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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

South Pacific, Australia & NZ

If you are looking for GAP year or adult career break ideas (June 2010-Nov 2010) then look at our blue water voyages on authentic wooden sailing ship Soren Larsen - our South Pacific specialist. She has already started her voyage of discovery around the South Sea islands, but there are still places to join her in Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia. Sail her triumphantly into Sydney Harbour or cross the Tasman Sea to her home port of Auckland, New Zealand.

Voyage Dates: Soren Larsen South Pacific island Hopping and Ocean Sailing  2010

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

Taster Voyages

No flights needed for high adventure around our shores. There are a few 2-7 day taster tall ship voyages around the UK coast this summer and autumn 2010 on British Brig Stavros S Niarchos. These voyages start from as little as £189 for a 2 day voyage and are a great introduction to living and sailing on a 500 ton sailing ship.

Winter Sun at sea

Topsail schooner Oosterschelde is returning to Cape Verde archipelago this winter 2010/2011. 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.

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

Become Tall Ships Race Crew 2010

 There are some epic tall ships races in 2010 and 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.

Bark Europa will then sail via Bermuda to Canada to take part in the Great Lakes Tall Ships Race in 2010.

Oosterschelde is racing in the Eastern Mediterranean in Spring 2010 and Hartlepool to Sail Amsterdam in the summer.

More on Tall Ships Races on 3 different continents in 2010

Tall Ship Racers aged 16-25 years old

 ‘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:

21 day Antarctic Sailing Expeditions on Tall ship Europa

11 day wildlife expeditions around Outer Hebrides, St Kilda or Orkney on Tall Ship Oosterschelde

Arctic wildlife expeditions to Spitsbergen / Svalbard on barquentine Antigua - Summer 2010

10 day Cape Verde expeditions on Oosterschelde (dates for winter 2010-2011)

 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 RYA courses on boats with bowsprits