Salty Cornish Breaks Afloat

IDEAL VOYAGE

A voyage for those who want to stay healthy, maximise their time outdoors and learn new ways of exercising the chilling out, whilst living on an incredible wooden boat. You don’t need to be a sailor, no activity is compulsory, and all meals are freshly prepared on board Tallulah. Sailing a traditional boat is a satisfying physical activity anyway and the skipper will show you how to pull blocks and tackles effectively.

Skipper Debbie keeps young by indulging in most watersports, practicing yoga imperfectly and trashing her body by racing gig boats with a bunch of crazy older ladies.  She likes to swim in the sea all year round. If you want tips on open water swimming, local knowledge on the best sandy coves that cannot be reached from the land then she has the answers. 

Yoga teacher, relaxation expert and keen surfer Sophie Mydlarz has been teaming up with Debbie to offer these trips since 2021. Her own company ‘Recharge Therapy’ is well known locally for beach yoga, massage sessions and how to add a bit of meditation to your life.

VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS

• The rugged South Cornwall Coast as our Blue Gym
• Freshly cooked food and accommodation all onboard.
• yoga and relaxation with yoga teacher Sophie Mydlarz
• 2 stand up paddleboards on board to try
• 15ft rowing boat with gig oars and pair of smaller oars
• Leave your car behind – Explore by wind & muscle power
• yoga, swim if you dare, or morning stretches at anchor
• We teach you to sail too

FULL VOYAGE DESCRIPTION

Sail, Row, Swim, Stretch, Sleep

A sailing and multi activity holiday with an emphasis on fitness and healthy living. Live aboard 44ft Tallulah with a skipper and visiting fitness or well being coach. The big wide decks in a secluded Cornish anchorage are perfect for a spot of morning yoga or stretching after a swim. Sailing this traditionally rigged pilot cutter always offers the physical but satisfying effort of hoisting sails by block and tackle, but there are plenty of other related watersports activities that you can do whilst on board. This voyage actively seeks physical activity and creates space to breathe, sleep and feel rejuvenated.

Once at anchor there is a rowing boat with big 13ft oars. Tallulah’s skipper is a competitive gig boat rower so you can step up the pace with 2 rowers or go gently exploring. There are stand up paddleboards to try and the South Cornish waters are incredibly clear if you want to swim or snorkle. For runners and walkers the South West Coast Path is available at almost every coastal anchorage. Debbie enjoys swimming in the sea all year round so has plenty of wild swimming tips

This is not a shouty bootcamp. Its a skipper who wants to stay fit whilst at work, and hopes we can all mutually encourage each other to make the best of our surroundings to keep fit physically and mentally. You are welcome to bring wine or beer to enjoy with evening meals but we will be encouraging you to try soft drinks, virgin mohitos and fruity cocktails too, and there will always be a big choice of hot drinks. 

On a sailing voyage we never use the word itinerary, as skippers will always be aiming for the best sailing and shore landings for the forecast and most idyllic or sheltered anchors and ports. They are as keen as you to include some of the highlights described below, but you have to go with mother nature, not fight her. The description below is based on what we think might be possible, based on past trips, or experience, but nothing is guaranteed on a sailing voyage.

Wild Swimming

Swimming from Tallulah in a beautiful anchorage is often a big part of the fun on our sailing activity holidays

The availability of Wild Swimming from Tallulah is at the skippers discretion. Supervision is provided from Tallulah and her dinghies. All our skippers are qualified with First Aid at Sea but not all are lifesaving guards.

Tallulah – voyages that tread lightly on the planet

Tallulah is a well proven classic yacht, well set up for sailing, but new to the charter world. Owner and skipper Debbie Purser has many ideas on how to make her the best low carbon way to explore Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Based on 23 years of creating innovative voyages on our previous vessel Eve of St Mawes, Tallulah takes over the mantle of flagship for Classic Sailing and gives the company a vessel to shape sailing holidays that fit this strange new world we live in.

