Embark | Disembark | Vessel | Duration | Voyage No |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mon 27-05-2024, 14:00Gloucester Docks, UK | Sat 01-06-2024, 11:00Falmouth, Cornwall | Grayhound | 5 Nights | GR270524 |
This late spring, early summer sailing adventure aboard Grayhound starts at Gloucester Docks, leads you through a scenic route encompassing canals, rivers, and open seas, and concludes with exploration in Cornwall, particularly in the charming harbour town of Falmouth. It’s a voyage that blends the tranquillity of inland waters with the thrill of open-sea navigation and offers a deeper connection to the maritime heritage of the British Isles.
Vessel type / Rig | Three Masted Lugger |
Guest Berths | 8-10 |
Beam | 19ft |
Draft | 10.75ft |
Deck Length | 64ft |
Overall Length | 108ft |
Tonnage | 56 tons |
Year Built | 2012 |
GRAYHOUND is one of the largest sailing luggers in the world today. She was built in Cornwall in 2012 and has a 20m long hull, is 33m overall and a canvas area of 470 square meters. The original plans were those of a three masted lugger from 1776. Luggers from that time were built for speed and swiftness ideal for privateering, smuggling…or for hunting the latter! “Pirate hand-break turns” and cannon firing is always on the menu on Grayhound!
You join Grayhound in Gloucester, a historic port city nestled along the banks of the Severn River. As you set sail from Gloucester in late spring or early summer, you’ll witness the picturesque beauty of the Gloucester Docks, a serene starting point for your maritime adventure.
As you depart Gloucester, your voyage takes you along a unique route. Initially, you’ll meander through tranquil canals and winding rivers, providing a peaceful introduction to your seafaring experience. The journey offers glimpses of charming villages and lush landscapes, a contrast to the open seas that await.
Once you leave the sheltered waters behind, you’ll venture into the Irish Sea. This stretch of your voyage is characterized by open-water sailing, the scent of salt in the air, and the ever-changing rhythm of the waves.
As you continue down the Irish Sea towards Lands End, you can expect to witness the lively antics of playful dolphins leaping alongside the ship. Above, graceful seabirds, including gulls, terns, puffins, and razorbills, may gracefully glide through the air or perch on the dramatic coastal cliffs that line your route. These birds add both movement and charm to the stunning coastal scenery that surrounds you as you journey through this vibrant maritime ecosystem. As you approach the iconic Land’s End in Cornwall, the rugged and dramatic Cornish coastline comes into view, a testament to nature’s untamed beauty. It’s a moment to appreciate the sheer power of the Atlantic Ocean as it meets the English Channel.
The conclusion of your voyage brings you to Falmouth, a historic harbour town nestled in Cornwall. This charming coastal town warmly welcomes you as Grayhound docks, marking the end of your maritime journey. Falmouth, with its rich maritime heritage, offers a delightful place to explore, with opportunities to learn about Cornwall’s seafaring traditions and enjoy its coastal attractions. If you’re able to, we recommend staying an extra day in Falmouth to explore the town and surrounding area. Visit the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and see the national small boats collection. Grab lunch at Windjammer Café, sit out on the balcony and enjoy watching the hustle and bustle of the harbour below – you’ll likely be able to see Grayhound from there! There are also 2 train stations right in the town, close to the harbour, perfect for your onward journey home or going further afield to see Cornwall’s many visitor attractions such as the Eden Project, Tintagel Castle and the Minack Theatre to name just a few.
During your late spring to early summer voyage, you can anticipate generally mild temperatures. The tidal range in the Bristol Channel, is notable for being one of the largest tidal ranges in the world! Once in the the Irish Sea, weather conditions may vary, offering a mix of sunny days and occasional showers, but the longer daylight hours provide ample time to appreciate breath-taking sunsets and sunrises. Sea conditions tend to be calmer, with gentle to moderate waves, making for a smoother journey. Overall, it’s a season that offers pleasant sailing conditions for you to savour the maritime beauty of the Irish Sea.
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. Handling cargo adds an extra dimension – building teamwork and communication skills and leaving you with a great sense of achievement.
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.
We now have several vessels that use Falmouth as a joining or leaving port. As every vessel is different, and we do not have our own pontoon there, all joining instructions are slightly different. Any changes will be communicated to you before your voyage start date.
This is a list of the likely joining locations, but sometimes the ship can also be at anchor. Read the vessel’s joining instructions carefully for full details.
Port Pendennis is the small marina behind the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and the nearest rail station is ‘Falmouth Town’ (3 mins walk). The Maritime Museum has a big tower like a lighthouse so aim for that and at the entrance, turn right and walk down the side of the museum. The gate to the marina is behind the museum building.
