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Bessie Ellen - 1904 Original West Country Trading Ship

This original West Country trading ship was built in Plymouth in 1904 and has had a remarkable working life. She is part of the UK core collection of historic vessels, but Bessie Ellen is no museum ship.  This tough wooden tall ship sails with charter crews around the UK and Europe and now has an ocean - worldwide safety certificate enabling her to seek warmer sailing grounds in winter and offer sailing holidays 11 months of the year.

Bessie Ellen has recently tried her hand at carrying commercial wine cargoes (and still has a modern licence for carrying small cargoes), but this tough little wooden ship and Nikki are now back doing what they do best: Roving European Waters under sail with upto 12 guest crew.

Bessie Ellen - Our small and friendly tall ship

Our past testimonials from Bessie Ellen customers vouch for the quality of customer care, good food and sense of adventure that is created by her professional crew, and we have always felt that Bessie Ellen is a 'happy ship' and the perfect size for guest crew full involvement. If you are looking for an intimate tall ship experience where your contribution is valued and you are welcomed back as a friend then come on a voyage and join the Bessie Ellen fan club.

Deirdre Hoyle said,

"I have recently returned from one of the best holidays of my life aboard Bessie Ellen. Everything was so much better than my wildest dreams! I loved sitting on deck watching the gannets, the islands, the clouds and the guillemots. I also loved hauling the ropes. Nikki was great and her cooking was fabulous! Waking up in the idyllic anchorages was just sublime!"

 >>Read the latest TELEGRAPH travel article by Martin Jackman - Bessie Ellen in the Canaries

Blue Water Passages - Mini & Epic Voyages

The opportunites to sail an ocean passage on an authentic historic sailing ship like Bessie Ellen are becoming more and more rare.  If you want a GAP year style adventure without leaving the day job then a 10 -15 day ocean passage on a wooden sailing ship will give your more than a taste of high seas adventure. 

After a short refit in Cornwall, Bessie Ellen will be heading South for Winter Sun again in October.  Cross the Bay of Biscay if you want ocean swell and potentially strong wind sailing.  Join in Vigo to Tenerife for warmer but still challenging ocean sailing.  For a blue water, trade wind 700 mile hop try Tenerife to the Azores for a mini adventure and no long haul flight.  More epic is the 1250 mile voyage from the Azores to the UK. All great mile builders for career sailors and a challenging voyage for brave beginners or experienced sailors.

Not sure if ocean voyages are for you ? read our pages on Ocean Sailing

Whale & Dolphin Watching in the Canaries & Azores

Bessie Ellen spends her winters based in the Western Canaries to take advantage of the winter sun, good dolphin and whale watching opportunties and dazzling blue seas. Bessie Ellen will be offering 7 day island hopping and wildlife watching voyages from October 2011 to March 2012. There will also be usually a chance to walk in the mountains and pine forests of La Palma - one of the most unspoilt islands in the archipelago.

 > more on the Canaries as a destination and the wildlife in this dolphin and whale 'hotspot'

> The Azores as a destination are more lush and rural with few visiting yachts apart from world voyagers. Once an important whaling nation, the Azores now embraces whale and dolphin conservation in her rich deep waters.

Bessie Ellen Ship Specification

Accommodation

The heart of this tough wooden ship is the cargo hold, now an impressive communal living space, where you can lie in your

bunk and still feel the huge ships timbers surrounding you, or relax in the evening with new found friends (sleeps up to 12 guest crew). You will feel part of a bygone era, but with the homely comforts of a hot and spacious shower, and freshly cooked food on the spacious tables made of wood salvaged from a Perry Orchard. The bunks down each side of this huge space have a reading light and curtains for privacy, with storage for your things in lockers under the bench seating.

The floors are oak, and on sunny days in port or at anchor the cargo hold roof can be opened up to let the sun stream in. If you are taller than average then Bessie Ellen has ample headroom below decks.

Lively sailing & plenty of deck space

With two masts and lofty topmasts increasing her height further, Bessie Ellen has a lot of sail to play with, and it takes team work to hoist the heavy main and mizzen gaff sails. In light winds or racing she can carry topsails on both masts, and forward there are 4 headsails to tack:- Staysail, inner and out jib and jib topsail, so if you like the idea of being out on the bowsprit with the ships bow wave beneath you, then there are plenty of sails to stow out there. Bessie Ellen has fine underwater lines and is fairly shallow draught so she is surprisingly responsive under sail. The ship has an ocean rated stability rating, carries all new modern safety and navigation equipment, and is currently certified for world wide commercial charter under the UK Marine Coastguard Agency / Department of Transport.

Skippers & Permanent Crew

Bessie Ellen usually carries four permanent crew to help show you the ropes. They will train you swiftly into a crew that will do credit to the ship and extend your horizons.  Nikki Alford often sails as mate so she can concentrate on keeping you all happy, and spent many years as cook/ mate on square rigged ships involved in charter and film work, as well as a lot of traditional maintenance and rigging work. There are usually two deckhands to help out and keep the ship tidy.

