Morgenster

Our expert view: What Morgenster Does Best

Laid Back Style, Educational & Fun

Morgenster has managed to excel in both thoughtful and educational sail training voyages for young people, and extremely hospitable adventure cruising for adults to locations like Cape Verde or the Canaries.

The style of sailing is laid back, but don’t under estimate the professionalism of the crew. The Netherlands has a big fleet of working sailing ships and the famous Enkhuizen Zeevaartschool (Nautical College) training future mariners in sail as well as modern ships, so the standard of volunteer and paid crew is generally high, with excellent English used as the working language.

Morgenster has two captain’s. Harry and Jakob. Harry is well respected throughout the sail training world and loves to teach and Jakob has just won Sail Trainer of the Year 2017.

Sail with the Owners – Loving What They Do

Morgenster means Morning Star, and she is the second sailing ship that Harry and Marianne have run together, over many years. They knew exactly what they wanted when they bought a new ship. This sociable Dutch couple put a huge deal of thought and good design into the conversion of Morgenster from deep sea fishing vessel hull to a well functioning and elegant square rigger in 2008. Harry loves his music too so musical instruments and a bit of crew singing often feature during a voyage or in port.

Director of Classic Sailing Adam Purser sailed with them in 2016. When I asked him what was special about the ship, his first comment was:

Best Bit about Morgenster: Harry & Marian – Their enthusiasm for their ship and the love of what they do.” Adam Purser 2016

Manoeuvrable and Fast Clipper Brig

‘Morgenster’ is rigged as a brig, or a ‘clipper-brig’ as the Dutch like to describe it. This particular mast and sail arrangement was developed by the Americans during their struggle for independence. A brig only has two masts and has square sails on both masts. The heavy English Man o’ War ’s were not fit to catch the light and fast American brigs and schooners who used the “hit and run” tactics to great advantage and considerable embarrassment to the English Royal Navy.

The famous clippers were developed from these fast schooners and brigs. Morgenster frequently does well at Tall Ships Races, and Captain Harry likes to sail right up to the dock at festivals and events if he can.  

Sailing Style

On board Morgenster—as on all of Classic Sailing holidays—you are not a passenger but part of the guest crew. You will be assigned a watch together with the professional crew to sail, steer and navigate the ship. No sailing experience is necessary. The crew will be happy to explain the functions of all the ropes.

Whilst Morgenster is only 2m shorter than Oosterschelde, the rig is very different. She is the ideal size tall ship for old and young crew, with square sails on two masts and 7 yards with sails to stow aloft.   Climbing up the rigging is easier than on Oosterschelde as the first yards and platforms are not as high, so you can learn to climb a bit higher each day. Going aloft is not compulsory, but the view is great and the ships crew will train you on how to climb and what to do to stow sails or release the gaskets so sails can be set. There is plenty to learn on deck too. To manoeuvre the ship or trim the sails it needs a team a deck level to brace the yards. There are plenty of ropes to learn, or if you just want a holiday, we can show you what to pull to get the ship sailing.  A great place to be is out in the bowsprit netting, but if the ship is sailing fast you might get a bit wet.  There are safety harnesses for going out on bowsprit or aloft.

Coastal Voyages

The passengers on our coastal journeys are encouraged to take part in the discussions around the itinerary. Share your ideas with the crew and where possible, they will fit them in. This way you get an unforgettable journey!

Life on Board

Below decks the two and four cabins are fitted with a washbasin with hot and cold water. There is a spacious saloon which is the heart of the ship. Showers and toilets are separate. All cabins have a ventilation system or heating you can control. Bedding and towels are included. The ship is steel, but the interior has been made as characterful and homely as possible, with wood features and paintings on the bulkheads.

In hot sailing areas like Cape Verde the ever present trade winds keep it a pleasant temperature below decks. She has a large galley and cook and you can buy drinks at the bar. On board euros are accepted but not credit cards.

See section on accommodation for more.

Below Decks on Morgenster

Cabins

Morgenster has four x 2-berth cabins and four x 4-berth cabins so she can take a total of 24 guest crew. Bed linen is provided and each cabin has a basin with hot and cold running water. Showers and toilets are seperate – outside the cabin.

If Morgenster is taking part in tall ships races or youth sail training she can take up to 36 crew as there is room for another 12 trainees in hammocks in the saloon. Morgenster will only take 24 guests for adult charter voyages.

Saloon

Facilities on Deck

On deck behind the fore mast you find a door to the Riggers Bar. This bar serves out the beverages during the daytrips. In this small deckhouse you also find a Lady’s toilet on portside and a Gent’s on starboard.

There is a also a small indoor mess for the watch on deck with bench seating – known as the coffee shop – situated behind the main mast on deck.

