Explore Provident’s old haunts

FULL VOYAGE DESCRIPTION

Across the Irish Sea

Built to trawl under sail, Brixham Trawlers such as Provident are strong and capable ships that are totally at home on a sea voyage. Crossing the Irish Sea will be no problem aboard the very sturdy Provident! Which leaves you free to enjoy the voyage, great food, good company and varied wildlife along the way! There are chances to a variety of dolphins, whales, huge sunfish, basking sharks and a stunning array of seabirds in the Irish Sea.

You embark from Penzance – infamous for its smuggling past! Arrive early if you can and visit the Admiral Benbow pub. Built in 1600’s, you’ll see the look-out boy out on the roof, keeping watch for the revenue officers. Inside it’s decorated with maritime artefacts rescued from numerous shipwrecked vessels which foundered on the Cornish coast during the last 400 years. Legend has it a water well in the grounds hides a secret tunnel down to a cave on the shore.

After rounding Lands End, you’ll head NNW for Dublin’s fair city. While heading up the River Liffey,  we may even stop the city’s traffic as the Tom Clark Bridge raises for us to pass under! There is plenty to see, do and explore while in Dublin if you’re able to say in the city for a day or two. Visit the replica emigrant ship Jeanie Johnson, soak in the city’s history in it’s fascination museums and make sure to find time to grab a ‘proper’ Guinness – it really does taste better in Ireland!

Living History

100 year old Provident is a Brixham Sailing Trawler and spent the majority of her working life fishing out of her home port of Brixham. Brixham has been an important fishing port for hundreds of years, and it continues to be so today. 

Provident’s story is even older than she is – the Provident you see today is in fact a copy of an earlier trawler of the same name. The original Provident was stuck and sunk by a U Boat in 1915. Today’s Provident was one of the last sailing trawlers to be built (1924). By the mid 1920’s, the heyday of trawling under sail was quickly fading out in favour of more modern motor vessels. In contrast, 50 years prior (in the 1880’s) there were  over 3,000 sailing trawlers registered around the UK.

After her life as a sailing trawler came to an end, Provident became a private yacht in America for some years. More recently she was a she returned to Brixham to work as a Sail Training vessel with Trinity Sailing Trust. 

WINDS, WAVES & WEATHER

The Irish Sea is that part of the North Atlantic which separates Ireland and Great Britain. The Irish Sea has a reputation for being choppy but more often than not it’s not difficult, instead offering great sailing and plentiful opportunities to see a variety of wildlife.  While we can’t guarantee the weather, early summer can offer some really good sailing. The temperature is on the rise but not unbearable. The worst of the winter storms have subsided and the wildlife is abundant. Things can change quickly, but the crew are incredibly knowledgeable and familiar with the coastline and of course the ship and her capabilities. 

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. Handling cargo adds an extra dimension – building teamwork and communication skills and leaving you with a great sense of achievement.

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.

What to pack for a sailing holiday on Provident

What is Included:

• Bedding
• All meals and soft drinks aboard.
• All safety equipment, including lifejackets
• Fantastic sailing

What is Not Included:

• Travel to and from your voyage
• Personal travel insurance.
• Alcohol (although reasonably priced wine, beer and whisky will be available to purchase on board). Consumption of alcohol is always at the discretion of the skipper
• Waterproofs - If this is your first voyage good walking waterproofs will be fine. We only recommend buying sailing waterproofs if you are frequent sailors.
  • You will find exploring ashore in walking gear much better than struggling around in sailing kit!

What to Bring

• Enthusiasm!
• Waterproofs - see above.
• Your own towel.
• Hats for sun and cold weather.
• At least two sets of warm clothes - layers e.g. tracksuit bottoms, shirts, fleece jacket, wool jumpers, thick socks, and neck scarf. It can get cold at sea even in mid summer.
• Swim suit, towel, and suntan lotion.
• Flat shoes with a good grip e.g. trainers or sailing deck shoes. Sailing boots or wellies are also helpful.
• (An alterative to boots in summer is to bring another pair of flat shoes with a good grip in case the first pair get wet).
• All terrain type Sandals are great for dinghy trips ashore – but you do need shoes which protect your toes for sailing.
• Camera, binoculars, sketchbook, a relaxing read.
• Any medication, spare spectacles. Seasickness tablets or pressure-point wrist bands (talk to your pharmacist)
• Your own logbook if you'd like to keep track of your sea miles
• Tech chargers (USB sockets are available in all the cabins) and waterproof cases for anything valuable

N.B. BOATS HAVE LIMITED STORAGE SPACE SO PLEASE LIMIT YOURSELF TO ONE SOFT BAG OR RUCKSACK  (NOT SUITCASES)