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Tall Ships Race, Square Rig Tasters to Ocean Crossings

An Introduction to Tall Ship Crewing

 Have you always wanted to sail a tall ship as ‘hands on’ crew ? Imagine yourself steering hundreds of tons of wind powered sailing ship across an ocean with a spoked wheel ? or get a buzz from climbing aloft and stowing sails standing on a swinging foot rope with your new ship mates ?

It’s a myth that only the young or ‘naughty’ youth can sail on square riggers and large traditional sailing vessels. There are plenty of impressive tall ships of all sizes around the world that offer adventures for adults and young people. Classic Sailing currently has tall ship holidays on brigs, barques, barquentines, brigantines, large gaff rigged ketches and schooners from 2 day tasters to ocean journeys of several legs following the trade winds around the globe.

Expert advice to help you book

Classic Sailing office staff have sailed over 15 tall ships as crew so we can give your first hand advice –whether you are trying a tall ship for the first time, looking for a challenging square rig experience or a real romantic wanting live out a Patrick O’ Brien novel.

Call Debbie or Adam on 01872 580022

Tall Ship Epics - Antarctica

If you are looking for GAP year or adult career break ideas  then magnificent barque Europa sails between the Northern and Southern hemisphere each year and specialises in Antarctic sailing and wildlife expeditions. If you have been enthralled by the BBC Frozen Planet, you could be aloft on a ship like Shackleton's HMS Endurance watching humpback whales dive under the ship.

Europa - ocean wandering full programme 2012

Europa - Antarctic voyages 2012-13

Remote Pacific Islands by Tall Ship

Also look at our blue water voyages on authentic wooden sailing ship Soren Larsen - our South Pacific specialist. She has just finished her 2011 voyage of discovery around the South Sea islands, and will be in Sydney for Christmas. In May 2012 she starts a new South Pacific Journey with legs from Sydney to NZ, Cook Island, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and back triumphantly into her new home port of Sydney Harbour.

Voyage dates: Soren Larsen South Pacific 2012

Read more about what to expect ocean sailing on a square rigger

Day Sails & Taster Voyages

No flights needed for high adventure around our shores. There are a few short taster tall ship voyages around the UK coast on British square riggers Stavros S Niarchos, Lord Nelson and Tenacious. 

In Scotland Bessie Ellen offers a more intimate tall ships adventure for 3 days with only 12 guest crew.

Three masted barques Lord Nelson or Tenacious are tall ships built to take disabled and able bodied people sailing as crew and have many short voyages around the UK this summer 2012, including day sails that several generations can join in together from the age of 12 upwards. 

PERFECT GIFT Tall Ship Day Sails from £109 to £135

UK Tall Ship tasters on a square rigger from £329 for 4 days

Tall Ship Tasters from Rotterdam on Oosterschelde from €380 Euros (approx £320) for 3 days

Smaller Tall ship Bessie Ellen has 3 day tasters from Oban, Scotland for £399

Winter Sun at sea

Topsail schooner Oosterschelde is returning to Cape Verde archipelago next winter 2012-13. Reliable trade winds, great sailing between islands - some just a a day sail apart and others a good 100 mile blast in tropical sun. Direct flights from the UK. Escape for Christmas and New Year.

120ft wooden sailing ship Bessie Ellen will be based in the Canaries and the Azores for most of the British Winter for 7 day wildlife and exploration voyages in 2012. An affordable way to sail an authentic 1904 West Country trading ketch in pleasantly warm and often hot sunshine, and stand an excellent chance of seeing dolphins and whales in this marine wildlife hotspot. 

The magnificent wooden barque Tenacious will be heading Trans- Atlantic to the Caribbean in December 2011 where you can join her for 11 -14 day Caribbean Island hopping voyages 2012 out of Guadaloupe, Antigua, Bahamas & then onto Bermuda.

100 year old brig Eye of the Wind will be spending the winter 2012 in the Caribbean offering 7-9 day voyages with slightly more luxury accomodation than our sail training ships.

 >>More on Tall Ship Tasters, mini ocean passages & Winter Sun

Become Tall Ships Race Crew 2012

There will be tall ships race berths on both Barque Europa,  three masted schooner Oosterschelde and Lord Nelson in 2012 in European Waters

Most legs will have opportunities for tall ship crew of all ages to take part.

Full training will be given so a complete newcomer to sailing can take part. These voyages are fairly 'full on' sailing so you need to be confident about your fitness and stamina.They also fill up fast so ring us soon.

2012 Tall Ships Race Circuit

St Malo - Lisbon - RACE 1

Lisbon - Cadiz RACE 2

Cadiz - La Coruna - sail in company

La Coruna - Dublin RACE 3

Bark Europa and barque Lord Nelson are both taking part in all the Tall Ships Race legs in 2012. Europa will have at least 50% of the crew aged 16-25, but there may be limited adult berths. Lord Nelson is looking for a mix of disabled and able bodied crew for the race.

Barque Europa Tall Ship Race Voyage Leg details 2012

Lord Nelson Tall Ship Race Voyage Leg details 2012

Oosterschelde - sail with Tall Ship Fleet at St Malo 2012

>>More information about the tall ships race in 2012 & how you can sail

 ‘Adventure: Earths Most Thrilling Experiences’  is a 250 page travel book produced by Time Out Guides Ltd

Read one of their adrenalin choices: "Crew a Tall Ship"  by seasoned sailor and journalist Libby Purves 

Ocean Passages & Wildlife Expeditions

If you prefer adventure on the high seas, exploring unspoilt locations ashore and learning about wildlife then have a look at:

Arctic wildlife expeditions to Spitsbergen / Svalbard 2012 on barquentine Antigua are all FULL

11 day Cape Verde expeditions on Oosterschelde (dates for winter 2012-2013)

GAP Year or Career Break on a tall Ship

Typical Career Break Triggers: Do you recognise any of the following feelings: Burn out, guilt at excess and affluence, sensory overload, mid life crisis(es), freedom from responsibilities, retirement, needing new sense of purpose or fulfilment, children flown the nest, retirement, no need to work, shaking out the cobwebs, once in a lifetime goals, can now afford to travel ?

Why Live Aboard our vessels as part of a GAP YEAR ? Young or old, there are many lifestyle and career reasons to make sailing and living aboard a traditional boat or tall ship part of your travel plans...and you are travelling ethically using wind power.  There are also opportunities to work with fellow crew with disabilities and a whole load of skills to learn for your CV when you come back.

>> See our suggestions for career break voyages as working crew

 Learn 'Block and Tackle' seamanship on our vessels- tall & small

If you have sailed a square rigger and want to find a smaller vessel with blocks and tackles – we can introduce you to our pilot cutters, Brixham sailing trawlers and other traditionally rigged craft where a tall ship sailor will feel at home, but can progress their boat handling skills on a more intimate scale

See our 2012 RYA courses on boats with bowsprits