Custom House Quay is a stone quay enclosing a small wet dock in the Centre of Falmouth Town. It is used for some of the foot ferries to St Mawes in the peak summer. Only 5 minutes walk from Falmouth Town Station if you head towards the town centre. Situated at the Maritime Museum end of the high street and has its own short stay car park between Trago Mills Store and the Chain Locker Pub if you are driving and want to drop your bags first.
Falmouth Visitors Yacht Haven is about 100 yards beyond Custom House Quay but if walking from the rail station towards town it is best if you walk accross Custom House Quay short term car park and nip through the alley tunnel through the Chain Locker Pub. The yacht haven is a small marina only yards from Falmouth main shopping street (Arwenack St), tucked away down the bottom of Quay Street.
Sailing on Grayhound in the Caribbean, March 2024
James recently shared his feedback from his voyage on Grayhound, sailing from St. Lucia to Guadeloupe from 6th to 12th March. He thoroughly enjoyed the experience, rating it as amazing, but he felt the need to share some insights.
The crew comprised 11 people, including a professional skipper, a young mate, a cook, and the boat's Swedish owners, Willie and Oscar. The passengers included two Americans, Connor and Leah, along with James and Nigel Sharp, who was there to write an article about the trip. A young couple joined as volunteer crew but lacked experience, which somewhat impacted the dynamics.
James appreciated the diverse age range and found the mixed sleeping arrangements manageable, though he noted the challenges of sleeping in tropical heat. His prior experience on classic boats like Pilgrim and Johanna Lucretia helped him enjoy working on the boat, though he advises that physical fitness is essential for activities like using the hand winch and rowing in the Caribbean heat.
A significant aspect of the trip was the administrative process of checking into each Caribbean island, which James found somewhat tedious. He also highlighted that Grayhound is a vegetarian boat, which, while not a major issue for him, did limit the culinary experience of the Caribbean.
Despite some minor issues, James emphasises that future passengers should be prepared for a more casual and less professional experience on Grayhound, compared to other vessels. He always felt safe and enjoyed the boat's beauty, describing the atmosphere at times as akin to a 'happy hippy expedition'. The owners' approach to running Grayhound as a business seemed more focused on enjoyment, including evenings with drinks and beach BBQ’s.
Overall, James is grateful for the experience and open to future sailing adventures. He also stayed on in the Caribbean for an extra week, offering to share his discoveries with others. He's curious about Nigel Sharp's upcoming article in Classic Boat, noting Nigel's mixed impressions during the trip.
This is a summary of the comments by James March 2024
Thank you so much to all the Grayhound crew for an unforgettable adventure. I cannot imagine a kinder and better crew with which to sail.
Caroline
Thanks all for a great time, I really enjoyed it. Fastest Channel crossing I have managed!
Barney
An unforgettable experience
Jonathon
We've had two idyllic sailing trips. One particularly fantastic day scrambling over big volcanic rocks down a deep craggy valley to a black sand beach with dramatically high cliffs. Grayhound was waiting, attracting attention because she's so beautiful and unique. Swimming out to her in the clear waters o the Atlantic rates as one of life's highlights.
Grayhound Guest
Fantastic, exhilarating and an honour to be on such a ship.
Des
Excellent company of genuine all round sailors. The wind in my face and the swell beneath. 5 stars for welcome, accommodation on board, safety, quality of sailing, food, skipper and crew.
Barry
Outstanding and unforgettable experience. Loved learning the lug rig, meeting the crew and other guests, playing an active role on board.
Charlie
Brilliant sail on an interesting boat with friendly and knowledgeable people.
Steve
Three masted lugger Grayhound is a unique sight and a joy to take photos of. Not only does she look very unusual as it is a rig not seen much now, she has a mission to deliver cargoes under sail, so she is the darling of the press. Photos from Classic Sailing customers, ships crew and professional photographers. We hope it gives a flavour of her sailing, life on board, the people that come, her beautiful sailing grounds and what it is like to live below decks.
Midweek Winter Workshop - wooden boat repairs and boat building skills for women
Embark
Tue 10-12-2024
Smugglers Cottage, Tolverne
Disembark
Fri 13-12-2024
Smugglers Cottage, Tolverne
From
£499
Provident Southwest Amble 2024 PV290524
Embark
Wed 29-05-2024
Brixham, UK
Disembark
Mon 03-06-2024
Penzance, Cornwall
Fully Booked
Sailing & wildlife voyage - plus a beach clean of coves or creeks & guest talk from 'Clean Ocean Sailing' TH140524
Embark
Tue 14-05-2024
St Mawes, Cornwall
Disembark
Fri 17-05-2024
St Mawes, Cornwall
From
£399
Was £599
Recently Viewed Voyages
Gloucester to Falmouth 2024 - GR270524
Embark
Mon 27-05-2024
Gloucester Docks, UK
Disembark
Sat 01-06-2024
Falmouth, Cornwall
From
€985