The working language on board is English.   

Superb Freshly Cooked Food

Customers on Bessie Ellen have consistently voted the food on Bessie Ellen as excellent, and it is definitely part of the experience.Coming originally from a organic farming and catering background Nikki places great importance on delicious freshly cooked food wherever the ship sails, taking the best of local specialities. There is usually a choice and vegetarians and other diets can be catered for if you let us know on the booking form.

Whole Boat Prices

12 go for the price of 10 on any available voyage in Bessie Ellen's published programme.

Group Booking ideas - week or fortnight expeditions for groups of friends; schools or university expeditions. 

Expedition Ship ?

Bessie Ellen has a world wide operating licence so if your school or university wants to plan an expedition we are happy to help you plan it, but remember this ship works hard for her living running adventure charter voyages so give us plenty of notice of dates required.

Cargo License Too

For special projects or events Bessie Ellen can convert to a commercially licensed cargo ship, or her saloon (original cargo space) can also be cleared to create a fanatastic exhibition space o characterful venue for slide shows / musical events or presentations and training workshops. Talk to us on 01872 580022

100 years of history as a working ship

 Bessie Ellen was built in Plymouth in 1904. She is one of the last remaining examples of the schooners and ketches of the West Country which saw out the last days of sail carrying commercial cargoes around the coasts of the UK and Europe.

>>Read more about her history and how she was restored to a sailing ship by Nikki.

Winter Season in the Canaries & Azores 2012

	Canary Islands Sunshine Sailing - 7 days Island Hopping - Whale and Dolphin watching - £725 - Fully Booked BE204	Bessie Ellen	San Miguel Marina, Tenerife	San Miguel Marina, Tenerife	Sat, 28/01/2012 - 16:00- to Sat, 04/02/2012 - 09:00
	Canary Islands Sunshine Sailing - 7 days Island Hopping - Whale and Dolphin watching - £725 BE205	Bessie Ellen	San Miguel Marina, Tenerife	San Miguel Marina, Tenerife	Mon, 06/02/2012 - 16:00- to Mon, 13/02/2012 - 09:00
	Canary Islands Half Term Sunshine Sailing - 7 or 11 days - Whale and Dolphin watching - £799 - Provisionaly full BE206	Bessie Ellen	San Miguel Marina, Tenerife	San Miguel Marina, Tenerife	Fri, 17/02/2012 - 16:00- to Mon, 27/02/2012 - 09:00
	Canary Islands Sunshine Sailing - 7 days Island Hopping - Whale and Dolphin watching - £725 - Now only £495 BE207	Bessie Ellen	San Miguel Marina, Tenerife	San Miguel Marina, Tenerife	Tue, 28/02/2012 - 16:00- to Tue, 06/03/2012 - 09:00
	Canary Islands Sunshine Sailing - 7 days Island Hopping - Whale and Dolphin watching - £725 - Now only £495 BE208	Bessie Ellen	San Miguel Marina, Tenerife	San Miguel Marina, Tenerife	Wed, 07/03/2012 - 16:00- to Wed, 14/03/2012 - 09:00
	700 mile Blue water ocean passage - Tenerife to the Azores - £899 12 day Ocean Passage BE209	Bessie Ellen	San Miguel Marina, Tenerife	Horta, Azores	Thu, 15/03/2012 - 16:00- to Tue, 27/03/2012 - 10:00

	Explore the Azores archipelago - 7 days - £725 BE210	Bessie Ellen	Horta, Azores	Horta, Azores	Wed, 28/03/2012 - 16:00- to Wed, 04/04/2012 - 16:00
	Explore the Azores archipelago - 7 days - £725 BE211	Bessie Ellen	Horta, Azores	Horta, Azores	Thu, 05/04/2012 - 16:00- to Thu, 12/04/2012 - 10:00
	Atlantic Ocean Passage - £999 - SAVE £100 Now only £899 for 19 Days sailing BE212	Bessie Ellen	Horta, Azores	Falmouth, UK	Sat, 14/04/2012 - 16:00- to Wed, 02/05/2012 - 10:00

Canaries & Azores Joining times are between 4pm and 8pm local time and departing at 9am local time on the dates indicated. See below for our PDF MIni brochures on flights to and from Vigo and Tenerife, and also of Bessie Ellen.

