| Embark | Disembark | Vessel | Duration | Voyage No |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 14-09-2026, 19:00Stralsund, Germany | Mon 21-09-2026, 10:00Kiel, Germany | Eye of the Wind | 7 Nights | EYE26/33 |
Join Eye of the Wind for a passage from Stralsund to Kiel, covering around 200–230 nautical miles. Sail westward along Germany’s southern Baltic coastline, past the dramatic chalk cliffs and sandy shores of Rügen, through the island-scattered Fehmarn Belt, and into the wide natural harbour of Kiel Bay. Get hands-on helping to manoeuvre the ship, stand watch with the welcoming professional crew and learn as much as you wish about traditional seamanship.
Enjoy some great tall ship sailing and varied shore excursions as Eye of the Wind hops between the islands of the Western Baltic.
| 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 |
The picturesque city centre of Stralsund, with its brick Gothic buildings , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s well worth spending some time hear before you board.
The Ozeaneum at the harbour is one of the best aquariums we’ve ever seen. 50 tanks, some of them enormous, with marine life from the Baltic and the North Atlantic. Also they have Humboldt penguins on the roof terrace. Just saying! Within sight of the Ozeaneum lies a special maritime monument: the barque Gorch Fock (I) built in 1933 (since replaced as a Germany Navy training vessel by her newer sister ship, also called Gorch Fock).
Having walked round all of that, you’ll doubtless be thirsty, so why not round off your Stralsund visit with a tour of the Störtebeker Brewery?!
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.
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 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.
En route to Kiel, the ship will take time to explore the Baltic Sea coast between Germany and Denmark. Stopovers are possible on the Danish islands of Falster, Lolland, Langeland or Ærø. Depending on the wind direction, you may also visit ports in Lübeck Bay, Heiligenhafen or on the island of Fehmarn. There are endless possibilities in this area of the Baltic, and all of them are great!
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 after your voyage. Eye of the Wind will moor up in Holtenau on the western shore of the Kiel Fjord. If you’ve time before heading for your onward travel, 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.
Mid-September on the western Baltic is a wonderful time to be at sea. The days are still pleasantly mild, with temperatures typically reaching around 18°C during the day, cooling to around 11°C overnight. Winds at this time of year are predominantly from the west and south-west, typically in the Force 3–4 range — ideal sailing conditions. You may encounter stronger spells as autumn begins to announce itself, and it’s worth knowing that this part of the Baltic can produce short, sharp sea states when the wind picks up, given the enclosed nature of the sea. However, with the summer season not yet fully behind us, prolonged rough weather remains the exception rather than the rule, and there are plenty of places to seek shelter en route.
Expect a mix of sunshine and cloud, with occasional showers possible. Days are around 12–13 hours long, and the quality of late-season Baltic light — golden and low — makes for some genuinely beautiful moments on the water.
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.
Stralsund is an 800 year-old Hanseatic city, the centre of which is UNESCO world heritage site. There are some fantastic places to explore here, including a remarkable aquarium and the Gorch Fock I museum.
Make the most of your time here: find out about all the local attractions and places to stay through the city’s website.
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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