Star at Maritime Festivals

Star at Maritime Festivals

There is nothing to beat sailing as crew on a striking new wooden vessel as she makes her guest appearance at maritime festivals around Europe.  Marcus and Freya know all these festivals well from previous visits and have carefully picked the best to showcase Grayhound, and give those of you sailing her a great holiday.   They have created a summer tour that takes you to some of the best cruising grounds, with a specialist traditional boat, music or seafood festival as an added bonus. This should give you a great combination of coastal or cross channel journeying under sail, a few ports or unspoilt anchorages away from the crowds, and a few days at the heart of the wooden boat community.

Any excuse for a race...

With many lug rigged fishing boats around the world there are always local boats to meet and learn from. We have seen lug rigged boats still being used in Cape Verde, Caribbean, all around Africa and the Indian Ocean.  Grayhound is not called Grayhound for nothing. This historic replica was built for speed and she will look spectacular under full sail. Skipper Marcus enjoys racing with novice crews and there is enough professional crew on board to train you to race her safely. All festival voyages involve a chance to learn the ropes before taking part in the racing. If you are the competitive type then the most full on racing voyages will probably be Looe Luggers because Grayhound has something to prove and Antigua Classics because it is 5 days of racing and its the Windy Indies with brilliant blue skies.

photo: French Lugger Le Cancalaise & Pride of Baltimore at Brest

Explore Scenic Cruising Grounds from Cornwall to the Caribbean

The drowned river valleys and famous headlands of South Devon, historic ports of Cornwall from Cawsand to Mousehole, the Gulf of St Malo and rugged North Brittany coast  are all the backdrop to some great summer festivals. Further afield you can enjoy island hopping in the Caribbean and turn some 'beautiful heads' at St Maarten Classic and Antigua Classics.

Pick of the Bunch & Plenty of Sailing Too

With the exception of Antigua Classics which is 'full on' racing around the coast of Antigua each day, all these festival voyages have decent amounts of sailing and exploring away from the festival ports too.  Click on the links for voyage descriptions and photos of the festivals, the sailing opportunities and the dates and prices.

La Morue en Fete - Binic Fish Festival & explore Brittany

Brixham Heritage Race - Brixham Sailing Trawlers, Gaffers and Luggers race the same course

Looe Luggers Festival, Cornwall

Golowan Maritime Festival & Celtic Midsummer Celebrations - Mounts Bay, Cornwall

Sail a Privateer with cannon to Fowey Classics & other forays to Cornish historic ports and anchorages

Paimpol 'Chant du Marin' - Breton Shanty Festival, world music & much more

Dartmouth Regatta - charter Grayhound as your waterfront accomodation and take part in the parade of sail

St Maarten Classic Yacht Regatta - plus Caribbean cruising on a wooden lugger

Antigua Classics - 7 day voyage with 5 days of racing and great parties.  The ultimate classic yacht scene in the World

Day Sails - A little bit of showing off

Grayhound will have an open day in the Barbican, Plymouth where they will indulge in a bit of cannon firing, plus a few day sails in Plymouth and Falmouth if you just want to try out sailing on a three mast lugger. These are a great family day out or a perfect gift for a friend or relative.

Try a Lugger Day Sail details, prices & dates

Ocean Voyages for escapists and romantics

In total contrast to her festival voyages, Grayhound will be sailing a classic Atlantic Circuit, using the trade winds as much as possible.  Voyages range from 21 day Trans Atlantics from Cape Verde to Barbados to some mini blue water passages like Madiera to the Canaries or Canaries to Cape Verde. These shorter passages involve 3-4 days sailing and some island hopping so make a great introduction to ocean sailing without long haul flights or giving up the day job.

Island Hopping, Mountain Walking & Meeting the Locals

Marcus and Freya share the same ethos as Classic Sailing founders Adam and Debbie.  Adventure afloat and exploring ashore are equally important.  Like sailing, to really get to know a destination you need to put a bit of physical effort into exploring and connecting with the locals and their way of life.  Marcus and Freya intend to show you why they love the Azores, Madeira, Cape Verde, Canaries and the Caribbean. Go with them on walks up into the mountains, help buy local produce for the boat in the markets and involving you in a ship board way of life that comes close to the 'sell up and sail' fantasy....but without you having to sell your house to do it !

Grayhound Full Sailing Schedule - Voyage descriptions, prices & dates