| Embark | Disembark | Vessel | Duration | Voyage No |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 30-04-2027, 19:00Kiel, Germany | Tue 04-05-2027, 10:00Hamburg, Germany | Eye of the Wind | 4 Nights | EYE27/14 |
This four-night voyage aboard Eye of the Wind follows a fascinating maritime route from Kiel to Hamburg.
Rather than heading straight to open sea, you will travel through the Kiel Canal and onto the tidal Lower Elbe. It is a voyage shaped by ships, locks, tides and commercial traffic, with plenty happening around you throughout the passage.
Eye of the Wind is particularly at home on this route. Hamburg was her first home port when she entered service in 1911 under her original name, Friedrich. More than a century later, you will be bringing her back into the city by water.
| 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 |
Kiel is one of Germany’s great maritime cities and an appropriate place to join a traditional sailing ship. The city sits at the head of the Kiel Fjord, with naval, commercial and leisure craft sharing the water.
If you arrive a day early, there is plenty to explore around the waterfront. The Kiel Fjord itself is worth following, with views towards the naval memorial at Laboe, Friedrichsort lighthouse and Falckenstein beach. Kiel-Holtenau is particularly relevant to this voyage. Its historic Tiessenkai quay, old warehouses and small cafés retain much of the atmosphere of an older working harbour. Traditional sailing vessels and schooners can sometimes be found alongside.
Nearby are the locks marking the eastern entrance to the Kiel Canal. Here you can watch vessels ranging from yachts and coasters to large commercial ships entering and leaving the canal.
The Kiel Canal gives this voyage a character quite different from an offshore passage. The water may be sheltered, but there is rarely a shortage of activity.
During the voyage you will share the canal with commercial shipping from around the world. Container ships, ferries, cruise ships, coasters and pleasure craft all use the same waterway. Ten high bridges cross the canal, giving a remarkable sense of scale as Eye of the Wind passes beneath them.
As a sailing guest you become part of life aboard Eye of the Wind. Where conditions permit, you can help with setting and handling sails, working ropes and taking part in the routines of a traditionally rigged ship. The professional crew will show you what to do, so previous sailing experience is not necessary.
This particular route also demonstrates that traditional seamanship is about more than setting sail. Canal regulations, commercial traffic, tides and weather all influence the passage. Large parts of the Kiel Canal transit will necessarily be made under motor.
After leaving the canal, the voyage continues into the Lower Elbe. Here the character changes again. The river is tidal and heavily navigated, with ships making their way to and from the Port of Hamburg.
The approach to Hamburg is a fitting conclusion. One of Europe’s major ports gradually surrounds you as the Lower Elbe leads towards the city and its extensive docks. Hamburg combines its long maritime history with a modern city that is straightforward to explore using its extensive rail and underground network. If you can stay an extra day, there is considerably more to see than the immediate harbour area.
The Speicherstadt warehouse district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while the neighbouring HafenCity is home to the striking Elbphilharmonie concert hall. The Inner and Outer Alster lakes provide a complete change of pace from the working river and docks.
For anyone interested in traditional ships, the historic four-masted barque Peking is particularly relevant. One of the celebrated Flying P-Liners, she has been preserved in Hamburg and provides a fascinating comparison with the much smaller Eye of the Wind.
There is also a historical connection beneath your feet. Hamburg became Eye of the Wind’s first home port in 1911, when the ship was still named Friedrich. Arriving here aboard her more than a century later brings the voyage neatly back to its beginnings.
The city’s major harbour anniversary celebrations begin only a few days after this voyage arrives, so extending your stay may be worthwhile.
Late April and early May are transitional months in northern Germany. Conditions can range from settled spring weather to colder, wetter periods, sometimes within the same voyage.
The Kiel Canal itself is largely sheltered from sea conditions. Once on the Lower Elbe, wind and tide become more noticeable and conditions can feel considerably more exposed. The tidal Elbe requires careful passage planning. Progress may therefore be determined as much by tidal conditions and commercial traffic as by the wind.
This should not be regarded as a four-night voyage under sail from beginning to end. The Kiel Canal requires substantial use of the engine, while opportunities to sail elsewhere depend on conditions at the time. Bring warm layers and waterproofs and expect changeable spring weather. There may also be pleasantly bright and settled days, but it is sensible to prepare for the colder option.
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 the vessel pages.
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.
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.
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