The voyages we aim to create are a modern twist on everything that the Classic Sailing ethos represents. Hands On sailing, responsible green travel, promoting marine wildlife and the good company of adventurous individuals. Whilst foreign travel is compramised by the pandemic and climate change concerns, Debbie aims to show you treasures on your doorstep.

This particular voyage is aimed at those who want to stay fit and healthy or start the ball rolling with a more active way of life.

What to Expect on your Boaty Bootcamp

Leaving from St Mawes

With a maximum of 6 on board we can find out everyone’s aims and expectations, whether it is to turn a swimming pool triathlete into an open water swimming fan, or simply sail away from a frenetic world for a few days and recalibrate how you want to live your life in future. Skipper Debbie is in her late fifties but St Mawes is full of residents who keep very fit and live an outdoor life to the full. There is an active social sea swimming scene here, gig rowers from 14 to 70 who train to race, and many trail runners. Nothing you do this week will be considered weird by the locals.

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 and we can chat through your concerns and possibly find options that might suit you better. 

Climbing out the rowing boat to the decks of Tallulah is a short step. If you intend to swim or paddle board from the boat, you need to be confident you can climb out the water by a short 5-6ft rope ladder with wide rungs. 

What to pack for a sailing holiday on Tallulah

Included

• Sailing Instruction
• Safety Equipment (Life jackets and harnesses)
• All meals on board & refreshments throughout the day
• Bed linen, duvet, pillows
• Wooden rowing boat activities
• 2 x Stand Up Paddleboards & buoyancy jackets (on summer voyages)

What is not included

• Alcoholic beverages
• Towels
• Wellie boots
• Waterproof jackets & trousers 

What to Bring

Please limit yourself to one soft bag or rucksack as there is limited storage space on board. No suitcases please!

Tallulah does not have waterproof jacket and trousers yet, so please bring a properly waterproof jacket and trousers on all voyages.

Walking and cycling waterproofs are usually adequate and much lighter to pack, so there really is no need to buy a coastal sailing jacket (unless you really want an excuse to invest in your future sailing). If you need any advice, or lack of a jacket is preventing you participating, please ring us on 01326 53 1234

• warm, windproof jacket for days when you don't want to wear a waterproof jacket
• 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.
• we have space if you want to bring a wetsuit for wild swimming or SUP adventures
• Flat shoes with a good grip e.g. trainers or sailing deck shoes.
• Sailing boots or wellies as the sea can come over deck if rough*.
• (An alternative 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.
• Scillies trips – Walking boots are useful and can be these can be worn on deck too
• A small rucksack is useful for going ashore
• Camera, binoculars, sketchbook, a relaxing read.
• Passport for European or Ireland Voyages, Reciprocal Free Health Care card in Europe.
• Please bring a passport on French trips
• Any medication, spare spectacles. Seasick tablets - check with your Doctor, which brand if you suffer asthma or are on medication.
• RYA Cruising Logbook or similar if you want to log your sailing experience e.g. sea miles, night hours
• Musical instruments are always welcome.

Alcohol

Tallulah does not always have wine bottles for sale on board so you are welcome to bring modest quantities of alcohol, (unless it is an alcohol free voyage) e.g. to drink with evening meals, but drinking whilst sailing is not allowed.

A Note on Covid 19

While Tallulah's guests do not need to prove Covid Vaccination status at this time, it is expected that if a guest feels unwell prior to joining the ship they should always use common sense and test when appropriate to decide whether they should join the voyage, for their own safety and the safety of others onboard. It is a requirement that guests on residential voyages take out appropriate Travel Insurance and care should be taken to ensure insurance includes cover for such a case. Likewise, should members of Tallulah's professional crew including the skipper feel unwell prior to a voyage, they will always use common sense & test when appropriate.

 

Photos and images of the striking 44ft pilot cutter Tallulah, offering charter voyages for individuals, couples and groups from 2022.  Based in St Mawes, Cornwall. No experience is necessary and a local skipper as your guide.