| Embark | Disembark | Vessel | Duration | Voyage No |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 15-08-2026, 19:00Helsinki, Finland | Sat 22-08-2026, 10:00Tallinn, Estonia | Eye of the Wind | 7 Nights | EYE26/29 |
The tall ship Eye of the Wind sets sail form Helsinki, Finland, for a seven-night passage into the Gulf of Finland — the furthest northeast in the ship’s 115-year history.
Sailing the sheltered waters between Finland and Estonia in the height of August, guests take an active role in working the vessel alongside the professional crew on watch rotations. The route includes coastal passages and anchorages among Baltic island chains, with the long midsummer evenings giving time on deck a quality that is particular to these northern latitudes.
The specific course is determined by wind, weather, and the captain’s judgement.
The voyage ends in Tallinn, Estonia — one of the most intact medieval cities in the Baltic — with Eye of the Wind arriving directly in the city-centre harbour.
Do I need sailing experience for this voyage? No. Not for this passage from Helsinki to Tallinn aboard Eye of the Wind. The crew will show you the ropes from the first evening in Helsinki harbour — literally. Rope handling, sail trim, and how a watch rotation works are all covered on board.
What is included in the Eye of the Wind voyage price? Seven nights aboard Eye of the Wind, all meals, and crew instruction and guidance. Travel between the UK and Helsinki, travel insurance, shore excursions, and drinks from the ship’s bar are not included.
When is the best time to sail the Gulf of Finland? August — when the Baltic summer peaks. Expect settled conditions in the sheltered gulf waters, deck temperatures of 18–23°C, and evenings that hold their light until nearly midnight in early August.
How many passengers sail on Eye of the Wind? Twelve — the full guest complement for this Helsinki to Tallinn departure, sailing alongside the professional crew. Small enough that everyone knows each other’s name by day two.
What should I pack for this Baltic voyage in August? More layers than you expect. August feels warm ashore, but the wind chill on a moving vessel after dark is a different matter. Waterproof jacket, warm fleece, non-slip deck shoes, and a sun hat cover the essentials. Classic Sailing sends a full kit list on booking.
| Sailing Areas | New Zealand |
| Vessel type / Rig | 2 Masted Brig |
| Guest Berths | 12 |
| Beam | 7.01m (23ft) |
| Draft | 2.7m (8.9ft) |
| Overall Length | 40.23m (132ft) |
| Year Built | 1911 |
You’ll join the ship in Sweden’s capital. You could spend a month here and barely scratch the surface, so make as much time as you can before and/ or after your voyage. Find a hostel and soak it all in! Particular highlights are the old town of Galma Stan, the Royal Palace, Skansen (the world’s oldest open air museum), the beautiful colourful metro stations and the infinite walking, cycling, swimming and sauna possibilities on offer throughout the Stockholm Archipelago. Oh, and the ABBA museum… obviously!
Stepping aboard Eye of the Wind, you’ll get to know your fellow crew over dinner and receive a full safety briefing, plus an up to date itinerary based on the latest weather forecast.
There is so much to explore here, and some great sailing to be had! Lively harbours, secluded bays, open sea and wooded shores: scenic diversity is guaranteed, and the next idyllic anchorage is never far away!
Having gotten into the swing of life on board with some sedate island hopping in the Stockholm Archipelago, a slightly more offshore passage northeast takes Eye of the Wind to the Åland Islands (an autonomous region of Finland). This is a fascinating place, and there will be time to explore ashore as well as admiring the lovely coastlines. Kastelholm Castle, the award winning Åland Maritime Museum, the fortress ruins of Bomarsund and the museum ship Pommern are all well worth a visit.
The captain decides the course of each day’s leg and an accessible harbour or anchorage for the night. This is based on the current wind and weather conditions and – whenever possible – the wishes of the guest crew.
En route the crew will get you as involved as you like with the sailing of the ship, and will teach you to steer, keep lookout, haul lines and set and trim sails. Eye of the Wind has a fantastic ratio of professional crew to guest crew, so there is plenty of opportunity to get stuck in and learn as much as you want!
