Eye of the Wind Hamburg Flensburg EYE26/13

Embark	Disembark	Vessel	Duration	Voyage No
Mon 11-05-2026, 19:00Hamburg, Germany	Sat 16-05-2026, 09:00Flensburg, Germany	Eye of the Wind	5 Nights	EYE26/13

Voyage Description

Why are sailing holidays great value for money? Read the page.

Setting Sail from Hamburg

Step aboard Eye of the Wind in Hamburg, a bustling port city known for its maritime heritage and modern architecture. If you’re able to arrive a little early, don’t miss the iconic Speicherstadt, the largest warehouse district in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Elbphilharmonie, with its stunning modern architecture, offers musical feasts for the ears, but is worth a walk-by even if you don’t have time to catch a concert.

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.

Tall ship Eye of the Wind with her red square sails set

Along the Way

There should be an opportunity to sail from Hamburg to Brunsbuttel ( the start of the Kiel Canal) if the winds co-operate. The Elbe gets wider and wider as you head out towards the North Sea. This is your chance to get involved with setting sail, bracing the yards and learning how to hand or take down square sails and fore and aft sails like jibs or the staysails between masts. You will have time during the Canal transit to think about what you have learned and perhaps have a go at learning how to find the right ropes on the pin rails. The crew are there to ask and learn from.

Whilst in the Kiel Canal (in German: Nord-Ostsee-Kanal, literally ‘North-to-Baltic Sea canal’), the ship is not permitted to sail, but this is a fascinating passage regardless. The ship passes under ten high bridges and will experience the endless shipping traffic of container ships, cruise liners, pleasure boats and ferries. Every year, around 40,000 ships pass through the exits of the Kiel Canal. The journey will take you right through Schleswig Holstein, along green banks and under high railway bridges which almost seem to touch the top of the masts.

Photo by Matthew Stuttard of Eye crew in the rigging

If you have come to sail and this bit is not your favourite part of the voyage – we recommend you try out the bowsprit netting or climb the mast and go out on the yards. It is a bizarre feeling to see a vessel cross under your feet or be high above cows in a canal-side field. If using the rig as your adventure climbing frame is not your thing then during the canal voyage you will have time to make yourself comfortable on deck or in the comfy lounge and browse through the extensive on-board library.

There will be lots more chances to sail on the other side of the canal when you reach Kiel Fjord. The ship will make a stop-over at one of a number of lovely possible stops. Kiel-Holtenau or Kappeln on the Baltic Sea fjords, and maybe also Sonderborg in the Danish South Sea.

Arriving in Flensburg

The Historic seafaring and harbour town will be gearing up for its annual Rum Regatta when you sail in aboard Eye of the Wind. Flensburg has an age-old association with rum, local ships having been forefront in collecting rum from Danish-run distilleries in the Caribbean. If you love classic boats, maritime heritage and a nice tipple, we highly recommend booking onto Eye of the Wind’s next voyage too, allowing you to stay aboard for the Regatta itself. Over 100 ships will be in attendance, participating in light-hearted racing in the bay, as well as shoreside celebrations.

A crowd of traditional sailing ships rafted up together in the historic German town of Flensburg for the annual Rum Regatta

WINDS, WAVES & WEATHER

Considering the voyage is set for May, you can generally expect mild to warm weather, with daytime temperatures ranging between 12 to 20 degrees Celsius. Before entering the Kiel Canal, the Elbe Estuary waters can be choppy, but don’t worry if you haven’t found your sea legs, as things will calm down in the sheltered waters of the Canal. Sailing on the Baltic side is fantastic for beginners, as there can be great sailing breezes of Force 3 to 6, but with a relatively flat sea.

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 the vessel pages.

Start & End Port

Hamburg, Germany

Flensburg, Germany

On Ascension Day every year this seafaring city celebrates its history as one of the most important commercial ports for the sailing ships of the East Indies fleet with the Annual Rum Sailing Regatta. In the18th Century merchant ships would make regular cargo runs to the West Indies and bring back rum. It has always been a lively sailors port with cobbled streets and over 200 ‘rum houses’ in its day. Perhaps not so wild today but it will see a gathering of surviving wooden sailing ships arrive together and moor along the waterfront.

Square rigger Eye of the Wind is one of the vessels participating and you can join her in Kiel and sail here with the fleet.

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

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.