New 2012 Canary Islands Printable Schedule

Flight information 2011 - 2012 Canaries and Azores PDF

New Summer Season - Western Scotland,     Short Breaks & Maritime Festivals 2012

	Bessie Ellen - Whitehaven to Liverpool - 4 days - £299 BE215	Bessie Ellen	Whitehaven, UK	Liverpool	Mon, 04/06/2012 - 16:00- to Fri, 08/06/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen - Liverpool - FULL BE216	Bessie Ellen	Liverpool	Liverpool	Fri, 08/06/2012 - 16:00- to Sun, 10/06/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen - Celtic Sea Adventure - 5 days - £499 BE217	Bessie Ellen	Liverpool	Oban	Mon, 11/06/2012 - 16:00- to Sun, 17/06/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen - Tall Ship in Scotland Taster - 3 day £395 BE218	Bessie Ellen	Oban	Oban	Mon, 18/06/2012 - 16:00- to Thu, 21/06/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen - Tall Ship in Scotland Taster - 3 day £395 BE219	Bessie Ellen	Oban	Oban	Thu, 21/06/2012 - 16:00- to Sun, 24/06/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen - Explore the Western Isles - 6 days £780 BE220	Bessie Ellen	Oban	Oban	Mon, 25/06/2012 - 16:00- to Sun, 01/07/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen Sails South - Scotland, Ireland, Wales & Scillies - 5 days £499 BE221	Bessie Ellen	Oban	Falmouth, UK	Mon, 02/07/2012 - 16:00- to Sat, 07/07/2012 - 10:00
	SPECIAL EVENT Brest International Festival of the Sea 2012 - 5 days - £499 BE222	Bessie Ellen	Falmouth, UK	Brest, France	Sun, 08/07/2012 - 16:00- to Fri, 13/07/2012 - 10:00

	Bessie Ellen - Explore the French Coast - £599 for 6 days BE224	Bessie Ellen	Douarnenez, France	Falmouth, UK	Sun, 22/07/2012 - 16:00- to Sat, 28/07/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen - Scillies, Wales, Ireland and Scotland - 6 days £599 BE225	Bessie Ellen	Falmouth, UK	Greenock, Scotland	Sun, 29/07/2012 - 16:00- to Sat, 04/08/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen - Explore the Western Isles - 6 - days £780 BE226	Bessie Ellen	Greenock, Scotland	Oban	Sun, 05/08/2012 - 16:00- to Sat, 11/08/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen - Tall Ship in Scotland Taster - 3 day £395 BE227	Bessie Ellen	Oban	Oban	Sun, 12/08/2012 - 16:00- to Wed, 15/08/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen - Tall Ship in Scotland Taster - 3 day £395 BE228	Bessie Ellen	Oban	Oban	Wed, 15/08/2012 - 16:00- to Sat, 18/08/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen Outer Hebrides & possibly St Kilda - 9 days £1190 BE229	Bessie Ellen	Oban	Oban	Mon, 20/08/2012 - 16:00- to Wed, 29/08/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen - Tall Ship in Scotland Taster - 3 day £395 BE230	Bessie Ellen	Oban	Oban	Thu, 30/08/2012 - 16:00- to Sun, 02/09/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen - Explore the Western Isles - 6 days £780 BE231	Bessie Ellen	Oban	Oban	Mon, 03/09/2012 - 16:00- to Sun, 09/09/2012 - 10:00
	Bessie Ellen - Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Cornwall - 5 days £499 BE232	Bessie Ellen	Oban	Falmouth, UK	Mon, 10/09/2012 - 16:00- to Sat, 15/09/2012 - 10:00

 "I had a fantastic time. The crew were fantastic, the sailing was fantastic - I haven't laughed so much in years" Alan.

What to Bring

Space on the ship is limited and we ask people to bring only the essentials in one medium sized (soft) travel bag or rucksack. It is recommended to bring at least two sets of warm clothes and rubber soled shoes for wearing on the ship (trainers are okay). Bessie Ellen has some brand new offshore waterproof jackets and trousers in various sizes (S – XL), but you are welcome to bring your own. If you are particularly large or petite you are advised to bring your own waterproofs in case ours don’t fit ! Bessie Ellen provides sheets, duvet and blankets, but we ask guests to bring their own towels Clothes washing facilities onboard are limited but you may use the ships laundry on some of the voyages.
Other useful items suntan cream, sunhat and warm hat, neckscarf, cord for your glasses, spare spectacles, sunglasses, earplugs if you are a light sleeper, camera, wellies or spare shoes with a good grip, a small daysack for exploring ashore, and musical instruments are welcome. RYA Logbook to record your voyage (you can buy these before you go from Classic Sailing for £4.50)

Please bring your passport and a European Health Insurance Card if you have one (this replaces the E111 form available form UK Post Offices giving reciprocal health care for EU countries).
Any valuables are brought at the owners risk; Bessie Ellen and her crew cannot be held responsible for loss, damage or theft. We recommend that nothing be brought that is not necessary for the voyage, i.e. expensive watches, jewellery, computer games etc.

Alcohol

Bessie Ellen usually has a stock of wine and beer on board to purchase to enjoy with meals. Consumption will be at the discretion of the skipper for safety reasons.

Health & Safety

On arrival to the ship there will be a health & safety lecture, covering everything from getting on and off the ship to the emergency procedure and all the potential hazards in between. The ship carries lifejackets and safety harnesses for everyone and you will be shown how to wear them. There is a comprehensive medical kit onboard. Anyone on prescribed medication must notify the captain on arrival.

Happy Sailing on Bessie Ellen 

Bessie Ellen Voyage Notes for Scotland PDF