Explore the English Channel: Amsterdam to Brest EYE23/37

Embark	Disembark	Vessel	Duration	Voyage No
Fri 13-10-2023, 10:00Amsterdam	Sun 22-10-2023, 10:00Brest, France	Eye of the Wind	9 Nights	EYE23/37

Voyage Description

Full Voyage Description

You will step aboard Eye of the Wind at 7pm, but we recommend arriving early to give yourself time to explore Amsterdam. Once on board, the captain and crew will greet you with a tour and a briefing, covering safety information, the latest weather forecast and the itinerary. You’ll also enjoy dinner aboard getting to know your fellow sailors.

The morning sees you slip lines and set sail!

Eye of the Wind has a keen professional crew to help train you, even if you have never sailed before. Adventurous beginners who want to try their first voyage and experienced ocean sailors who know they will revel in sailing from amsterdam into the North Sea and doen the English Channel, Lots of potential places to visit on the way, the Channel island and Alderney is tall ship favourite. The coast and ports of Normandy or arcoss the Channel to Devon and Cornwall. Only the captain will know and only when they know the weather for the voyage.

Brest lighthouse

Stopping on the Channel Island of Jersey may well be on the cards as it is the ships registered port as she is still British registered even though German owned. This pearl in the bay of Saint-Malo is not only the Eye of the Wind’s home port, but also the sunniest of the ‘Norman islands’. In a remarkable coastal formation, green banks, rugged cliffs and long sandy beaches alternate and invite for long walks. Enjoy the island flair during a visit to the bustling market hall or a coffee break at Liberation Square. Jersey was occupied by the Germans in WW2.

The Channel is one of the most diversified sea areas with a high level of traffic – a paradise for ship spotters and lovers of the maritime scenery alike. Enjoy the ease and quietness on board for one week, while experiencing an unforgettable active holiday under sail.

On arrival in Brest, you’ll have an evening to celebrate a fantastic voyage with the crew, before your final night on board. Disembarkation is at 10.00 and, following a hearty breakfast, you can get ashore to explore the city before starting your onward journey.

Eye of the Wind - interior by HP Bleck — Eye of the Wind – interior by HP Bleck

WINDS, WAVES & WEATHER

You may get some big seas and rough weather at some point in the voyage.

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.

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.

AGILITY & FITNESS

Every customer sailing with us will need to fill in basic medical questions on their booking application. If you are not sure if your current level of fitness and agility are up to a voyage, then please ring the Classic Sailing Office on 01326 53 1234 and we can chat through your concerns and possibly find options that might suit you better.

Start & End Port

Amsterdam

The exact location may not be known until closer to the time, make sure you have a note of the ship’s phone number found in your confirmation in case of any problems on the day. The map below shows the likely joining place.

Adam Purser

Brest, France

Finding the Ship
Brest is a fairly large port and there are a couple of possible places that you can join your vessel. Make sure that you have the skippers mobile with you, so that you can liaise on the joining day. Details of the vessel location will be sent to you, either from our office or direct from the skipper via text or email.

A Day in Brest: A Maritime Haven with Historic Charms
If you’re able to, we recommend arriving a day early to explore Brest. Start your day with a visit to the National Maritime Museum (Musée National de la Marine) to delve into the rich maritime history of Brest. Witness stunning ship models and artefacts that narrate the city’s maritime legacy. Head to the Tanguy Tower to witness panoramic views of the harbour and city. For lunch, savour delectable French cuisine at a charming café in the heart of the city.

Special Interests
If you have a special interest that you would like to find out about for this port or to tell us about, we would love to hear from you.

Getting to Brest
From the UK: Travelers from the UK can easily reach Brest by taking a ferry from Plymouth or Portsmouth to Roscoff, and then a scenic bus or a short train ride to Brest.
From Europe: Brest is well-connected by train from major European cities. The French rail network, SNCF, offers comfortable and efficient connections to Brest.
From North America: For North American travellers, the most convenient option is to take a flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and then take a high-speed train from Paris to Brest.

Sustainable Travel Carbon Offset Schemes
By selecting sustainable travel options and actively participating in carbon offset initiatives, you can make a positive impact while journeying to or from your voyage.
Here are some suggestions for carbon offset websites.
UK: One popular carbon offset website in the UK is “Clear” who offer a range of carbon offset projects and solutions for individuals, businesses, and organisations. They provide detailed information about their projects and allow users to calculate and offset their carbon footprint online.
Europe: A popular carbon offset website in Europe is “MyClimate.” MyClimate provides carbon offset projects and solutions for individuals, businesses, and travel. They offer a carbon footprint calculator and allow users to support various sustainable projects worldwide. MyClimate focuses on promoting climate protection and sustainability.
North America: In North America, “Terrapass” is a well-known carbon offset website. Terrapass offers carbon offset projects across the United States and Canada. They provide options for individuals, businesses, and events to calculate and offset their carbon emissions. Terrapass also offers additional resources and information on sustainable living.

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

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.