July in this part of the Baltic is usually dry, settled and sunny, with occasional showers. Wind speeds should sit around force 3 to 4, increasing to force 5 with passing summer fronts. A lovely sailing breeze! The Baltic is generally fairly sheltered and the sea state slight, ideal for beginner sailors who aren’t sure of their sea legs. Expect daytime temperatures of 18 to 23°C, dropping 5 degrees or so at night. An ideal summer sailing holiday, basically! Of course you should always be prepared for conditions to change!
On a sailing voyage we never use the word itinerary, as skippers will always be aiming for the best and safest sailing routes for the forecast. They are as keen as you to include some of the highlights described above, but when it comes to sailing, you have to go with Mother Nature, not fight her. The description provided is based on what we think might be possible, based on past trips, or prior experience, but nothing is guaranteed on a sailing voyage. As such, the scheduled joining ports, routes, activities and/or destinations may be altered. Due to the complexities of weather systems, this may be at very short notice.
Whether you are an experienced sailor or a complete beginner, the professional crew will train you to be guest crew from the moment you arrive, with the intention that everybody works together to sail the ship. The common thread to all Classic Sailing holidays is ‘Hands on’ participation on ships that use ropes, blocks and tackles and ‘people power’ to set sail. For more on this, see our article ‘What is a Hands-On Sailing Holiday?’
We cater for a wide range of ages and physical abilities and how much you are expected to do varies a bit between vessels. See the vessel tab above which explains all about the ‘sailing style’ and what to expect in terms of hands on participation. There is a lot of information about day to day life, the ships facilities and accommodation on Eye of the Wind’s vessel page.
Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki is a city that reveals itself properly from the sea. As Eye of the Wind enters the South Harbour, Helsinki Cathedral’s white dome rises above the Senate Square waterfront, flanked by neoclassical administration buildings at a human scale. The historic centre is walkable — compact, clear, and easy to navigate without a map after an hour or two.
The Market Square at the harbour sells berries, fish, and local handicrafts.
From the ferry terminal, a short crossing reaches Suomenlinna, an 18th-century sea fortress built across several islands and now a UNESCO World Heritage site — the fortifications are open to explore and a small permanent community lives there, making it something other than a museum piece.
For those interested in Finnish design, the design district south of the centre concentrates studios, galleries and shops within a few navigable blocks. The Temppeliaukio Church, cut directly into bedrock in the 1960s, is worth the walk. So is Kiasma, the Museum of Contemporary Art near the railway station. Helsinki has a working harbour culture, a serious food scene, and an architectural tradition that produces buildings worth looking at. Allow at least a full day after the voyage ends to use the city properly.
Content…
Practical Advice for Eye of the Wind
Practical Advice for Covid 19 and Eye of the Wind
Suitcases take up a lot of room in a cabin, so it is better to uses soft bags in a ship. A small rucksack for going ashore is useful.
All the power to your plug sockets comes from the ship's generator which runs on deisel. The less the generators have to run to top up power, the nicer it is for the guests on board and also greener for the planet. Please don't bring loads of hairdriers, electric devices to charge.
There is no internet on board whilst at sea.
Hello all at Classic
The trip went very well and was a great experience.
Everything was very well done, great captain, crew and guests.
Sea shanty singing lead by Matthew from the King's Pond Shantymen!
Best wishes, Bob. Eye of the Wind, Cadiz to the Canary Islands November 2024
A fabulous adventure! Words cannot convey the experience.
John, Tortola to Bermuda
Tortola to the Azores! What a great time. Thanks to Captain Pit and the crew. An awesome adventure with awesome people!"
F Coutreau
What a wonderful, lovely, great, awesome trip we've had from Malaga to Lanzarote! I loved and enjoyed every minute.
Thanks again for this wonderful experience. I miss you guys!
Andrea
Now that was a voyage! The EYE crew - all 10 - five women and five men - embody two words:
COMPETENT and KIND
And such a beautiful ship. Thank you beyond measure
Susan
With red sails against a blue sky, Eye of the Wind is a photogenic ship. If you have any new images we would love to see them since Eye of the Wind has only recently returned to our website.
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