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Celebratory Voyage to Mark 50 Years as ‘Eye of the Wind’!

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Embark	Disembark	Vessel	Duration	Voyage No
Sat 26-09-2026, 19:00Kiel, Germany	Fri 02-10-2026, 10:00Kiel, Germany	Eye of the Wind	6 Nights	EYE26/50

Nostalgia Voyage through the Fjords of the Western Baltic

Fifty years ago, on 25 September 1976, Eye of the Wind undertook its maiden voyage under its new name, following extensive refurbishment work. To mark this occasion, the ship has launched this special anniversary trip (with a special anniversary price… an appropriate €1976!).

Explore the tributaries of the Western Baltic Sea – the Kiel Fjord, Eckernförde Bay, the Baltic Sea fjord Schlei and more. With a good balance between coastal sailing and shore leave in several ports along the route, this six-day trip is perfect for new and old sailors alike, and might especially appeal to previous Eye guests who’d like to help celebrate her anniversary!

Voyage
Vessel

VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS

Six nights celebratory sailing aboard a 115-year-old traditional tall ship.
Active crew participation — take the helm and handle the sails.
Enjoy toasting the last 50 years of the ship’s history.
Watch some of the films in which Eye of the Wind had a starring role, including ‘White Squall’ starring Jeff Bridges.
Fantastic stopover options en route.
A great combination of square-rig sailing and shoreside excursions.
Twelve guests only — a small, genuine crew community.

Eye of the Wind

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

More about the Vessel

Voyage Description

Sailing from Kiel

Known as the gateway to the Baltic Sea, Kiel is a bustling port city. Rich in maritime history and culture, it’s a fine place to spend a day or two either before or after your voyage. Eye of the Wind will moor up in Holtenau on the western shore of the Kiel Fjord. A stroll to the small Holtenau lighthouse is lovely- there are often old cargo sailing ships and schooners moored at the quay. You could also spend time at Falckenstein beach, and watch all the comings and goings of the fascinating marine traffic entering the Kiel Canal.

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.

Along the Way

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.

From the first evening aboard, guests on Eye of the Wind are part of the crew. The 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.

Taking Your Place in the Crew

During the trip, the plan is to explore the tributaries of the Western Baltic Sea – the Kiel Fjord, Eckernförde Bay and the Baltic Sea fjord Schlei, and possibly also the Flensburg Fjord or Danish Als Fjord, depending on how the trip progresses.

Photo by Matthew Stuttard of Eye crew in the rigging

Eye of the Wind carries square sails on her foremast. 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.

Being a special anniversary trip, some of the Hollywood films in which Eye of the Wind stars will be shown in the evenings – such as “The Blue Lagoon” (1980), “The Island of Pirates” (1983) or “White Squall” (1996) starring Oscar winner Jeff Bridges.

WINDS, WAVES & WEATHER

Late September in the western Baltic can be beautiful — the summer crowds have gone, the air has sharpened, and the light takes on a golden quality that makes this corner of Germany particularly atmospheric. Temperatures through the day will typically sit between 13 and 18°C and evenings will drop to around 7–11°C. Winds are typically from the south-west at Force 3–4 — enough to give you a proper sail. You will feel the first hints of autumn weather — frontal systems can bring a day of blustery southerlies and showers — but these pass quickly and the rewards of sailing this coastline out of peak season, with space in harbours and a quieter pace, more than make up for the occasional grey sky.

A NOTE ON VOYAGE DESCRIPTIONS

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.

HANDS ON HOLIDAYS

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?’

SAILING STYLE & LIFE ON BOARD

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.

Start & End Port

Kiel, Germany

Kiel is a city with real maritime heritage and several historical landmarks, most notably the Kiel Canal, the world’s busiest man-made waterway. Kiel also hosts the world-famous Kiel Week (Kieler Woche), one of the largest sailing events in the world. This week-long celebration brings together sailing enthusiasts and tourists, offering concerts, markets, and cultural exhibitions.

Make the most of your visit: find out about all the local must-sees through the city’s official website.

Kit List

What to pack for a sailing holiday on the Eye of the Wind

Working Language on Board is German and English

Practical Advice for Eye of the Wind

Practical Advice for Covid 19 and Eye of the Wind

What is Included

Sailing Instruction
All meals to include refreshments throughout the day
Duvet, pillow and sheets
Hand towels

What is not Included

Waterproof jackets and trousers
Alcoholic drinks but there is a bar on board
Any entry visas required

What to Bring

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.

Eye of the Wind does not supply waterproof jackets and salopette type trousers. Please bring your own waterproof clothing.
A mix of warm and wind proof clothing.
Lots of thin layers is better than one thick layer in cold destinations.
In tropical countries - long sleeves and long trousers to protect you from the sun
Footwear on board needs a good grip and soft soles- the decks are wood or steel.
Ashore stout, waterproof walking boots are best if you are in remote places.
Eye of the Wind has electric sockets in all the cabins 240 V
Cameras, spare batteries, chargers if you need them
Binoculars are handy for bird watching etc.
Suntan lotion, hats, sunglasses
Dont forget any regular medication, persciption glasses and spare
Euros for bar bill
Passport, travel insurance, tickets etc
To get ashore is usually by dinghy so be prepared to get wet feet. Rubber boots or quick drying sandals - depending on the location.
The ship provides hand towels but please bring a beach towel
snorkel and mask for caribbean if you like snorkelling (travel tip: swimming goggles pack up smaller than a facemask)
Bring insect repellant for Caribbean as can get mosquitos ashore in evening (rare at anchor)
ear plugs can be handy

Electricity

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.

Review

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

Vessel Gallery

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.