Easter Weekend Sailing Taster - Learn to crew a Brixham sailing trawler

Brixham Trawlers - Sail a piece of Maritime History

Brixham Trawlers like Provident are powerful vessels that were originally designed to haul a beam trawl along the seabed fishing in all weathers, so they have a vast sail area for their size. They were also stable work platforms so make great charter boats.  Unlike a yacht if the wind increases you can still stroll along wooden decks with decent sized 'bulwark' sides and guard rails to convince you you are on a sailing ship rather than a bouncy small boat.  The sails are all hoisted with blocks and tackles and lots of willing hands so you soon get to know your fellow crew.

Full Training Included

The professional crew of skipper, mate, cook and deckhand are well used to young, novice crews so they will explain every aspect of safety and emergency drills as well as how to handle the sails safely.  These are great vessels for adults and teenagers who want to burn up a bit of energy, so it would also make a great family action holiday, if you enjoy mixing with others. Provident can accommodate upto 12 on overnight voyages.

A 'Trawler Taster' but not just for beginners

With an enthusiastic and active guest crew to cope with the sail handling and a strong breeze or gale Provident can really shift. In lighter winds you can enjoy 80 tons of oak moving silently through the ocean.  Spectactors on the shore will rarely see such traditional ships under full sail, so bring your camera.

Dramatic Headlands & Hidden Ports

Berry Head is the promontory protecting the old port of Brixham and Torbay is still a major anchorage.  During the blockade of France in the Napoleonic Wars a bad Westerly Gale would bring ships of the line scuttling back from the Biscay coast to shelter in Torbay. Today it provides a big expanse of sea to practice your first manouvres.  The coastline westwards to Dartmouth is dramatic with rocky outcrops and windy clifftops.  The entrance to Dartmouth reveals itself suddenly and if the wind is right you can sail into this steep sided valley until you are between the towns of Dartmouth and Kingswear.  A voyage further up the river to Dittersham to a tranquil anchorage near the 'Anchor Stone' is a welcome contrast to the bustle of town, with a nice pub ashore.

Alternatively you may sail first for Salcombe or Plymouth.  Salcombe has a sand bar at the entrance so wind and tide need to be right, but again you can sail into this deep drowned river valley with its golden beaches on either side.  There is nothing more pleasurable than sitting in a waterside bar looking at you beautiful vessel on a mooring, looking like a ship from a bygone era.

Plymouth & the Tamar

Dodging modern warships and submarines is a strange experience in a vessel built in1925, but there are plenty of signs of past history in Plymouth.  You might anchor in Barn Pool with the leafy Mount Edgcombe Country Park sweeping down to the waters edge.  Turnchapel has narrow streets between pubs that have welcomed sailors for over 200 years.  On the way into Plymouth on the Rame Peninsula  is the remote seaside village of Cawsand with a good anchorage in a westerly wind.