Wild Swimming sailing days from Plymouth Yacht Haven aboard 1906 Gaff Yawl ‘Moosk’. A unique perspective on beautiful Plymouth Sound, and a fantastic day out. You can be as involved as you like with the ship’s manoeuvres, with opportunities for helming and sail handling, with no experience necessary.
Moosk will have a Swim Guide and Lifeguard on board, who will work with the skipper to find the best swimming spot given the conditions. A refreshing guided sea swim will be followed by hot lunch on board, before some more cracking sailing as you return to Plymouth.
Voyage
Vessel
VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS
6 Hour trip
Secluded sea swimming
Qualified Lifeguard onboard
See Plymouth Sound from a whole new perspective
Delicious lunch on board
Learn the ropes
Every trip will be different according to conditions
Beginners, sailors and swimmers alike. No experience necessary, and a day trip is a great way to get a feel for traditional sailing if you haven’t tried it before, or to get a quick fix if you can’t make time for a longer voyage. With Moosk’s Swim Guide and Lifeguard, you can feel safe wild swimming knowing you have support there if you need it. This is a fantastic confidence boost. And what could be better than getting out of the water for a delicious hot lunch before setting sail once more?
Moosk Gaff Yawl under sail
WINDS, WAVES & WEATHER
Every day is different, and so every trip will be different, but the Swim Guide and skipper will work together to give the best sailing and the most sheltered swimming possible.
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.
AGILITY & FITNESS
Basic agility and fitness is required. 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 on 01326 53 1234 and we can chat through your concerns and possibly find options that might suit you better.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Skipper & professional crew
Personal Safety Equipment
Sailing Instruction
Lunch and refreshments on board
Waterproofs
Third Party liability insurance
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Travel to Joining Port
Travel from end port
Towels & trunks!
Start & End Port
Plymouth, UK
There are several marina docks in Plymouth.
For Pegasus, Johanna Lucretia and Moosk: Please meet at “the Hanger Car Park” in Plymouth Yacht Haven car park, Turnchapel. PL9 9XH (See below for directions – Parking in the marina is free.)
For Grayhound: voyages will start from Mayflower Marina, Richmond Walk. If it is any different you will be informed by the skipper before the day of arrival. She is often the only wooden masted ship in this harbour, so it will be easy to spot her three black masts. Address: Richmond Walk, Plymouth PL1 4LS. – see info below.
Mayflower Marina – for Grayhound
Mayflower Marina is to the west of the city centre, and has some long pontoons so is often used for our larger vessels. It is only about a 10 minute taxi from Plymouth Railway Station. There is secure parking within the marina for a daily parking fee.
MARINA ACCESS & ON SITE CAR PARKING
Vehicular access to the marina is restricted by a car park barrier, there is a card reader / intercom pedestal. If you do not have an access fob please follow the instructions on the intercom pedestal.
Car park charges are two hours free then £1 for 1 hour over the free period, £2 for 2 hours over the free period and then £5 for up to 22 hours after the free period. It is requested that the owners of parked cars leave their keys in the marina office in case the car has to be moved for operational reasons.
Plymouth Yacht Haven /Mountbatten Marina / Turnchapel – for Pegasus, Moosk and Johanna Lucretia
This marina has had several changes of name over the years so you may find skippers referring to it as Turnchapel / Mountbatten Marina – Allow at least 25 minutes to get from A38 Marsh Mills Roundabout Plymouth city centre exit road to Turnchapel by car. It does have FREE long term parking in the marina.
If you are travelling by public transport the most direct route is a 10 minute yellow ferry (foot passengers only) from the Barbican Pub straight to Mountbatten next to Plymouth Yacht Haven. A taxi ride all the way around the Plym estuary would be quite expensive. See Mountbatten Ferry website for ferry mobile phone or enquiries www.mountbattenferry.co.uk
The postcode for Sat Nav users is PL9 9XH /Google maps
Directions:
Turn left off A38 at Marsh Mills roundabout onto A374 signed Plymouth City Centre.
After 1 1/4 mile get into left hand lane and follow signs for Kingsbridge A379.
This takes you across Laira Bridge where you will see the first signs for Mount Batten and Turnchapel.
After crossing the Laira Bridge, at the first roundabout turn right.
At the next roundabout (mini) take the second exit, cross pedestrian lights, and continue straight on until traffic lights at crossroads.
Turn right and then go straight through a second set of lights.
Keep on this road (for approx 1 1/2 miles) until you come to a roundabout.
All Meals, Cooked Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Refreshments throughout the day.
What's Not Included
Travel to and from the start and end port.
You need to bring a sleeping bag
Optional trips or tours taken ashore
Meals ashore
Alcoholic Beverages
For RYA Day Skipper you will need to bring a passport sized ID photo in preparation for your RYA Certificate.
What to bring
A sleeping bag.
A big soft bag, no suitcases please!
Pyjamas
2 pairs of warm trousers
2 long sleeve t-shirts
2 light sweatshirts or similar
A fleece jacket
Plenty of underwear and socks
Warm hat and ordinary gloves
Wellies or waterproof boots
A pair of trainers
Swimming kit (if appropriate)
Glasses or contact lenses
Anti seasickness tablets
Wash kit and towel
RYA logbook if you have one
Sun cream and Sunglasses
Review
RYA Courses
What was the best bit?
Everyday there was something to learn and practice
What was the worst bit?
Going home
Why do you sail?
I love the feeling of the wind pushing the sails and being surrounded by traditional design. Learning the ropes and exploring the outdoors is my passion and if there’s wildlife involved I’m in heaven!!
Any other comments
Ollie is an extremely talented instructor. His temperament, knowledge and sense of fun, adventure and humour kept us all motivated. He never made me feel silly for getting things wrong or asking too many questions and I felt very safe at all times. - Jennifer F. RYA course in April.
Credit to Jennifer F on Moosk
Yachtmaster Course Review
The instructor Dom was fantastic he had so much energy, we were usually going from 8 am to 10pm as the syllabus is so big and he was always enthusiastic and feeding us bits of info at any opportunity. He had a good method of demonstrating first and then explaining and he was very good at giving useful feedback.
Moosk is a good boat for this course as she’s small and manageable (at least compared to what Kathryn and I are more used to). The food was plentiful and Ollie the skipper was incredibly knowledgeable.
I’d recommend this prep week to anyone interested in doing the YM especially if they are more familiar with traditional boats or a gaff rig rather than plastic boats.
Edwardian yawl Moosk in action and images. 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.