Deck Layout & Below Decks Layout

Morgenster – FAQ Section
Placement: After “Skippers and crew” section and before “Voyages on Morgenster”

5 FAQs for Morgenster
Is Morgenster suitable for first-time sailors?
Absolutely—no sailing experience is necessary. You’re not a passenger but part of the guest crew, and Morgenster’s professional crew will happily explain all the ropes and teach you square rig sailing. You’ll be assigned to a watch with experienced crew who’ll train you in sailing, steering, and navigating the ship. Climbing the rigging is easier than on larger tall ships as the first yards aren’t as high, so you can build confidence gradually. Going aloft isn’t compulsory, but if you’d like to try, the crew will train you properly with safety harnesses.
What are the cabin arrangements on Morgenster?
Morgenster has four 2-berth cabins and four 4-berth cabins, accommodating 24 guest crew on adult voyages. Each cabin has a washbasin with hot and cold water, controllable ventilation or heating, and bed linen is provided. Showers and toilets are separate, located outside the cabins. The spacious saloon is the heart of the ship for socialising. While she can take up to 36 for youth training (with hammocks in the saloon), adult charter voyages are limited to the more comfortable 24 berths.
Where does Morgenster sail?
Morgenster sails across Europe and beyond, from her Dutch home base. She regularly takes part in International Tall Ships Races throughout European waters, sails to the Canaries and Cape Verde for winter sun adventures, and explores coastal routes from the UK to Holland and Belgium. On coastal voyages, passengers help shape the itinerary—share your ideas with the crew and they’ll fit them in where possible for an unforgettable journey.
What’s included in a Morgenster voyage?
All meals are prepared in the large galley by the ship’s cook. Bed linen and towels are included. You can purchase drinks at the Riggers Bar on deck (behind the foremast), which also has toilets. There’s a small indoor mess called the “coffee shop” behind the main mast. Euros are accepted on board but not credit cards. Full details of what’s included are shown on each individual voyage page. The warm, laid-back Dutch hospitality from captains Harry, Marianne, and Jakob makes every voyage special.
What makes Morgenster special as a tall ship?
Built in 1919 and converted to a clipper-brig in 2008, Morgenster is fast and maneuverable—she frequently wins at Tall Ships Races. As a brig with square sails on both masts, she uses the same rig developed by Americans during their struggle for independence to outrun heavy British warships. At 151ft she’s the ideal size—large enough for proper square rig sailing with 7 yards aloft, but small enough to feel intimate with just 24 guests. The conversion from fishing vessel was thoughtfully designed by owners Harry and Marianne, who’ve poured their hearts into creating a characterful, homely interior. Captain Jakob won Sail Trainer of the Year 2017—testament to Morgenster’s excellence in sail training.

 

Length overall:   48 m

length on deck:   38 m

Beam: 6.75 m

Draft:   2.4 m

Sail Area:   600 sq m

Guest crew: 24 in bunks (+ 12 in hammocks on youth trips)

Professional Crew: Up to 10 berths

Engine: Scania DI 13  450 HP

Generator 1:  John Deere 62 KVA

Generator 2:  Mitsubushi 20 KVA

Emergency generator: Hatz

Watermaker:

Steering: Ships wheeel – Hydraulic

Certificates and safety

Morgenster’s safety management system is supervised and certificated by Bureau Veritas.
For safety the Morgenster is under the supervision of the register Holland and the  Netherlands Shipping Inspectorate. She therefore sails under two safety certification schemes.

Morgenster Captain & Crew

Captain Harry & Marianne Mutter

It is hard to talk about Captain Harry without mentioning his wife Marianne as they are a great team.

Morgenster means Morning Star, and she is the second sailing ship that Harry and Marianne have run together, over many years. They knew exactly what they wanted when they bought a new ship. This sociable Dutch couple put a huge deal of thought and good design into the conversion of Morgenster from deep sea fishing vessel hull to a well functioning and elegant square rigger in 2008. Harry loves his music too so musical instruments and a bit of crew singing often feature during a voyage or in port.

Director of Classic Sailing Adam Purser sailed with them in 2016. When I asked him what was special about the ship, his first comment was:

Best Bit about Morgenster: Harry & Marian – Their enthusiasm for their ship and the love of what they do.” Adam Purser 2016

Captain Jakob – Sail Trainer of the Year 2017

Jakob has been Morgenster’s other full time Captain since 2016. In 2017 he won Sail Training International’s award for the best ‘Sail Trainer of the Year.’ 

Jakob is originally from Germany but was introduced to sailing when he joined a school sailing trip in the Netherlands’ inshore waters. He liked so much that he knew that this would be his future. Immediately after finishing his school he joined the Dutch inshore fleet as a deck hand on the age of 18. The Dutch language he picked up rapidly, as he would do with English and a bit of French later.

At the age of 22 he joined Morgenster as an apprentice deck rating and hotel manager. Meanwhile in winter he followed the mate education on the seafarer school of Enkhuizen. Next year he started as a mate and developed fast as a first mate on Morgenster and master since 2016.