Mountains High and Seas Rich with Abundant Wildlife
Scotland offers you some of the finest sailing waters in Europe and how better to explore the rarely reached remote areas of the Western Isles than on a traditional sailing vessel?
We are excited to announce that in summer 2027 pilot cutter Tallulah is heading to Scotland for some 6 and 9 night sailing expeditions in Scotland, with extended exploration planned in the Outer Hebrides, St Kilda and as far North as Cape Wrath and the Orkney Archipelago.
It is not a new sailing playground to us, but neither is it over crowded, especially if you seek out the more remote corners and are happy to anchor. Classic Sailing has been offering sailing holidays in Scotland for over 20 years and we have great vessels that have made the Western Isles their specialism.
These are fantastic voyages if you love mountains and rugged coasts and want to see Scotland through the eyes of a sailor, get close to wildlife, and reach some of the most inaccessible wilderness areas and resilient communities in Britain by boat.
Tallulah’s First Sailing Programme to Scotland 2027
So why are Tallulah’s two main skippers excited about taking her to Scotland next year?
For Tallulah’s regular skipper Anthony Champ the Inner and Outer Hebrides are, without question, his favourite sailing ground. He has many fond memories of working as mate on Eda Fransden with the Robinsons. Now his children are grown up, he is footloose and fancy free to do it all over again on Tallulah. Anthony works as a commercial fisherman in the North East in winter so he is not adverse to interesting weather. Two of his family work as chefs so he is quite a foodie. He is looking forward to Scotland’s renowned fresh seafood and he cant wait to show off his crab fishing prowess.
Tallulah’s owner Debbie wears two hats – she skippers and runs Tallulah sailing business now, but was co founder of Classic Sailing. She has spent years working with other vessels who have made Scotland their regular sailing ground and helping them promote their voyages. It does mean she has been to some iconic Scottish anchorages on numerous vessels from Fair Isle to Orkney, The Shiant Isles and Shetland, but never with her own boat.
Now, feels like the time. As an artist she can’t wait to see Tallulah anchored with a mountain backdrop. As a seasoned skipper she cant wait to flat water blast down between islands in a way that only pilot cutters can.
We have huge respect for the efforts that past and current vessel owners in the Classic Sailing fleet have put into their Scotland voyages and the best of the rest independant operators that have carved their reputations through gales and heatwaves. Skipper Steve on Provident, Nikki on Bessie Ellen, Luke and Jo on Pellew and Eda Frandsen’s current owners Mungo and Stella have introduced people from all over the world to Scotland as a sailing ground.
What is it like to be on board?
We have given quite a bit of thought on how to translate Tallulah’s strengths to a Scottish setting. For our first foray North we are using several different joining ports to maximise our choice of sailing grounds. Without a regular home base in Scotland Tallulah could never compete with the range of local food suppliers the Scottish based vessels partner, or achieve all the hard won local relationships they have built up over the years. Our skipper and mates cooking on Tallulah is good but we don’t have a dedicated chef. If you really want a taste of Scotland, then we recommend Provident on Classic Sailing website, or independent vessels like Bessie Ellen, Pellew or Eda Fransden.
Another popular approach that works well in Scotland, when sailing off the beaten track, is the more expedition style voyage. If you are a traveller who actually seeks out the unexpected, prefer unscripted adventures with full participation in the physical stuff, then we think you might Tallulah’s 9 night journeys.
Debbie has sailed in Scotland on some great tall ships like Tecla and Oosterschelde, and these self sufficient ships are more itinerant in their programmes. They don’t come to Scotland every year. Its more of a migration, passing through the Inner and Outer Hebrides in a more expeditionary way. They still revel in getting to know the local communities and local history and their globe trotting crews have huge enthusiasm for wilderness and nature.
On Tallulah in 2027 we want to achieve a bit of both styles on Tallulah, as well as our own spin on what makes a great sailing holiday: – Fully involving guest crew in the sailing, navigation, keeping fit through swimming and exploring ashore with you, often seeing places for the first time.
Tallulah Sailing Expeditions in Scotland 2027.
Tallulah 2027 Season highlights
Tallulah is heading for Scotland on 8th May. She returns to Cornwall on 7th August 2027. We are still offering early season sailing in Cornwall and RYA courses on Tallulah, plus a late summer of island hopping in the Isles of Scilly, small boat wild camping, and short breaks from August to October.
