Exploration Ashore & Wildlife

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Adventure Afloat; Explore Ashore

We chose our sailing locations more for their wildlife, natural scenery and idyllic anchorages, than facilities ashore. Our skippers will awake the natural explorer in you. Be the first to row ashore and make footprints in the sand; sail silently under towering Norwegian cliffs; fend off over-friendly penguins ashore or take a zodiac ride between stranded icebergs in Anarctica. There is nothing wrong in hugging an oak tree after a gale at sea, or re-living your childhood on a Cornish beach....We are not complete wilderness purists though. We do find the pub eventually !

If your charter boat does not have a decent dinghy (or two) to explore ashore, then we think you will have an impoverished view of what sailing is all about. We bring out the explorer in you....

Unspoilt nature around the UK Coast

Unless you are already a sailor or a fisherman you may not be aware how ecologically rich the seas around Britain are - particularly the western edge of the UK with its intricate mainland coastline and islands from the Scillies to the most Northwesterly island shores of the Outer Hebrides and St Kilda.

 Fast tides and wave action to stir up the waters, ocean currents like the Gulf Stream sweep creatures from as far away as the Caribbean bringing unusual sightings like turtles or strange jellyfish. The close proximity to the vast Atlantic allows frequent visits by many species of dolphins, whales and ocean seabirds like storm petrels and gannets.

Scotland, Outer Hebrides & Shetland Isles - Lizzie May, Bessie Ellen and Brixham Sailing Trawler Provident will be in Scotland in 2012.

We have three vessels that regularly visit the Isles of Scilly in summer, which offers excellent cetacean and bird watching opportunities, usually with a wildlife tour ashore with a local guide (Will Wagstaff).

2012 Isles of Scilly wildlife voyage dates and prices.

Arctic & Antarctic Wildlife - In the Wake of the Polar Explorers

Classic Sailing offer a unique opportunity to explore both the Arctic Circle (Svalbard archipelago including Spitsbergen) and the Antarctic Peninsula. These are termed sailing and wildlife expeditions because you truely get the best of both worlds....and on a tall ship in the style of 19th Century polar explorers. Bark Europa has become well known as the tall ship that explores Antarctica every Southern Hemisphere summer with 22 day voyages from Patagonia. Tall ship Antigua bases herself in Longyearbyen in Spitsbergen offers 11 day sailing and wildlife expeditions deep into the Arctic Circle.

Spitsbergen - Arctic Summer Voyages 2011

Antarctic & South Georgia Voyages 2011 - 2012

Bay of Biscay for Whale and Dolphin Spotting

Whilst the most abundant place to see whales is probably in Antarctic on Barque Europa or during the humpback whale migration in the South Pacific on Soren Larsen, there are some less well known cetacean hot spots much closer to Europe. Just off the North Coast of Spain where the ocean floor rises steeply to the European continental shelf, currents bring the plankton to the surface and create a fish rich feeding ground for dolphins and good hunting for ocean seabirds. Bessie Ellen and Oosterschelde are crossing the Bay of Biscay in Oct 2011 and returning in the Spring.

Bessie Ellen Winter schedule 2011-2012

Lord Nelson - Azores voyage with whale and dolphin wildlife guide 10 days  4-13th April 2012

Canaries & Azores based Wildlife Voyages

120ft wooden sailing ship Bessie Ellen will be based in the Western Canaries and Azores from October 2011 to March 2012 running 7 day dolphin and whale watching voyages in the winter sun. There is a nursery ground for bottlenosed dolphins off Tenerife and many of the worlds whale and dolphin reseacrch projects are based in either the Canaries or Azores as they are visited by many species. It is also a good place for turtle sightings and even manta rays.

Islands & Mountains

We prefer an anchorage nestled below impressive cliffs or mountains or rocking gently off a deserted beach listening to the sounds of nature, rather than tied up to a pontoon amongst the rattle of wire halliards on aluminum masts. Archipelagoes, isolated volcanic outposts in the middle of oceans, or mixing with resourceful islanders from Benebecula in Scotland to Cape Verde off Senegal or Tristan da Cuhna in the middle of nowhere are what we look for in our longer voyages.

South Pacific islands on Soren Larsen 2012

South Georgia, Tristan da Cuhna, St Helena, Acension & Azores on Barque Europa - spring 2012

Mountainous coastlines also feature frequently in our chosen sailing grounds. Scotland, South Georgia, Norway, Spitsbergen, Corsica, Canaries, Madiera....and many more. A foray ashore to climb the highest viewpoint is a popular activity, but for some anchorages just gazing at the summits with a glass of wine in hand is enough after the exertions of sailing !

Exploring Hot Destinations

Cape Verde is pretty tropical. Schooner Oosteschelde will return to this group of islands next winter for some more exploring. Bark Europa is taking part in the Tall Ships Race before heading south to the sun, exploring The Canary Islands before heading across the Atlantic to Brazil and on to Uruguay. Soren Larsen will return to the Pacific Polynesian islands in our summer 2011. Closer to the UK, winter sun destinations include the Canaries, Azores and Madiera - all volcanic islands with lush, sub tropical flora.

Cape Verde for flying fish & bonito - Winter sun on tall ship Oosterschelde in Cape Verde 2011-2012

South Pacific for Whales - Cook Islands- Samoa- Tonga - Fiji - Vanuatu - New Caledonia -Lord Howe Island - Sydney 2012

In Harmony with Nature

The wind drives us along with minimal sound and zero pollution. Nature is more powerful than we are. On a sailing boat we harness it to our best ability and sometimes its a wild and exhilarating ride. There are those quiet moments that etch themselves into our memory, when the sea and skies provide moments of pure beauty. Apart from encouraging our guests to appreciate the weather systems and restless sea, we hope you will enjoy learning about the marine wildlife we share the oceans with.

Call a Skipper 01872 58 00 22 (Non UK 044 1872 58 00 22)