Join three-masted lugger Grayhound as she sails from Paimpol, Brittany, through the English Channel and across the North Sea to Holland for the Sail Amsterdam Festival, marking the city’s 750th anniversary! Enjoy varied and fun sailing with interesting stopovers en route, and to arrive in Amsterdam as part of a MASSIVE fleet of ships from across the world. It’s going to be quite the spectacle!
Please note that the main language on board ship is French, although the majority of the crew also speak excellent English.
Voyage
Vessel
VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS
The perfect active holiday with a festival to finish!
Learn as much as you wish from Grayhound’s famously welcoming crew
Be part of an enormous flotilla of hundreds of ships
Explore Amsterdam amid the unique buzz of the SAIL Festival
Grayhound will be setting sail from Paimpol on this voyage. This beautiful Breton town will have just played host to the Festival du Chant de Marin, one of the highlights of the European traditional sailing calendar. If you are able to arrive early to catch the festivities (8th to 11th August) we would highly recommend it! Even if you can’t, the town will still be buzzing with sailors and sailing ships from all over the world, preparing to depart for their next port of call.
Stepping aboard Grayhound, the friendly international crew will welcome you and help you get settled in. You’ll receive a safety briefing and meet your fellow sailors, before setting sail.
Along the Way
As voyage crew, you do not have to have any prior sailing experience or knowledge to join the ship- Grayhound’s experienced crew will make sure that you’re soon hoisting sails like a pro! Get stuck in hauling lines, steering the ship and being involved in manoeuvres.
You will sail the English Channel, then the North Sea to reach the Netherlands. En route Grayhound will stop over in a number of different places, determined by the weather, but there are a host of fascinating possibilities on the UK and mainland European side, as well as the Channel Islands.
While some nights will be spent at anchor, others will be spent sailing. Night time sailing is a fantastic experience and we would highly recommend getting as involved as you can in your navigational watch.
Arriving in Amsterdam
Sailing up the great canal into the heart of Amsterdam, you will be alongside hundreds of ships from all over the world. This arrival flotilla is a real sight to behold, and you’ll be right in the middle of it! Once safely moored, the festivities begin. This year’s festival is particularly special, as it marks not only the 50th SAIL festival, but the 750th anniversary of Amsterdam itself!
WINDS, WAVES & WEATHER
In high summer, sailing conditions in the English Channel and North Sea are at their sunniest and most settled. However you should always be prepared for things to change. Whatever time of year you sail, these areas can have choppy seas, strong winds and rain on occasion. Conditions can get particularly challenging in the Dover Strait, where the North Atlantic forces itself through a small gap to reach the North Sea. Grayhound has allowed plenty of time to make this voyage, and there are plentiful good hiding places en route should she need to shelter from any foul weather.
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.
Start & End Port
Paimpol, Brittany
Situated in the Côtes-d’Armor area of Brittany, Paimpol is a picturesque and relatively quiet port town, with beautiful coastline and beaches. Every other year, however, it becomes the centre of the European traditional sailing universe, when hordes of ships, sailors and musicians descend for the unmissable Festival du Chant de Marin.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is a fascinating city, particularly for sailors. Explore the intricate network of waterways and the incredible Het Scheepvaartmuseum to discover five centuries of maritime history.
Kit List
What to pack for a sailing holiday on Grayhound
What is included
Duvets, linen, pillows
Sailing instruction
All meals on board (professional chef)
Tea, coffee, biscuits, fruit and day time snacks.
Night watch snacks (if applicable)
You don't have to do the cleaning, but help with the washing up is always appreciated.
Waterproof and insulated jackets and trousers
Life Jacket and safety equipment, we also have child automatic life jackets.
Charging facilities for phones, cameras and tablets etc.
What is not included
Towels
Travel to joining port
Tours, shore expeditions with any hire vehicle or local guide (optional & shared costs)
Personal travel insurance See Topsail Insurance LINK
There is no bar on board so you might like to bring a bottle or two of wine to enjoy with meals. You can also buy organic sailed cargo wine, red, white and rose onboard.
What to Bring
Don't forget, Grayhound is 108ft overall so she will not always fit into small yacht marinas and she will often have to anchor off in the bay or port. Be prepared to get into a small boat with your luggage and pack sensibly protecting any vulnerable items like cameras.
Grayhound has waterproof and insulated flotation jackets and trousers on board which are very warm. In summer or hot locations you may wish to bring some lightweight waterproofs. Even in the Caribbean you can get tropical downpours or spray on deck when sailing in strong winds.
A mobile phone so you can ring the ship in an emergency or if you are running late on joining day. Also it means we can contact you if we have to change the joining port for any reason.
Grayhound's phone number will always be supplied with your balance confirmation e-mail.
Shoes with a good grip for deck & aloft
Rubber Boots or second pair of shoes for wet weather or getting in/out of dinghies
Swim suit & beach towel. You are welcome to bring snorkel and mask - especially worth it in the Caribbean or Cape Verde.
Suntan lotion & sunglasses - consider sunblock and lip salve protection in Canaries, Cape Verde, Trans Altantic, Caribbean.
Sun hat / warm hat, scarves, gloves
Clothes that dry quickly. Mix of warm, waterproof & windproof layers
Small rucksack for going ashore
Travel insurance documents/tickets
Personal medicines/ spectacles
Spending money/passport
Camera/binoculars etc
Phone chargers. 240 generator on board UK three pin sockets.
We welcome musical instruments and you can plug in ipods or CDs into ships stereo.
There are storage areas for each bunk . Please pack in a soft rucksack or bag. A torch is useful as a few baggage spaces are at the foot of bunks with reading light at other end.
There is no alcohol to buy on board, so you are welcome to bring a bottle or two to drink with meals. If you decide to buy some on arrival
You can also buy Grayhound t shirts, mugs and Breton tops from our ship's shop we accept pounds or euros.
Review
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
learning to steer at a young age on Grayhound
Vessel Gallery
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.
