Oosterschelde Schooner - Milemaker Voyage to Mediterranean

Voyage Number	Ost-1001
Voyage price	€1050 euros for 22 day voyage
Voyage Dates	21/02/2010 - 10:00 - 14/03/2010 - 10:00
Depart from	Rotterdam, NL
Finishing Port	Cannes, France
Voyage area	Bay of Biscay , France , Mediterranean
Voyage type	Adventure Voyage , Ocean Passages , Tall Ships
Vessel	Oosterschelde
Availability	Available
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Voyage Description

Sail a Three Masted Topsail Schooner to the Mediterranean

This milemaker voyage of over 2200 nautical miles is a great way of increasing your sailing experience at the start of the season, and learning a range of seamanship skills from Oosterschelde's experienced professional crew. This well known Dutch ship has travelled the world and explored the more remote sailing grounds of Svalbard, Indonesia and Antarctica.

A 22 day voyage as tall ship crew from Rotterdam probably beating down the English Channel, around Ushant and all the way accross the Bay of Biscay in Winter is the hard part. Once you reach Northern Spain the Atlantic Ocean usually starts to get bluer, and where the continental shelf comes close to the corner of Spain and Portugal, sealife proliferates as the ocean currents upwell and bring the plankton to the surface. This is a prime spot in Europe for cetacean spotting (whales and dolphins) and from Oosterschelde's lofty masts you can increase your chances of shouting "thar she blows !"

The weather will improve as you sail down the Portuguese Coast but there is still a long way to go. Through the windy Straits of Gibraltar and up past the Balearic islands to the South of France and Cannes.

2200 miles in 22 days is 100 miles a day, if you can sail a fairly direct route without much tacking. At 8 knots you might make 190 miles a day, so exploring city ports like Lisbon, Cadiz or Barcelona on route or more remote fishing villages or anchorages up Portuguese Ria's are possible, but this is principally an offshore / ocean passage where there will be continuous watch keeping and getting into the rythmn of sailing through the night and living as part of a community at sea.

Oosterschelde is a very comfy ship built for adventure charter with a huge saloon with bar, piano, wood burning stove and library so if you have always fancied running away to sea for a few weeks, we can't think of a more stylish way to do it as hands on ships crew.

Both of Classic Sailing working directors have sailed on Oosterschelde in 2009 so we can tell you what she is like to sail on if you give us a ring.

More details and photos of Oosterschelde - see vessel details tab above.

Oosterschelde - Mile Builder going South to the Med. After a training period and introduction to Oosterschelde you will leave harbour and practice sailing for the Race.

Veerhaven in Rotterdam where Oosterschedle and Europa often more up

With permission of kelsk25's on Flickr

Getting to Rotterdam

By Road and Coach
You can dive via eurotunnel to Rotterdam ot take a coach that does the same route for very little cost.

By Rail
You cab get to Roterdam by Eurorail

By Plane
Schipol International Airport has many connections to the UK  and is a 50 minute direct train ride to Rotterdam.

In Rotterdam to get to Veerhaven take the Metro to Leuvehaven and then its about a five minute walk to the riverside. Its very picture postcard!

 Cannes

Photo Courtesy Bevy M photo link

Getting to Cannes

By Road and Coach
You can dive via eurotunnel to Cannes or take a coach that does the same route for very little cost.

By Rail
You can get to Cannes right to the centre of the city.

By Plane
Cannes is 25K from Nice (NCE) Airport which has lots of connections from all over the UK. There are frequent express coaches to and from Cannes to Nice Airport.

Three masted topsail schooner Oosterschelde

Oosterschelde has sailed as far as the Arctic and Antarctica and sailed around the world She is very well known in Holland and a favourite of sea and nature lovers. The ship is owned by a Dutch Foundation but the working language on board is English. For more on this historic 1918 sailing ship and her favourite destinations see the text below

Cape Verde for trade winds & tropical sun this winter

For some great photos and a full description of these voyages

PDF Cape Verde Sailing Expeditions Brochure 2011-12

PDF - a photo diary of our Christmas voyage in Cape Verde

Individual Cape Verde Voyage details & availability Winter 2011-12

Oosterschelde Winter Programme 2011 - 2012

Prices are fixed in Euros. Ring us on 01872 580022 for a quote in £sterling

Life on Oosterschelde

On board Oosterschelde—as on all of Classic Sailing holidays—you are not a passenger but part of the guest crew. You will be assigned a watch together with the professional crew to sail, steer and navigate the ship. No sailing experience is necessary. The crew will be happy to explain the functions of all the ropes.

Oosterschelde is very well known in Holland and a favourite of sea and nature lovers. Her ethos is one of active and direct exposure to the sea and sailing, the region being explored and its wildlife. Below decks the two and four cabins are fitted with a washbasin with hot and cold water. Showers are separate. The lounge is very stylish with a wood burning stove (for Spitzbergen trips etc) a piano and library. All cabins have forced ventilation and a window or hatch to open. The ever present trade winds keep it a pleasant temperature below decks. She has a large galley and professional cook and you can buy drinks at the bar. On board euros are accepted but not credit cards.

On a fore and aft rigged schooner there is more sail trimming, tacking and gybing than you might find on a square rigger, so at times on watch you may be very busy. With two square sails there is still an excuse (if you need it) to go aloft.

Expedition Ship

Oosterschelde is well used to running sailing expeditions to remote places like Spitzbergen, Antarctica, Indonesia with well educated guests interested in nature, walking, maritime history and local culture ashore. Whilst the ship does do social projects / sail training, for most the year the hospitality and style of sailing is geared towards adults on an adventure holiday. The landing places will be carefully selected to show you the best of each island and there will be some organised expeditions ashore.

Photo, Our local guide Ario in Sao Antao, Cape Verde 2011

Equipment & Safety

The crew are experienced ocean going sailors and most of them are employed on Oosterschelde full time. The ship is owned and operated by Oosterschelde Shipping Company and Sailing Foundation. She is equipped to sail the world’s seas and holds all the safety certificates required by Dutch Law. As you are part of the guest crew you will be fully trained in emergency procedures. For going ashore Oostershelde has two rubber dinghies with outboards and a wooden boat. She carries lifejackets, liferafts, fire detection and extinguishing systems, very extensive medicine cabinent, EPIRB, SART, radar, GPS, SSB radio, INMARSAT Sat C fax terminal etc. If your family/friends need to contact the ship in emergencies the ship can be contacted by Iridium saterlite telephone, but cheaper to go through the ships office in Rotterdam ( Michelle or Gerben) as they are in contact with the ship regularly. 

Ship Specification:

Gilbert Pépin Location: Vernon, France 29.5.2009

I  want to thank the crew for the three magnificent days passed on board, between "Golfe du Morbihan" and "Le Havre". I sailed on numerous occasions on about ten different ships, and this sailing on Oosterschelde is the best experience I ever had. I was impressed by the good performances of the ship, and by the way the crew adjusts sails permanently so that the ship always gives the best ; it was an immense pleasure to participate of my best in all these operations. I regret that our different languages did not allow us to communicate more, because all the crew members were really very nice and very thoughtful with us. I have now only an envy: to embark again on Oosterschelde, to be on the deck to participate in the laborers of sails, to climb on the mast to help the crew, and to share again these excellent moments given by sailing on Oosterschelde !!!
(Excuse my bad English, which is the one from a French...)
Thanks again
Gilbert