Phoenix

Traditional Navigation

While Phoenix carries modern navigation and safety equipment, as required by her MCA coding, the crew primarily operate the ship using traditional navigation techniques and actively encourage guests to join in! Get to grips with a sextant, paper chart plotting, correct use of compass bearings and meteorology.

Manoeuvres are performed under sail at every opportunity, and the crew still utilise the bosun’s whistle, a sound rarely heard on deck these days.

With her traditional square sails (which you can get up close and personal with, climbing the mast to help furl and gasket if you want to!), Phoenix is strictly a broad reach / downwind vessel, but on the right points of sail she is quick and strong.

Sailing Style

No sailing experience is needed as full training is given, so you can learn take part in sailing with the professional crew. The guest to crew ratio is fantastic, with 5 crew to 10 guests, so there’s plenty of capacity for one-on-one training as required. With square sails on both masts as well as a suite of staysails and a gaff-rigged spanker, there’s plenty to get to grips with, and that’s before we’ve even mentioned the added fun of a sprits’l and stuns’ls!

Life on Board

The crew are welcoming and sociable, and you’ll soon feel like part of the team. They love to teach, sharing their love of this wonderful ship.

Also on board is an excellent cook, who you’ll often see pitching in to help on deck in between meal times. On charter you’ll enjoy a cooked breakfast each morning, with sandwiches and snacks for lunch and a hearty mariners dinner each evening. All of this as well as regular baked goodies to keep energy levels up!

Below decks on Phoenix is cosy and welcoming, with her large sociable saloon table and open galley.

There are five 2-person guest cabins, one off the saloon and the other four in the accommodation area midships. There are also two heads and two showers.

The cook sleeps in a cabin off the saloon, with the rest of the crew in separate accommodation aft.

Guest Cabins

Cabins are functional and comfortable, with storage space for your gear and quite a generous bunk size.

These 2-person cabins are ideal for couples, friends or solo travellers happy to share a cabin with a guest of the same gender.

There are standard domestic charging points for phones and cameras in each cabin, but in order to avoid wasting fuel, the crew may run a generator schedule. In this case they would ensure you’re aware of the times when you’ll be able to charge your devices.

Built: 1929, Frederikshavn, Denmark

Flag: UK

Rig: 2 masted Brig

Length Overall: 34m (112ft)

Beam: 7.2m (23.5ft)

Draught: 2.5m (8.2ft)

Sail Area: 372 m² (4000 sq ft)

Areas of Operation: UK and Europe

Number of Guests: Up to 10

Number of Crew: 5

Power on Board: 240v and 24v

Phoenix has a young but highly experienced crew who are dedicated to sailing the ship as much and as well as possible, and getting you involved at every stage! In addition to the crew detailed below, Phoenix has some fantastic cooks who join during the season, churning out exciting food and sweet treats, and jumping in to help with sail handling while dinner’s in the oven.

Captain Joel

Joel is a light-hearted Cornish skipper. Sailing since childhood he likes to infuse the delights of traditional seamanship with a modern naval standard. Crew welfare is very much at the heart of his operation as guests have an even better time with happy crew. He knows the ship well having worked as mate on board Phoenix since 2018, as well as a host of other traditionally rigged ships.

Mate Ffin

Ffin is from Gweek in Cornwall and is a very capable sailor and boatbuilder. Often found smiling whilst operating the tender and is a quick up the mast as he is at splicing and fabricating. Want to brush up on your marlinspike seamanship? Ffin will be more than happy to help.

Deckhand David

David hails from Ireland and was new to the ship in 2021. The former teacher has travelled the world and most recently worked with the tallships trust in Scotland. David is a wise and considerate member of the crew with a keen eye!