Sail Training Brigs Prince William & Stavros S Niarchos

The Prince William and her near identical sister tall ship STS Stavros S Niarchos were launched new in 2001 and 2000. These impressive square rigged brigs were purpose built for the UK based Sail Training Association to carry on the youth development adventures that Schooners ‘Sir Winston Churchill’ and ‘Malcolm Miller’ had provided for over 30 years. In addition to their youth voyages (16-25) they also provide challenging voyages around the world for 18-75 year olds of any nationality.

Both tall ships are 200ft (60m) long, are traditionally rigged as a brig with 2 masts with 5 yards on each (Royal, Topgallant, Upper Topsail, Lower Topsail, Course) and have 16 sails overall. Despite weighing nearly 500 ton they regular sail at speeds over 13 knots, an exhilarating sensation only shared by the lucky few that still sail large sailing ships. The height of the mainmast is 36m above the sea, so the view from the royal yard feels like being on top of the world. They have been built to high safety standards and are MCA / Department of Transport certified to highest Ocean going Category. Both tall ships have enough safety equipment and trained officers aboard to be rated an auxiliary coastguard vessel to co-ordinate search and rescue activities anywhere in the world.

The Ships Master and Crew

In addition to 45 other voyage crew members like yourself, she has 6 salaried crew – (Master, Chief Officer, 2nd Mate, Bosun, Engineer and Cook), and 11 voluntary crew (3rd Officer, Assistant Engineer, 3 watch leaders, a youth mentor (youth voyages) or liaison officer (adult voyages) and a first aider/ purser. STA Tall Ships Captains are all UK Merchant Navy qualified, and all have considerable experience of tall ships and working with people of all ages.

Captain Bob Stephenson has been a tall ships master with the STA since 1989, after a career in the Merchant Navy. He is universally popular with young and old alike and was recently voted the “Endurance Award” for the “salaried crew member who has most earned your respect in the last 12 months” by the many hundreds of people of all ages who sailed with him in 2002.

Captain Liam Keating joined the STA in 2002 and has been involved in sail training since 1981. He worked his way up from bosun to ships master on Irish sail training tall ship Asgard, before moving to the new Brigs.

Derek Sett has sailed on the brigs for a number of years, starting as bosun and working his way up to Chief Officer and now Captain, so he has a wealth of knowledge of these two unique tall ships.

Welcome Aboard – Accommodation & Food

Upon arrival you will be met by your watch leader, who will explain which watch you are in and where you will sleep. There are three watches of 15 crewmembers (sometimes called trainees) and you will all be grouped together in two connecting cabins – each with 8 pipe cots (swinging bunks with curtains). The accommodation is mixed, but there are separate hot showers and several washrooms nearby. Your berth will also have a storage box under the bunk and a tall locker that you can lock (please bring padlock). Everywhere below is air conditioned and well ventilated and has heating in cold climates.

All meals are included in your voyage fee, and special diets can be catered for if you put them on your booking form. All freshly cooked meals are served in the Mess (at deck level with plenty of daylight) – usually in two sittings so a watch can still sail the ship. The ships officers eat with you so you can get to know them more informally. Hot and cold drinks are available in the mess for you to help yourselves 24hrs a day. You will usually spend one day on Galley duty helping the cook, but you don’t have to stand watches that day and you get a full nights sleep.

No Experience Needed - Full Training Given

You will sign on as a tall ships crew in the same way that sailors have for centuries, and be issued with oilskins, and a safety harness for working aloft or going out on the bowsprit. The afternoon you arrive there will be an intensive training programme whilst the ship is still in port, so even if you are a complete novice you will soon feel an important part of the crew. The ship usually doesn’t sail until the next day when everybody feels a bit more at home with the ship. You will be expected to take part with a whole range of activities essential for the ships operation, from the exhilaration of going aloft to set sails (although no one is forced to leave the deck!), steering, bracing the yards, or more mundane tasks like cleaning the ship. Some work is physically demanding, and the benefits of teamwork come quickly.

Watches & Daily Routine

The ships day and night (whilst at sea) is divided into periods of 4 hours called watches where your watch (team of 15) are on duty sailing the tall ship. You will then be relieved by the new watch and have approx 8 hours off watch before you are back on duty again. These rotate daily to a rota so you see a sunset one day, the unspoilt stars during the middle watch, or the sunrise and a whiff of bacon the next day ! This system is the same as Nelson would have used and operated by the Navy today. It Works, but there are also times where you might hear “all hands on deck.” Meals and tea breaks are rather formally fitted into this daily routine, but you will soon get the hang of it, and know when you can escape to read a book in the bowsprit netting !

What We Expect From You

With up to 66 people on board there is a need for considerate behaviour so everybody can enjoy the experience. Smoking is only permitted in the designated deck area outside. No alcohol is permitted unless the vessel is tied up alongside or at a safe anchorage. On youth voyages alcohol can only be consumed ashore, and not by persons under 18. Mobile phones cannot be used when ship is coming into or leaving port (affects navigation equipment). No radios or CD players except ones with personal headphones and these are not to be used on watch or during training. Jewellery and piercing should be removed or taped up whilst sailing. A main mission of the ship is to promote self-development so respect, enthusiasm, effort, equality, a sense of humour and self discipline are expected from emerge from everybody !

What is Included

All meals on board, training, oilskins, safety harnesses are included in the voyage fee. Not included in the price is your transport to the joining port and return, but we do have some good value flights that can be booked via Bath Travel on 01202 761 278 (ABTA and ATOL registered flight brokers) Also extra is a compulsory tall ships insurance payable on booking—to ensure all crew are covered for this unique activity. There may be a charge for airport transport (ask Bath Travel). Any group meals out in a restaurant , or excursions to explore ashore arranged by the ship are usually very reasonable and not compulsory. There is a small shop on board selling souvenirs, clothing, postcards etc.

What to Bring—All Voyages

Please pack your kit in a soft holdall or rucksack, not a rigid bag or suitcase. The rigging is wire and moving ropes, and clothes can get snagged, marked with tar or ripped so save your best for ashore. For voyages in hot climates remember you can still get strong winds, heavy squalls, and at sea it can be cool at night.

Small padlock for your upright locker

Sleeping bag (lightweight for Caribbean)

Pillowcase (pillows provided)

Nightclothes/ Underwear / socks

Mix of T shirts, long sleeved shirts

1-2 Fleece shirts or jumpers (can be windy / wet)

Working trousers and shorts (robust material)

Windproof smock or jacket

There are waterproofs on board but you can bring your own.

Sunhat/ cap and sunglasses with a cord/strap

Gloves (not essential)

2 pairs of Stout footwear to wear on board and climb rigging e.g. lightweight walking boots / trainers with a good grip/ deck shoes.

Swimwear

1-2 towels

Smart casual clothes for going ashore.

Torch

Camera plus spare film

Toiletries ( e.g.suncream, insect repellant, seasickness pills)

Ear plugs if light sleeper. Cord for glasses.

Passport

Money / credit cards for going ashore.

Return tickets or sufficient funds to return home

RYA Cruising Logbook if you want to record your voyage (can purchase from Classic Sailing)

Youth Voyages: - Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Book if owned.

Youth Voyages – 2 passport photos.

Voyage Dates - Click Here