the industry, or set up related projects is always a fulfilling part of our job.
It was a good year for the girls in 2024. For the first time in its history, the latest student group to start the 40 week professional boat building course. at the Boat Building Academy had more women than men sign up. This was due to the efforts of many but particularly Belinda Josling, who set up ‘Women in Boatbuilding’ Group, and the BBA Principal Will Reid and his enlightened trustees who created a bursary fund (for men and women).
Read about Hannah and Sophia – They have both signed up for the City & Guilds Boat Building Course – one a sailor and the other a former restauranteur. They explain what motivated them to train for a new career, and more importantly, how they paid for the £18,450 course fees with a mix of savings, sponsorship and bursaries.
How the girls funded their course.
Will our 2025 theme be interesting to you?
We will still be featuring all the news from the vessels themselves, new voyage programmes and destinations, but we hope you like our focus this year on the people behind everything we do. That includes our customers, so if you think you have a story of interest to our subscribers, we would love to hear from you.
If you EMAIL or message us – just pop the word PEOPLE in the title.
