| 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.
| 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 |
This August, the tall ship Eye of the Wind makes a passage of genuine historical significance — sailing further northeast than at any point in her 115-year career, crossing the Gulf of Finland between Helsinki, Finland, and Tallinn, Estonia. This Baltic tall ship voyage from Helsinki to Tallinn takes in one of Europe’s most distinctive sailing grounds: a sea where forested granite islands rise from still water, where the summer sky holds its light well into the evening, and where two of the Baltic’s most compelling capital cities bookend seven nights aboard a vessel with a proven record across multiple oceans.
Classic Sailing has connected guests with traditional sailing experiences for nearly 30 years. Among those departures, few carry the particular quality of a vessel doing something genuinely new — reaching waters she has never sailed before.
No previous experience required
The Gulf of Finland sits at the northeastern corner of the Baltic Sea, enclosed between Finland to the north and Estonia to the south. It is more sheltered than the open Baltic — the shoreline broken into thousands of islands, skerries, and forested headlands that provide routes of considerable variety depending on wind direction and the captain’s judgement.
August typically brings the best conditions of the Baltic sailing season. Daytime temperatures on deck average 18–23°C, with light to moderate winds generally from the southwest and west. The sea state in the gulf’s sheltered inner waters is usually calm, making this one of the more accessible Baltic passages for those new to sailing. The evenings in early August are long: the sky above the Finnish coast holds colour well past ten o’clock, and night watches — where conditions require them — take place under a sky that never fully darkens.
From the first evening in Helsinki, guests aboard Eye of the Wind are part of the crew. The professional captain and crew will teach you what you need — how to handle lines, how sails are set and trimmed, how the watch system works and why it matters. You take the helm, put your weight into a halyard, and learn to read the water ahead. The physical demands are moderate, and the pace is set by the sea rather than a printed schedule.
Eye of the Wind carries square sails on her foremast — the striking red canvas that has made her recognisable across a career spanning film productions, Atlantic crossings, and Caribbean winters. Seeing those sails set and drawing in a steady Baltic wind is a different experience from anything a modern yacht charter offers. This is one of the reasons guests choose traditional sailing over a chartered boat: the scale of the rig, the character of the vessel, and the particular satisfaction of a ship that moves under canvas the way Eye of the Wind does.
The route between Helsinki and Tallinn covers approximately 80 nautical miles of direct water, but the actual passage will be longer and more varied according to conditions. The captain chooses the course each day based on weather, the possibilities the coastline offers, and — where practicable — the wishes of the crew aboard. Sheltered anchorages among the Finnish or Estonian skerries allow the crew to swim, explore ashore, or simply sit on deck with the engine off and the water still. The itinerary is subject to weather conditions and the captain’s discretion. The advertised departure and arrival dates remain firm.
This August passage carries specific significance for the vessel. In 115 years of logged voyages, this is the furthest northeast Eye of the Wind has sailed. For the twelve guests aboard, that is not a marketing claim but a simple navigational fact — and it gives this departure a quality that no repeat passage can offer.
What can you expect on a Gulf of Finland tall ship voyage? Seven nights aboard a 115-year-old working brigantine, sailing the Baltic between Helsinki, Finland, and Tallinn, Estonia. Days at sea and coastal passages alternate with sheltered anchorages among island chains. No previous sailing experience is required.
The Gulf of Finland has been a commercial and strategic sea for a thousand years. The Hanseatic League’s trade routes ran through Tallinn — then known as Reval — making it one of the most prosperous cities in northern Europe during the medieval period. The warehouses and merchants’ houses lining the lanes below Toompea Hill were built to store the goods crossing between east and west. Helsinki developed later, its neoclassical Senate Square and harbour cathedral laid out under Russian Imperial rule in the early 19th century as a deliberate statement of civic ambition. The fortress of Suomenlinna, built by Sweden in the 18th century and visible from the ship on departure, passed through Russian and Finnish hands before becoming part of Finland’s UNESCO listed heritage.
For Eye of the Wind, this passage adds a new chapter to 115 years of logged voyages. The sea has a long memory; the ship adds quietly to it.
The Gulf of Finland supports a range of wildlife that rewards attention from deck. Harbour porpoises move through these waters, and grey seals haul out on the offshore skerries — often visible during coastal passages along the Finnish or Estonian shores. White-tailed eagles hunt along the forested coastline and are occasionally seen from deck. Common terns and other seabirds work the surface around the vessel, particularly in shallower coastal waters. How to spot and identify wildlife at sea.
August marks the beginning of the southward migration for many Baltic species, and the diversity of birdlife increases as the month progresses. The Baltic’s relatively low salinity — around a quarter of typical ocean saltwater — creates a distinct brackish-water environment that supports a combination of freshwater and marine species found together nowhere else.
The light in August in these latitudes has its own particular character. In early August, the Finnish coast experiences near-white nights — the sky barely darkening before dawn. Further south toward Tallinn the evenings shorten, but the quality of the light, holding a pale gold above the horizon long after sunset, is one of the less easily photographed aspects of a Baltic summer passage.
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.
For daily tall ship news and voyage updates, follow Classic Sailing on Facebook — over 65,000 sailors already do.
facebook.com/ClassicSailing
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.
Estonia’s capital Tallinn is situated to the south of the Gulf of Finland in the Eastern Baltic. It’s a beautiful city with a spectacular old town, and well worth taking some time to explore.
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.
The Captain's style was excellent.. so skilled, authoritative but never shouty, always caring, kind, funny & interested in people. I was So impressed that the crew were majority of girls, so strong, brave, knowledgeable & keen. 20yrs ago there might have been 1 or 2 token girls in crew & now they run the ship!
Boys also wonderful of course & chef Dennis was excellent. Im old enough to be Granny to most, but no ageism, sexism or patronising attitudes so thankyou for that.
The stops on the Danish islands were good use of time. So clean, green, pretty, & v.friendly. Unfavourable wind meant we couldn't sail as much as hoped but last day we got 12 of 15 sails up. Helming a tall ship in full sail is such a privilege. Wow.!
What a beautiful experience. Memories are priceless.
Naomi - Baltic Sea Spring 2026
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.
Archipelago Sea & Gulf of Finland Aboard Eye of the Wind EYE26/28
Embark
Sat 08-08-2026
Turku, Finland
Disembark
Sat 15-08-2026
Helsinki, Finland
From
€1976
Was €2590
Sail the Beautiful Gulf of Riga EYE26/30
Embark
Sat 22-08-2026
Tallinn, Estonia
Disembark
Sat 29-08-2026
Riga, Latvia
From
€2590
The Baltic's Amber Coast by Tall Ship EYE26/31
Embark
Sat 29-08-2026
Riga, Latvia
Disembark
Sun 06-09-2026
Gdańsk, Poland
From
€2950
Recently Viewed Voyages
Helsinki to Tallinn by Tall Ship EYE26/29
Embark
Sat 15-08-2026
Helsinki, Finland
Disembark
Sat 22-08-2026
Tallinn, Estonia
From
€2590