In Scotland you have a choice of:
- Oban – Mallaig – week long island hopping
- Mallaig – Mallaig – 2 voyages exploring the Small Isles and Skye
- Mallaig – Ullapool – more challenging 10 day expedition – Outer Hebrides and North of Skye
- Ullapool – Stornoway – more challenging 10 day expedition – aiming for St Kilda and Outer Hebrides
- Stornoway – Stornoway – Aiming for Orkney archipelago via Cape Wrath & back
- Stornoway – Oban – 10 day Shiant Isles & down the Outer Hebrides chain
There are also passage making voyages from Cornwall to Scotland in May, and back in August. We are looking for 4 guest crew and 2 experienced watch leaders (reduced voyage fees) on each journey.
Scotland 2027 including feeder voyages
Wind Conditions – Flat Water Blasts.
Scotland frequently offers warm sunny days and great sailing conditions. At times Scotland can be very windy and the gales can come in fast off the Atlantic at any time of year. The secret ace that sailing in Scotland has over sailing in other Atlantic facing shores like Cornwall or Ireland is the protecting influence of the island chains. The Inner and Outer Hebrides and the tall mountains give you options to find flat seas and sheltered anchorages from almost any wind direction. There are many miles where our tough sailing ships can escape the ocean swell and go for an awesome flat water blast. Not everywhere is protected, but at least there are safe havens where you can go to reef down and reduce sail so you can tackle the next exposed headland or firth.
Long Mid Summer Days
In June the sun sets very late in the evening so Scottish midsummer days are long. When a high pressure system sits over Scotland you can find yourself in a heatwave with waters so still the mountains and blue skies create a mirror image. The warm Gulf Stream means you can swim off the boat or beach-comb on white quartz sand beaches with no other sunbathers in sight. When a depression sweeps in – boy can it rain, but when the weather front clears the views are crystal clear.
A Boat as your Bothy – Sailing and Walking
Sailing in the Western Isles of Scotland is one of the best ways of exploring these remote islands. You do not have to worry about accommodation, it’s close to nature but cosier than camping!
The choice of anchorages is endless on a sailing holiday in Scotland and your ‘restaurant’ and home comes with you. The energetic can climb to the highest point ashore and look down on your boat alone in perfect natural anchorages that south coast sailors can only dream of. If you prefer solitude to wander the edge of the loch looking for otters, or sketch the landscape then our skippers can generally suggest shorter walks or perfect beaches near to your landing spot. The best bit of the day if often swapping stories from each others forays ashore. Self sufficient aboard your floating home; you can relax snugly in the saloon and wait for supper with an appetite as large as the hills.
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Tallulah – The Vessel
Tallulah is a replica wooden pilot cutter, the 6th built by Luke Powell of Working Sail. She is 59ft overall and 44ft on deck and can reach sailing speeds of 9 knots plus. She sleeps upto 6 guests. A double bed in forward cabin, 2 bunks in the mid cabin and 2 bunks in the saloon, with two professional crew sleeping aft. Its pretty open plan, with good ventilation, no shut away cramped cabins with doors.
Built originally for a couple, her mainsail is slightly smaller in size than her sister ships, and light and easy to hoist. It does mean in strong winds with smaller jibs, she can cope with the more robust Scottish weather, but don’t be deceived into thinking this is not a physical boat to crew on. She has a lofty rig and some big light wind sails and is quick to pick up speeds in the gusts.
Our style is that our guest crew come for active sailing and exploring by ships boat ashore. Our skippers are 60 and 55, so it is definitely achievable for most ages. You don’t need any sailing experience as we have had years of turning office workers into super nautical heroes. We only stay strong by doing stuff and getting our fair dose of ‘vitamin sea’. We are on a bit of a mission to encourage everyone to live a long life, enjoying what they want, and remaining agile and healthy for as long as possible.
If you like to be taken sailing, rather than participate as crew, or holidays where you can completely switch off with a book whilst others ‘sweat and tail’ ropes all around you, then you might want to try a bigger sailing vessel with a full staff team where you are not really needed.
On Tallulah you ARE the CREW. We do need you and appreciate you, and we hope you will feel that Tallulah is your home by the middle of the week.
